Bongs see us out

BRITAIN will leave the EU ‘when Big Ben bongs midnight’ on March 2 , 201 , No 10 announced yesterday.

It means the deadline for reaching a deal expires when the clock strikes 12 in exactly two years’ time.

EU nations will now draw up detailed negotiating instructions to be passed on to the European Commission – which will act as the bloc’s chief negotiator.

At the same time, lawyers in Whitehall will be working on the Great Repeal Bill for the Queen’s Speech in May, which will smooth the legal transition of Brexit.

In order for the UK and EU parliaments to ratify a final agreement by March 201 , a deal must be on the table by October 2018.