Tom Goodenough Tom Goodenough

Theresa May will trigger Article 50 next week

The wait is over. Almost. Theresa May will trigger Article 50 – the first formal step in Britain’s departure from the EU – on March 29th, Downing Street has confirmed. Brexit Secretary David Davis said:

‘Last June, the people of the UK made the historic decision to leave the EU. Next Wednesday, the Government will deliver on that decision and formally start the process by triggering Article 50. We are on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation.’

The announcement means that the Prime Minister will make good on the pledge she made at the Tory party conference to kick start the process of Brexit before April 1. Next week’s announcement will undoubtedly be significant in terms of symbolism. But for all the talk and bluster we’ve heard about Article 50, there’s already a sense that the announcement will underwhelm in terms of detail.

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