May We Exit Please?

Prime Minister Theresa May said she is committed to making a success of Britain’s “new world” in the world following Brexit.

19:20 31 August 2016

In a meeting billed as the most significant since last June’s referendum vote, Prime Minister Theresa May has reiterated there would be no second referendum on Brexit. She met with cabinet members at Chequers emphasising on the need to focus on the opportunities on offer outside the EU.

 

She said: "We will be looking at the next steps that we need to take and we will also be looking at the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the UK in the world," she said.

 

"We must be clear that we are going to make a success of it - that means no second referendum, no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door. That we are actually going to deliver on it."

 

She added that Article 50 – the official mechanism for beginning the process of leaving the EU, will be triggered at the start of 2017 at the earliest. This is expected to be followed by discussions over the terms of the UK’s exit within two years unless all 28 members of the EU agree to extend them.