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Article 50 as it happened: Merkel scuppers May's Brexit strategy within hours of Article 50 being triggered

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Samuel Osborne,Ashley Cowburn
Friday 31 March 2017 13:19 BST
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Theresa May says Britain's 'best days lie ahead' in Article 50 speech

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Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog. Theresa May has formally triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and started the countdown on Britain’s two-year exit from the European Union.

Here are the latest updates:

Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog as Theresa May prepares to formally trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the countdown on Britain’s two-year exit from the European Union.

Just after 4.30pm on Tuesday, Ms May signed the historic 6-page document in the Cabinet room of Downing Street below the portrait of Sir Robert Walpole – the first Prime Minister. Later today she will deliver a statement in the Commons on the Government’s negotiating strategy as well as facing Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, during the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

Theresa May signs Article 50 letter

Around the same time, Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s representative to the EU, will deliver the Prime Minister’s Article 50 letter to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, who will then make a brief statement.

The Prime Minister is expected to emphasise her “fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country” and call for people to unite after the divisive and bitter referendum campaign last year.

As she prepares to invoke Article 50 and begin an arduous two-year negation to sever ties with Brussels, she added: “When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between,”

Unite for Europe March, London, UK - 25 Mar 2017
Unite for Europe March, London, UK - 25 Mar 2017 (Rex)

“And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home. It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.”

She said her guiding principles would be ensuring the UK was stronger and fairer than it is today.

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Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog as Theresa May prepares to formally trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the countdown on Britain’s two-year exit from the European Union. 

Just after 4.30pm on Tuesday, Ms May signed the historic 6-page document in the Cabinet room of Downing Street below the portrait of Sir Robert Walpole – the first Prime Minister. Later today she will deliver a statement in the Commons on the Government’s negotiating strategy as well as facing Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, during the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

Around the same time, Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s representative to the EU, will deliver the Prime Minister’s Article 50 letter to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, who will then make a brief statement.

The Prime Minister is expected to emphasise her “fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country” and call for people to unite after the divisive and bitter referendum campaign last year.

As she prepares to invoke Article 50 and begin an arduous two-year negation to sever ties with Brussels, she added: “When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between,”

Unite for Europe March, London, UK - 25 Mar 2017 (Rex)

“And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home. It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.”

She said her guiding principles would be ensuring the UK was stronger and fairer than it is today.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 09:36
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Sir Tim Barrow, the UK representative to the EU, has arrived at the European Council. He is expected to hand over the Article 50 letter around lunchtime - as Theresa May delivers a statement to the Commons.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 09:48
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Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 09:57
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Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 11:56

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