As it happenedended

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

Follow all the latest updates from Westminster here

Samuel Osborne,Ashley Cowburn

Friday 31 March 2017 13:19 BST

Comments

Theresa May says Britain's 'best days lie ahead' in Article 50 speech

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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 (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.

More from the European Council's President Donald Tusk, here:

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 14:37

Article 50 letter makes no mention of Theresa May's threat to leave EU with 'no deal'The IndependentThe Article 50 letter makes no mention of Theresa May’s bombshell threat to crash out of the EU with no agreement if “no deal is better than a bad deal”. And, significantly, it plays the supposed ace card of security loud and clear, implying a threat to weaken Britain’s military presence and intelligence co-operation if the talks cut up rough. The long-awaited text appears to confirm the view of EU diplomats that the Government is stepping back from the stark "no deal" scenario, amid warnings of the huge economic damage it would cause.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 14:41

From the Press Association:

Downing Street insisted that the references to security were not a threat to the Brussels negotiators, but simply a statement of facts.

"The Prime Minister's words speak for themselves: it's a simple fact that if we leave the EU without a deal then the arrangements which we have as part of our EU membership will lapse," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
Nato cooperation and intelligence-sharing arrangements, which are normally conducted on a country-by-country basis, would not be affected.
But EU measures such as the European arrest warrant could be impacted if there was not an agreement.
"All of the arrangements that we have with the EU relating to security would obviously lapse at the point when we leave," the spokesman said.
Asked whether the Prime Minister would refuse to agree a separate security deal if there was not a trade agreement as part of a Brexit package, the spokesman said: "We are about to go into a negotiation. All the Prime Minister is doing is setting out the facts."

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 14:57

EU parliament vows to block Brexit deal within crucial deadlineThe IndependentThe European Parliament has vowed that Britain will not be given a free trade deal by the EU in the next two years – just hours after Philip Hammond insisted he was “very optimistic”. MEPs also insisted that if Theresa May seeks a transition deal, to cushion the economic blow from Brexit, it can only run for three years and must be “limited in scope”. There will be no special deal for the City of London giving “preferential access to the single market and, or, the customs union”, the Parliament will also stipulate.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 15:08

This is from Rob Merrick, The Independent's deputy political editor:Article 50 letter makes no mention of Theresa May's threat to leave EU with 'no deal'The IndependentThe Article 50 letter makes no mention of Theresa May’s bombshell threat to crash out of the EU with no agreement if “no deal is better than a bad deal”. And, significantly, it plays the supposed ace card of security loud and clear, implying a threat to weaken Britain’s military presence and intelligence co-operation if the talks cut up rough. The long-awaited text appears to confirm the view of EU diplomats that the Government is stepping back from the stark "no deal" scenario, amid warnings of the huge economic damage it would cause.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 15:15

Brits should not lose EU citizenship rights after Brexit, leaked European Parliament plan saysThe IndependentThe European Union should look to make sure British people keep the individual rights and advantages of EU citizenship after Brexit, the European Parliament is set to agree. A leaked draft resolution to be put to the Parliament by its chief negotiator following the triggering of Article 50 will call on the EU-27 to preserve freedom of movement and other such rights “within the limits of Union primary law” once Britain leaves.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 15:42

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has issued a statement:

While negotiations continue we will continue to be the ‘guard dogs of Brexit’, holding the government’s feet to the fire at home and our MEPs will be working to ensure our friends on the continent do not pull any fast ones.
We will provide the political threat to ensure no backsliding takes place and ensure that Brexit does indeed mean Exit.
With our six key tests we have set out a reasonable and clear position by which the government’s negotiations can be held to account.

Kristin Hugo29 March 2017 15:57