UK will begin negotiations to leave EU by the end of March 2017, says Theresa May

Theresa May - credit: PA

The UK will begin formal negotiations to leave the European Union (EU) by the end of March 2017, according to Prime Minister Theresa May.

Suggesting the UK could leave the EU by the summer of 2019, May outlined plans for a ‘Great Repeal Bill’ aimed at ending EU law's primacy in the UK.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference yesterday, the Prime Minister said she wanted British companies to have “maximum freedom to trade” with other member states, while highlighting free movement of people and accepting the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice as red lines the UK would refuse to accept in negotiations.

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She also rejected the idea of a so-called ‘soft Brexit’, saying: “This line of argument – in which ‘soft Brexit’ amounts to some form of continued EU membership and ‘hard Brexit’ is a conscious decision to reject trade with Europe – is simply a false dichotomy.”

But Labour MSP Lewis MacDonald questioned if the Tories had thought through the legal implications of May’s plan, while Angus Robertson claimed: “The Tories are in the process of walking the UK economy off a cliff with a vague promise that they’ll find a parachute on the way down.”

Meanwhile Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell argued the Great Repeal Act would require the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament.

In her first conference speech as PM, May outlined her plans for Brexit.

She said: “I want that deal to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship that close friends and allies enjoy.

“I want it to include cooperation on law enforcement and counter-terrorism work. I want it to involve free trade, in goods and services. I want it to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market – and let European businesses do the same here.

“But let me be clear. We are not leaving the European Union only to give up control of immigration again. And we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.”

But SNP MP Angus Robertson accused May of an “inability to outline even the basics of what ‘Brexit means Brexit’ actually means”.

He said: “Today the SNP is publishing 100 Brexit questions 100 days on – it is by no means an exhaustive list, but is shows the sheer scale of uncertainty facing Scotland and the rest of the UK. The Prime Minister is today set to address the Tory conference on Brexit – she needs to take the opportunity to start delivering at least some of the answers.

“Theresa May’s Brexit ministers are more interested in post-Empire fantasies about commissioning new Royal yachts than doing the hard work required – and this casual approach is putting jobs, investment and economic prosperity at risk.”

Meanwhile Scottish Labour’s Europe spokesperson Lewis Macdonald said the May “should be honest with the British people” about what leaving the single market would mean.

Macdonald said: "If ever a Prime Minister was brazen about putting party before country, then surely this is it.

"There is nothing 'great' about a Bill with the purpose of withdrawing from treaty obligations on one hand, then re-enacting all the laws which arise from those treaty obligations on the other.

"There is little evidence that the Conservative Government has worked out how this measure will work in Scotland, given the separate status and application of Scots Law.

"The rhetoric of "an independent and sovereign country once again" is only too familiar to people in Scotland. It is just as meaningless for Britain in the 21st century as it is for Scotland.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “When the Prime Minister finally triggers article 50 let's hope her negotiating position is more detailed than “Brexit means Brexit”.”