Article 50 has been triggered. The UK has formally issued its intention to leave the European Union. The formal negotiations will now begin in earnest.
As I have said all along, on 23rd June 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, and we must act in line with that decision.
The Prime Minister is the custodian of the people’s decision and will lead the negotiating process. In his position as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, The Rt Hon David Davis MP will facilitate this on her behalf, working closely with Civil Servants in the UK and in the EU. It will be a complicated process, but one I believe we have the capabilities to carry it out to a successful completion.
In her statement to Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister was positive, optimistic and clear in her intention to secure the UK’s national interests. She is absolutely the best person to lead the nation into a post-EU world.
You can read the full text of Theresa May’s letter to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk here.
If you are interested in finding out more about how the formal Brexit process works, the House of Commons Library have put together a very helpful briefing document which you can access here.