Article 50 To Be Triggered By March 2017
Finally, we have a date for Brexit. British Prime Minister, Theresa May revealed today that she will trigger Article 50 by March 2017.
It was also revealed that the Government will introduce a “Great Repeal Bill” to Parliament that aims to end the authority of European law in as soon as the country leaves the EU.
The historic proposal will scrap the European Communities Act, absorbing parts into UK law while giving ministers powers to reform and/or replace elements they wish to dispense with.
The announcements came yesterday as the Conservatives launched their annual party conference in Birmingham.
Speaking to the BBC's The Andrew Marr show prior to the conference, Ms May said: “As you know, I’ve been saying that we wouldn’t trigger before the end of this year so that we can get some preparation in place.
“But yes, I will be saying in my speech today that we will trigger before the end of March next year.”
The Prime Minister went on: “It’s for the European Union – the remaining members of the EU – to decide what the process of the negotiation is.
“I hope, that I’ll be saying to them, now they know what the timings will be, that we’ll be able to have some preparatory work so that once the trigger comes we have a smoother process of negotiation.”
The announcement is likely to drive more EU nationals residing in Britain to seek the best Immigration solicitors available to assist them with applying for a permanent residence Card and/or British Citizenship.
Some leading Brexit supporters, including Ian Duncan Smith, believe that Article 50 will be triggered earlier than March 2017.
However, Tory former minister Anna Soubry, who is on the liberal pro-Europe wing of the party, said triggering Article 50 so soon "really concerns" her and warned that the EU "holds all the cards" in the negotiation.
Ms Soubry stated: “We won't have had the French elections, we won't have had the German elections, and I'm sorry, it is going to take a lot of time and effort to disentangle ourselves and get the right deal.
"The other thing that's got to be said is this - this idea that we hold the cards and that the EU is going to come to us and say 'do you know what, we'll give you pretty much what you want', the idea we're going to get anything like we've got now is rubbish.
"We're going to get something worse, obviously we are, and we don't hold the cards, the EU does."
OTS Solicitors is regarded as one of the best Immigration law firms in the UK. If you need advice on permanent residence Cards, applying for British Citizenship or anything else relating to Brexit, please phone our office on 0203 959 9123 to talk to one of our dedicated Immigration solicitors.