May pledges article 50 notice by March 2017

The United Kingdom will start the formal two year countdown to leaving the European Union by March 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed yesterday.

Mrs May assured the Conservative Party Conference that the Government would take the step of giving formal notice under article 50 of the Treaty of European Union itself without reference to Parliament, and accused those bringing a legal challenge in the courts to seek to prevent this of trying to subvert democracy rather than stand up for it.

She also insisted that the UK Government alone was responsible for the negotiations with the EU, and that while it would consult with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations, there would be no possibility of a Scottish veto on the agreement. "There is no opt-out from Brexit. And I will never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious Union between the four nations of our United Kingdom", she declared.

The Prime Minister said the UK would have a bespoke deal that protected trade while giving it control over its borders. 

She also revealed that the Queen's speech for the 2017-18 session will contain a Great Repeal Bill to deal with the European Communities Act 1972 and legislation made under it as required by the EU. This will be re-enacted as UK law, and can then be amended or repealed under UK domestic processes.

Mike Russell, the Scottish Government minister leading discussions with Westminster over Brexit, said the bill would require a legislative consent motion at Holyrood, which would be likely to be opposed.

Scottish ministers want the UK to remain part of the single market, but Mrs May is determined that the UK will regain control of immigration and also be free of the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU.

David Greene, solicitor for Deir Santos, one of the applicants bringing the legal challenge in relation to article 50, said in response to Mrs May's criticisms that the action was "about the rule of law". To accuse his client and others of being anti-democratic "is both wrong and inflammatory. It will merely serve to increase the heat in this debate which turns on simple legal and constitutional principles", he stated.