Finally, the British Government is outlining its plans to take Britain out of the EU.
Theresa May has insisted the Brexit process will begin in earnest by the spring as she pledged a 'Great Repeal Bill' to scrap the 1972 act that took Britain into the EU.
The Prime Minister said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the formal mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - will be triggered by March.
She also unveiled plans to enshrine all Brussels rules into domestic law, arguing that it will help smooth the transition and unnecessary red tape can be abolished by parliament later.
The commitments, which pave the way for the UK to be fully outside the EU by April 2019 after a two-year negotiation period, come as the Conservative Party conference gets under way in Birmingham.
Mrs May is due to address the conference later for the first time as leader, amid intense criticism that she has not been clear enough about her approach to Brexit. Her speech is to start around 2pm.
In an interview she told The Sunday Times: 'This marks the first stage in the UK becoming a sovereign and independent country once again.
'It will return power and authority to the elected institutions of our country.
'It means that the authority of EU law in Britain will end.'
Brexit will be triggered by MARCH, Theresa May reveals as she pledges Great Repeal Bill to take all powers back from the EU
May will speak for the first time as leader at the Conservative Conference
Said today that Brexit process will be formally triggered by March
Means the UK is set to be out of the Brussels club by April 2019
The new repeal bill will remove the act that took the UK into the EU
It will enshrine all EU rules that currently apply to Britain into domestic law
These laws can then be abolished at a later date if required
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline and Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline
2 October 2016
The Daily Mail
Theresa May has insisted the Brexit process will begin in earnest by the spring as she pledged a 'Great Repeal Bill' to scrap the 1972 act that took Britain into the EU.
The Prime Minister said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the formal mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - will be triggered by March.
She also unveiled plans to enshrine all Brussels rules into domestic law, arguing that it will help smooth the transition and unnecessary red tape can be abolished by parliament later.
The PM, on The Andrew Marr Show in Birmingham this morning, said the move to repeal the legislation underpinning British membership of the EU was an 'important first step'
Mrs May is also proposing to enshrine all existing rules into UK law, with unnecessary ones to be removed later
The commitments, which pave the way for the UK to be fully outside the EU by April 2019 after a two-year negotiation period, come as the Conservative Party conference gets under way in Birmingham.
Mrs May is due to address the conference later for the first time as leader, amid intense criticism that she has not been clear enough about her approach to Brexit.
She has previously said that Article 50 will be invoked by the end of next year - but staunchly refused to be more precise.
There had been speculation that Mrs May wanted to delay until after elections in Germany slated for September, on the basis the EU will have a clearer idea of its negotiating position after that.
But Brexiteer ministers including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have been pressing for the process to begin sooner.
Asked for a rough timescale in an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning, Mrs May said: 'As you know, I have been saying that we wouldn't trigger it before the end of this year so that we get some preparation in place.
'But yes, I will be saying in my speech today that we will trigger (Article 50) before the end of March next year.'
Mrs May added: 'The remaining members of the EU have to decide what the process of negotiation is.
'I hope, and I will be saying to them, now that they know what our timing is going to be - it's not an exact date but they know it will be in the first quarter of next year - that we'll be able to have some preparatory work so that once the trigger comes we have a smoother process of negotiation.
Mrs May wore particularly eye-catching shoes for her conference TV interview this morning
Mrs May's speech to the Conservative Party conference at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Birmingham later is titled "Global Britain: Making A Success of Brexit"
'It's not just important for the UK but important for Europe as a whole that we're able to do this in the best possible way so we have the least disruption for businesses, and when we leave the EU we have a smooth transition from the EU.'
However, Mrs May cautioned that triggering Article 50 did not mean she would be conducting negotiations in public.
'This is not about keeping silent for two years, but it's about making sure that we are able to negotiate, that we don't set out all the cards in our negotiation because, as anybody will know who's been involved in these things, if you do that up front, or if you give a running commentary, you don't get the right deal,' she said.
The timing means that the UK will be out before the next round of elections to the European Parliament in 2019.
The repeal legislation will be hailed as the beginning of the end of the supremacy of EU law in Britain.
But the new act will not take effect until Article 50 is triggered and the formal process of leaving the bloc has begun.
The commitments are a response to demands from senior figures, including former Tory ministers Nicky Morgan and Ken Clarke, to go beyond the 'Brexit means Brexit' slogan.
Mrs May has again ruled out the prospect of an early election, insisting she wants stability for the country as she arrived for the gathering in Birmingham.
In an interview she told The Sunday Times: 'This marks the first stage in the UK becoming a sovereign and independent country once again.
'It will return power and authority to the elected institutions of our country.
'It means that the authority of EU law in Britain will end.'
The news will be greeted with cheers by Eurosceptics, who put repealing the 1972 European Communities Act, which took the UK in, at the heart of a 'Brexit manifesto' published days before the referendum.
Vote Leave, the formal campaign to leave the EU, also put getting rid of the European Communities Act as one of their top promises on the 'Brexit road map'.
On the opening day Mrs May and Brexit Secretary David Davis will detail plans for the 'Great Repeal Bill' that will allow Britain to 'take back control' of its legislation.
It will give Parliament the power to unpick the laws it wants to keep, remove or amend at a later date, in a move designed to give certainty to businesses and protection for workers' rights that are enshrined in EU law.
Rights such as parental leave and automatic holiday will be maintained, in order to fend off Labour attacks.
Mr Davis will say: 'To those who are trying to frighten British workers, saying 'when we leave, employment rights will be eroded', I say firmly and unequivocally, 'no they won't'.'
The Prime Minister, pictured arriving at the Conservative conference in Birmingham with husband Philip last night, has taken the unusual step of scheduling two speeches at this year's gathering
On the opening day Mrs May and Brexit Secretary David Davis will detail plans for the 'Great Repeal Bill'
The Bill is expected to be brought before Parliament in 2017 or 2018, and will not pre-empt the two-year process of leaving the EU, which begins when the Government triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Davis will tell the conference: 'We will follow the process to leave the EU which is set out in Article 50.
'The Prime Minister has been clear that she won't start the formal negotiations about our exit before the end of the year.
'As we prepare for those negotiations in Europe, we also need to prepare for the impact of Brexit on domestic law.
'It's very simple. At the moment we leave, Britain must be back in control. And that means EU law must cease to apply.
'To ensure continuity, we will take a simple approach. EU law will be transposed into domestic law, wherever practical, on exit day.
'It will be for elected politicians here to make the changes to reflect the outcome of our negotiation and our exit.
'That is what people voted for: power and authority residing once again with the sovereign institutions of our own country.'
The repeal Bill will also mean the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will no longer be the ultimate arbiter in legal disputes.
Controversial judgements from the ECJ over the years have triggered anger from right-leaning MPs, with the court held as a beacon of Brussels's influence over Britain.
Also included will be powers to make changes to the laws using secondary legislation as negotiations over the UK's future relationship proceed, although more wide-ranging amendments or new laws may come forward in separate legislation.
Mrs May also made clear she does not want the conference to be dominated by the issue of leaving the EU.
But it may prove difficult with Tory MPs divided between favouring a 'hard Brexit' outside the European single market to obtain complete control over immigration, or remaining in the free trade zone, but potentially having to comply with some EU rules.
Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the hotel in Birmingham ahead of the Conservative Party conference
'I'm clear that we are not going to be completely consumed by Brexit,' the Prime Minister told the Sun on Sunday.
'What I want to deliver is real change. To build a country that works for everyone.'
It is also not guaranteed that the Great Repeal Bill would be implemented efficiently, as it would still need a majority vote from MPs and peers.
This means the pro-EU Lords could hold up its progress.
Mrs May's speech, set for 2pm today, will open up the Conservative Party's four-day annual conference.
Theresa May has insisted the Brexit process will begin in earnest by the spring as she pledged a 'Great Repeal Bill' to scrap the 1972 act that took Britain into the EU.
The Prime Minister said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the formal mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - will be triggered by March.
She also unveiled plans to enshrine all Brussels rules into domestic law, arguing that it will help smooth the transition and unnecessary red tape can be abolished by parliament later.
The commitments, which pave the way for the UK to be fully outside the EU by April 2019 after a two-year negotiation period, come as the Conservative Party conference gets under way in Birmingham.
Mrs May is due to address the conference later for the first time as leader, amid intense criticism that she has not been clear enough about her approach to Brexit. Her speech is to start around 2pm.
In an interview she told The Sunday Times: 'This marks the first stage in the UK becoming a sovereign and independent country once again.
'It will return power and authority to the elected institutions of our country.
'It means that the authority of EU law in Britain will end.'
Brexit will be triggered by MARCH, Theresa May reveals as she pledges Great Repeal Bill to take all powers back from the EU
May will speak for the first time as leader at the Conservative Conference
Said today that Brexit process will be formally triggered by March
Means the UK is set to be out of the Brussels club by April 2019
The new repeal bill will remove the act that took the UK into the EU
It will enshrine all EU rules that currently apply to Britain into domestic law
These laws can then be abolished at a later date if required
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline and Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline
2 October 2016
The Daily Mail
Theresa May has insisted the Brexit process will begin in earnest by the spring as she pledged a 'Great Repeal Bill' to scrap the 1972 act that took Britain into the EU.
The Prime Minister said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the formal mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - will be triggered by March.
She also unveiled plans to enshrine all Brussels rules into domestic law, arguing that it will help smooth the transition and unnecessary red tape can be abolished by parliament later.
The PM, on The Andrew Marr Show in Birmingham this morning, said the move to repeal the legislation underpinning British membership of the EU was an 'important first step'
Mrs May is also proposing to enshrine all existing rules into UK law, with unnecessary ones to be removed later
The commitments, which pave the way for the UK to be fully outside the EU by April 2019 after a two-year negotiation period, come as the Conservative Party conference gets under way in Birmingham.
Mrs May is due to address the conference later for the first time as leader, amid intense criticism that she has not been clear enough about her approach to Brexit.
She has previously said that Article 50 will be invoked by the end of next year - but staunchly refused to be more precise.
There had been speculation that Mrs May wanted to delay until after elections in Germany slated for September, on the basis the EU will have a clearer idea of its negotiating position after that.
But Brexiteer ministers including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have been pressing for the process to begin sooner.
Asked for a rough timescale in an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning, Mrs May said: 'As you know, I have been saying that we wouldn't trigger it before the end of this year so that we get some preparation in place.
'But yes, I will be saying in my speech today that we will trigger (Article 50) before the end of March next year.'
Mrs May added: 'The remaining members of the EU have to decide what the process of negotiation is.
'I hope, and I will be saying to them, now that they know what our timing is going to be - it's not an exact date but they know it will be in the first quarter of next year - that we'll be able to have some preparatory work so that once the trigger comes we have a smoother process of negotiation.
Mrs May wore particularly eye-catching shoes for her conference TV interview this morning
Mrs May's speech to the Conservative Party conference at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Birmingham later is titled "Global Britain: Making A Success of Brexit"
'It's not just important for the UK but important for Europe as a whole that we're able to do this in the best possible way so we have the least disruption for businesses, and when we leave the EU we have a smooth transition from the EU.'
However, Mrs May cautioned that triggering Article 50 did not mean she would be conducting negotiations in public.
'This is not about keeping silent for two years, but it's about making sure that we are able to negotiate, that we don't set out all the cards in our negotiation because, as anybody will know who's been involved in these things, if you do that up front, or if you give a running commentary, you don't get the right deal,' she said.
The timing means that the UK will be out before the next round of elections to the European Parliament in 2019.
The repeal legislation will be hailed as the beginning of the end of the supremacy of EU law in Britain.
But the new act will not take effect until Article 50 is triggered and the formal process of leaving the bloc has begun.
The commitments are a response to demands from senior figures, including former Tory ministers Nicky Morgan and Ken Clarke, to go beyond the 'Brexit means Brexit' slogan.
Mrs May has again ruled out the prospect of an early election, insisting she wants stability for the country as she arrived for the gathering in Birmingham.
In an interview she told The Sunday Times: 'This marks the first stage in the UK becoming a sovereign and independent country once again.
'It will return power and authority to the elected institutions of our country.
'It means that the authority of EU law in Britain will end.'
The news will be greeted with cheers by Eurosceptics, who put repealing the 1972 European Communities Act, which took the UK in, at the heart of a 'Brexit manifesto' published days before the referendum.
Vote Leave, the formal campaign to leave the EU, also put getting rid of the European Communities Act as one of their top promises on the 'Brexit road map'.
On the opening day Mrs May and Brexit Secretary David Davis will detail plans for the 'Great Repeal Bill' that will allow Britain to 'take back control' of its legislation.
It will give Parliament the power to unpick the laws it wants to keep, remove or amend at a later date, in a move designed to give certainty to businesses and protection for workers' rights that are enshrined in EU law.
Rights such as parental leave and automatic holiday will be maintained, in order to fend off Labour attacks.
Mr Davis will say: 'To those who are trying to frighten British workers, saying 'when we leave, employment rights will be eroded', I say firmly and unequivocally, 'no they won't'.'
The Prime Minister, pictured arriving at the Conservative conference in Birmingham with husband Philip last night, has taken the unusual step of scheduling two speeches at this year's gathering
On the opening day Mrs May and Brexit Secretary David Davis will detail plans for the 'Great Repeal Bill'
The Bill is expected to be brought before Parliament in 2017 or 2018, and will not pre-empt the two-year process of leaving the EU, which begins when the Government triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Davis will tell the conference: 'We will follow the process to leave the EU which is set out in Article 50.
'The Prime Minister has been clear that she won't start the formal negotiations about our exit before the end of the year.
'As we prepare for those negotiations in Europe, we also need to prepare for the impact of Brexit on domestic law.
'It's very simple. At the moment we leave, Britain must be back in control. And that means EU law must cease to apply.
'To ensure continuity, we will take a simple approach. EU law will be transposed into domestic law, wherever practical, on exit day.
'It will be for elected politicians here to make the changes to reflect the outcome of our negotiation and our exit.
'That is what people voted for: power and authority residing once again with the sovereign institutions of our own country.'
The repeal Bill will also mean the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will no longer be the ultimate arbiter in legal disputes.
Controversial judgements from the ECJ over the years have triggered anger from right-leaning MPs, with the court held as a beacon of Brussels's influence over Britain.
Also included will be powers to make changes to the laws using secondary legislation as negotiations over the UK's future relationship proceed, although more wide-ranging amendments or new laws may come forward in separate legislation.
Mrs May also made clear she does not want the conference to be dominated by the issue of leaving the EU.
But it may prove difficult with Tory MPs divided between favouring a 'hard Brexit' outside the European single market to obtain complete control over immigration, or remaining in the free trade zone, but potentially having to comply with some EU rules.
Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the hotel in Birmingham ahead of the Conservative Party conference
'I'm clear that we are not going to be completely consumed by Brexit,' the Prime Minister told the Sun on Sunday.
'What I want to deliver is real change. To build a country that works for everyone.'
It is also not guaranteed that the Great Repeal Bill would be implemented efficiently, as it would still need a majority vote from MPs and peers.
This means the pro-EU Lords could hold up its progress.
Mrs May's speech, set for 2pm today, will open up the Conservative Party's four-day annual conference.
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