The historic letter that will finally trigger our divorce from the EU has arrived in Brussels.
Nine months after the people delivered their verdict in the referendum, UK envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at the European Council's offices bearing a diplomatic bag thought to contain the notification of our departure.
Later Britain will pass the point of no return on its Brexit journey when Sir Tim hands the document invoking the Article 50 process to Council President Donald Tusk.
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet on the task ahead this morning, after putting her signature to the letter last night before it was couriered to Belgium by diplomats and guards.
The exact location of the handover has been kept a closely-guarded secret amid fears of disruption by Europhiles. Sir Tim is understood to have a 'routine' meeting with other ambassadors at the council building before the event takes place.
In a statement to MPs scheduled for the same moment Mr Tusk receives the missive, the PM will make a bold appeal for national unity amid the tough negotiations to come.
Meanwhile, think tank Civitas has said that the UK should sidestep EU demands for a hefty 'divorce bill' during Brexit talks by handing Brussels a one TRILLION euro counterclaim.
It's E-Day! Britain's man in Brussels arrives at EU headquarters for the historic moment when Article 50 is FINALLY triggered - as May gathers her Cabinet to begin preparing for a future outside the EU
British Prime Minister signed the historic letter triggering EU divorce last night
Brexit will be irreversible once handed to EU chief Donald Tusk in Brussels today
Exact details of handover have been kept secret amid concerns over protests
Negotiations will then start on details of the Brexit process set to last until 2019
PM is holding Cabinet meeting this morning ahead of Commons statement
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline
29 March 2017
In 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Theresa May signs the letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk which will finally trigger Article 50 today, starting Brexit
The historic letter that will finally trigger our divorce from the EU has arrived in Brussels.
Nine months after the people delivered their verdict in the referendum, UK envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at the European Council's offices bearing a diplomatic bag thought to contain the notification of our departure.
Later Britain will pass the point of no return on its Brexit journey when Sir Tim hands the document invoking the Article 50 process to Council President Donald Tusk.
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet on the task ahead this morning, after putting her signature to the letter last night before it was couriered to Belgium by diplomats and guards.
The exact location of the handover has been kept a closely-guarded secret amid fears of disruption by Europhiles. Sir Tim is understood to have a 'routine' meeting with other ambassadors at the council building before the event takes place.
In a statement to MPs scheduled for the same moment Mr Tusk receives the missive, the PM will make a bold appeal for national unity amid the tough negotiations to come.
Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's Permanent Representative to the EU, arrived at the European Council building in Brussels at 8.51am British time, carrying a diplomatic bag thought to contain the letter
Sir Tim is due to hand over the Article 50 notification to European Council President Donald Tusk at around 12.30pm
Theresa May officially invokes Article 50 as she signs a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk, under the watchful eye of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole (pictured)
She will say we should be 'no longer defined by the vote we cast, but by our determination to make a success of the result'. 'We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future,' she will add.
'Now that the decision has been made to leave the EU, it is time to come together.'
Chancellor Philip Hammond said it was an 'exciting time' and the government was making a 'new future for Britain'. 'This is a moment when we put the divisions of the past behind us,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Sat in the cabinet office of Downing Street, May last night signed her name under the watchful eye of Sir Robert Walpole, the country's first ever Prime Minister.
Afterwards she telephoned Mr Tusk, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, to inform them about her approach.
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'In separate calls, they agreed that a strong EU was in everyone's interests and that the UK would remain a close and committed ally.
'They also agreed on the importance of entering into negotiations in a constructive and positive spirit, and of ensuring a smooth and orderly exit process.'
It emerged last night that Britain will obey Brussels free movement rules for up to two more years.
DETAIL OF HANDOVER KEPT A SECRET TO AVOID PROTESTS
Details of where the handover of the Article 50 letter will take place have been kept under wraps amid fears of protests.
Sir Tim Barrow will deliver the historic document to European Council president Donald Tusk at 12.30pm British time.
The moment could take place at Mr Tusk's office in Brussels, around 150 yards from the UK's embassy.
However, the exact arrangements are secret amid fears that Europhiles could seek to disrupt the process in a final act of defiance.
Ministers had considered using the official notification as a 'cut-off point', denying new EU arrivals the automatic right to stay here. But sources last night confirmed that this idea had been dropped and the timing of the cut-off will form part of the Brexit negotiations.
The decision on free movement last night raised fears of a rush by EU migrants to beat the deadline.
A government source insisted the Prime Minister had not avoided an early confrontation with Brussels in order to ease the opening of negotiations.
'We have not ducked anything,' the source said. 'The fact is that we have not got a reciprocal deal on the rights of citizens abroad so we cannot set a date for the start of a new system.'
Another source said the Home Office was concerned about the practical difficulties of enforcing a cut-off date before the introduction of a new post-Brexit immigration regime.
Mrs May last night signed the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk informing him that the UK is triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal method of leaving the 28-member bloc.
The letter was conveyed to Brussels by diplomats last night and will be handed to Mr Tusk by our envoy to the EU, Sir Tim, at lunchtime today. It starts a two-year process that will see the UK leave by midnight on March 29 2019.
Leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson was in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting this morning hours before the historic letter is delivered
International Development Secretary Priti Patel and Business Secretary Greg Clark were among those arriving for the Cabinet meeting this morning
The Prime Minister has written a letter that will be delivered by hand to EU Council President Donald Tusk, pictured marking the EU's 60th anniversary on Saturday, at around 12.30pm
The Prime Minister will pledge to represent 'every person in the UK', during talks with Brussels, including diehard Remain voters and 3.2million EU citizens living here.
Setting out her ambitions for the negotiations, she will pledge to make the UK stronger, fairer and more secure.
'It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country,' she will say.
'For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can, and must, bring us together.'
ARTICLE 50: HOW THE HISTORIC DAY FOR BRITAIN WILL UNFOLD
Theresa May will finally trigger Article 50 today and start the process of Britain's departure.
At 8am, she met her Cabinet in Downing Street and brief her senior team on its contents.
At around the same time the UK's envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at his offices in Brussels. He now has the signed letter notifying the EU of Brexit in his possession.
Mrs May will take her normal PMQs session at noon.
And at 12.30pm she will make a statement to MPs on Article 50, timed to coincide with the moment Sir Tim delivers the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk. The exact location of the handover has been kept a secret to avoid Europhile protests.
Mr Tusk will tweet to say he has formally received the historic notification.
Meanwhile, the text of the letter will be released in the UK and Mrs May can expect a barrage of questions from MPs lasting up to two hours.
She will also submit herself to an in-depth BBC interview tonight to explain her approach to the British people.
The Article trigger is irreversible. It will begin a two year process of negotiations that will expire on March 29 2019.
While a transitional period is thought likely, Britain will cease to be a full member of the EU.
Some 279 days will have passed since the referendum on June 23, 2016 when Article 50 is invoked - and exit will occur 1,009 days after polling day.
Sources last night said the letter to Mr Tusk would set out the broad principles of Mrs May's negotiating aims, without getting into the detail.
The document is expected to confirm that Brexit will involve the UK's departure from the EU's single market, because membership would mean accepting free movement and EU court rulings.
Mrs May is expected to demand that trade talks are conducted in parallel with wrangling over the terms of the UK's exit. EU leaders have warned of a £50billion divorce bill.
The Prime Minister will call for an early agreement guaranteeing the rights of 3.2million EU citizens living in the UK and 1.2million British citizens in Europe.
Government lawyers have warned that any cut-off prior to the end of Britain's EU membership would inevitably face court challenges.
Sources last night said a date was unlikely to be set until a deal on reciprocal citizen rights has been agreed.
The European Parliament yesterday threatened to block a final Brexit deal if the UK tried to introduce a cut-off before its full departure from the EU.
A resolution setting out MEPs' demands will be voted on next week and will include a provision for 'non-discrimination' against EU citizens in the UK.
A source who has seen the document said: 'The Parliament will demand that EU free movement law is applied until the day the UK leaves.'
The Article 50 process has never been used before. Ministers believe that, after today, the UK's departure from the organisation it joined in 1973 will be irrevocable.
Mr Tusk will set out the EU's 'draft negotiation guidelines' by the end of the week before sending them to the 27 remaining states for consultation.
EU leaders will meet on April 29 at an extraordinary European Council summit to agree a mandate for chief negotiator Michel Barnier and clear the way for talks to begin in earnest in May.
Mr Hammond risked fuelling tensions with Cabinet colleagues today by giving a cautious assessment of what the government will be able to negotiate from Brussels.
'We've already made it clear that we accept that, because of our requirements, because of the requirements the British people specified in the referendum result, we will not be members of the European single market, we will not be full members of the European customs union and not being members of those entities has some consequences, it carries some significance and the European Union understands that,' he said.
MORE THAN 50,000 EU LAWS TO BE PUT ON UK STATUTE BOOKS
The government is set to enshrine more than 50,000 EU laws into the domestic statute books, research has revealed.
Figures from Thomson Reuters, show some 52,741 pieces of Brussels legislation have been passed since 1990 alone.
They are set to be transposed into UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, which is being unveiled tomorrow.
'I think the fact that we set that out very clearly has sent a clear signal to our European partners that we understand that we can't cherry pick, we can't have our cake and eat it, that by deciding to leave the European Union and negotiate a future relationship with the EU as an independent nation, there will be certain consequences of that and we accept those.'
But Mr Hammond voiced confidence that the UK would create a new 'special relationship' with the EU encompassing trade, security and education.
'I am very confident that we will not get an outcome which would be a worst-case outcome for everybody. That would be ridiculous,' he said.
'We are going to get a deal. The question is about the shape and nature of that deal.'
Meanwhile, far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has warned that the EU 'undeniably' intends to punish Britain over Brexit and the bloc wants the split to be 'as painful as possible'.
The National Front leader, who is standing on a fiercely anti-Brussels ticket, said European leaders could 'feel' other members want to break away and want to avoid a 'domino effect'.
The landmark document (pictured) will be handed over by Britain's EU ambassador Sir Tim Barrow and represents the first act of an irreversible Brexit process
The UK's representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, arrives at his office in Brussels today for one of the biggest moments in his career
Brexit Secretary David Davis and Home Secretary Amber Rudd were both seen arriving in Downing Street last night as the finishing touches were put to the Article 50 letter
However, speaking to BBC's Newsnight, Ms Le Pen said she expected Britain to ultimately secure a good deal during negotiations to leave the EU, which formally begin on Wednesday.
Asked if the UK will be punished for triggering Article 50, she said: 'That's undeniably the intention of the EU. The EU wants the divorce to be as painful as possible. That's simply because they can feel that other nations of Europe want to leave this political structure.
'They don't want a domino effect. Blackmail didn't work, project fear didn't work either. So they have to try to make the separation as painful as possible. Will they succeed? I don't think so.'
Ms Le Pen said Britain's position will be favourable after leaving the EU as it will be able to protect itself from 'uncontrolled globalisation'.
'Gloomy' Brexit report sparks MPs' walkout
Tory MPs staged an unprecedented walkout from a cross-party committee on Brexit yesterday in protest against a 'massively skewed' report.
During a stormy meeting at Westminster, pro-Brexit MPs complained that the committee's Labour chairman Hilary Benn had failed to consult them before presenting them with a 155-page report savaging the Government's handling of Britain's departure from the EU.
A source said Mr Benn, a former Cabinet minister, tried to pressure committee members into signing the 'gloomy' report.
When Mr Benn refused to back down, three Tories walked out – Dominic Raab, Maria Caulfield and Karl McCartney.
A source said Hilary Benn (pictured) tried to pressure committee members into signing the 'gloomy' report
The other six pro-Brexit members of the 21-strong committee are also expected to vote against the report's findings, rendering it almost worthless. Last night they were even discussing the release of a minority report setting out a more balanced appraisal of the Government's approach to Brexit.
One source on the panel accused Mr Benn of 'trying to use the committee to fire an Exocet [missile] at the Government in the week it triggers Article 50'.
The source added: 'Normally when you are drawing up a committee report you start with a debate about the principles.
'This time, we were presented with a 155-page draft report that is massively skewed against Brexit. We were told we could offer some drafting suggestions, but there is no point doing that when the report itself is irredeemably flawed.
'Several of us suggested that we go back to first principles, but when this idea was rejected, there didn't seem much point in staying. It was perfectly amicable but pretty frustrating.'
Former Tory Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, who is on the committee, was not at yesterday's meeting but said he was 'not happy' with Mr Benn's report.
A spokesman for the committee said Mr Benn would not be commenting on the row, adding: 'We do not comment on private discussions.' But the failure to reach a consensus means the committee's report on the Government's Brexit white paper now risks being fatally undermined when it is published later this week.
It also highlights concerns about the operation of the committee, which has an in-built majority of Remain MPs including Mr Benn, who played a prominent role in the campaign to keep Britain in the EU last year.
The committee, which is almost twice the size of a normal Commons committee, is made up of 12 pro-Remain MPs and just nine who supported Brexit.
Eurosceptic Tory MP Peter Bone said yesterday's walkout raised question marks about the future operation of the committee.
'It is unheard of for MPs to walk out of a private meeting during deliberations on a report,' he said.
'It does appear that the chairman is trying to use the committee to promote a personal, pro-Remain agenda, which does not reflect the mood in the country. I am not sure this committee can work if it carries on like this. The whole point about select committees is to reach a consensus. Unless you can do that, any conclusions you reach are pretty pointless.'
But pro-Remain MPs yesterday insisted the committee was working.
Alistair Burt, a former Tory Foreign Office minister who is on the panel, dismissed the walkout, posting a message on Twitter saying: 'Rest of Committee still sitting and doing its job to consider the report.'
Anna Soubry, one of the most Europhile Tory MPs, said the committee was fully entitled to produce a 'gloomy' report on Brexit, adding: 'Gloomy = Brexit reality. It doesn't have to be like this. Membership of the single market will make our prospects brighter.'
Committee sources said the report is likely to be published this week.
IN FULL: MAY'S WARCRY TO THE UK AHEAD OF BREXIT
'When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between.
'And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home.
'It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.
'For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can - and must - bring us together.
'We all want to see a Britain that is stronger than it is today. We all want a country that is fairer so that everyone has the chance to succeed.
'We all want a nation that is safe and secure for our children and grandchildren. We all want to live in a truly Global Britain that gets out and builds relationships with old friends and new allies around the world.
'These are the ambitions of this Government's Plan for Britain. Ambitions that unite us, so that we are no longer defined by the vote we cast, but by our determination to make a success of the result.
'We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future.
'And, now that the decision has been made to leave the EU, it is time to come together.'
'BRUSSELS OWES UK A TRILLION EUROS'
The UK should sidestep demands for a hefty 'divorce bill' during Brexit talks by handing Brussels a one trillion euro counterclaim.
The audacious approach in a report by a leading think tank called for Downing Street to demand compensation for inefficiency and bad practice since the UK joined the EU.
Disputes over the £52billion 'divorce bill', which covers contributions towards eurocrat pensions and future EU budgets, is likely to prove contentious. Leading EU figures yesterday refused to back down and said they would only approve a Brexit deal that was 'very costly' for the UK. But the Civitas think tank's report calls for the UK to launch a significant array of financial claims during negotiations.
The cross-party body said that the UK should enter compensation claims for 'fraudulent and extravagant' EU use of British funds, as well as increased military expenditure caused by EU recklessness.
It calls for a £22billion compensation claim for being associated with the 'EU's chronic dysfunction and maladministration', as well as £48billion in financial damage caused by European banks.
Read more: Brexit letter to trigger EU divorce arrives in Brussels | Daily Mail Online
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For those who dreamed of this moment, a toast to Brexit
Telegraph View
29 March 2017
83 Comments
A Leave supporter is seen as fishing boats campaigning for Brexit sail down the Thames through central London on June 15 2016. Credit: Anadolu Agency
This is a historic day for Britain. Today, a UK government triggers Article 50 and begins the process of Brexit. And so the country enters a period of negotiation that, early signs suggest, will be tough, even acrimonious. But the goal is worth some hard work. Britain is seeking to restore its sovereignty.
Mrs May is a serious-minded politician and will doubtless regard today as an occasion for getting down to business, rather than celebrating. But for those who have for so long dreamed of this moment, a toast is irresistible.
Even Eurosceptics have to marvel at how far the country has come. Until recently, Brexit was dismissed by the establishment as a fringe position. A referendum was offered largely as a bribe to Ukip voters; a Remain win was predicted. Not only did Leave triumph against the odds but the prime minister, David Cameron, was forced to resign.
Mr Cameron’s replacement, Theresa May, had also opposed Brexit – and yet she astutely read the winds and declared that she would see it through, even if it meant walking away from the EU without a deal. The length of time Mrs May set from her ascendancy to triggering Article 50 proved wise. It allowed the Civil Service to prepare. It allowed the country to get over the shock of the referendum result. And it allowed the Remain militants to exhaust parliamentary obstruction. Britain is on the way to Brexit.
The road will be long; there will be obstacles to progress. The problem boils down to perspective. In her Lancaster House speech, delivered in January, the Prime Minister signalled that her focus is on the future: on the terms of withdrawal, yes, but also future cooperation – laying the foundations for “the greatest possible access” to the European market “through a… bold and ambitious free trade agreement”.
Many EU leaders, however, are thinking about punishment. They want to make Britain pay, to set an example. The European Commission calculates that the UK owes it €60 billion. This is a bold opening gambit by the EU, but the UK Government has already signalled that it regards the sum as preposterously large – and the House of Lords has even said that Britain could walk away from the negotiating table without paying anything at all.
Then there is the issue of the fate of foreign citizens. Mrs May wanted to strike an early deal on this matter, to say that the EU citizens currently resident in the UK were welcome to stay. But Berlin and Brussels refused to discuss it.
The contrast in attitudes is sobering. Mrs May will tell the Commons that she is fighting on behalf of “EU nationals who have made this country their home”. Ministers are said to have wanted to make today the cut-off point for the free movement of people – a reasonable request. Again, the EU has said no.
This stubborness is reminiscent of the EU’s behaviour during Mr Cameron’s renegotiation effort. It serves an emotional need to put the UK in its place – but amounts in the long-run to self-harm. After all, by some estimations Europe needs Britain even more than Britain needs Europe.
The Europeans need access to our markets: Germany sells more cars to the UK than to any other country, while our financial services are second to none. And the UK’s cooperation on everything from energy to defence is critical to the stability of the continent. The row over migration is indicative of a painful fact: the UK’s economy is vibrant, growing and attracting the youth of Europe. Britain is one of the few European success stories still going strong, while the eurozone struggles from crisis to crisis.
Britain enters these negotiations in a strong position. Mrs May’s long-term goal will be to shift the EU’s attention away from the conditions of separation and towards constructing a framework for the future. She must resist being distracted by any naysayers back home, especially the SNP and its grandstanding vote last night at Holyrood for a second independence referendum.
Mrs May is a serious-minded politician and will doubtless regard today as an occasion for getting down to business, rather than celebrating. But for those who have for so long dreamed of this moment, a toast is irresistible. To a long campaign well fought. To the triggering of Article 50 and the accomplishment of an impossible dream. And to Britain, whose future is full of potential.
For those who dreamed of this moment, a toast to Brexit
Nine months after the people delivered their verdict in the referendum, UK envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at the European Council's offices bearing a diplomatic bag thought to contain the notification of our departure.
Later Britain will pass the point of no return on its Brexit journey when Sir Tim hands the document invoking the Article 50 process to Council President Donald Tusk.
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet on the task ahead this morning, after putting her signature to the letter last night before it was couriered to Belgium by diplomats and guards.
The exact location of the handover has been kept a closely-guarded secret amid fears of disruption by Europhiles. Sir Tim is understood to have a 'routine' meeting with other ambassadors at the council building before the event takes place.
In a statement to MPs scheduled for the same moment Mr Tusk receives the missive, the PM will make a bold appeal for national unity amid the tough negotiations to come.
Meanwhile, think tank Civitas has said that the UK should sidestep EU demands for a hefty 'divorce bill' during Brexit talks by handing Brussels a one TRILLION euro counterclaim.
It's E-Day! Britain's man in Brussels arrives at EU headquarters for the historic moment when Article 50 is FINALLY triggered - as May gathers her Cabinet to begin preparing for a future outside the EU
British Prime Minister signed the historic letter triggering EU divorce last night
Brexit will be irreversible once handed to EU chief Donald Tusk in Brussels today
Exact details of handover have been kept secret amid concerns over protests
Negotiations will then start on details of the Brexit process set to last until 2019
PM is holding Cabinet meeting this morning ahead of Commons statement
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline
29 March 2017
In 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Theresa May signs the letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk which will finally trigger Article 50 today, starting Brexit
The historic letter that will finally trigger our divorce from the EU has arrived in Brussels.
Nine months after the people delivered their verdict in the referendum, UK envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at the European Council's offices bearing a diplomatic bag thought to contain the notification of our departure.
Later Britain will pass the point of no return on its Brexit journey when Sir Tim hands the document invoking the Article 50 process to Council President Donald Tusk.
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet on the task ahead this morning, after putting her signature to the letter last night before it was couriered to Belgium by diplomats and guards.
The exact location of the handover has been kept a closely-guarded secret amid fears of disruption by Europhiles. Sir Tim is understood to have a 'routine' meeting with other ambassadors at the council building before the event takes place.
In a statement to MPs scheduled for the same moment Mr Tusk receives the missive, the PM will make a bold appeal for national unity amid the tough negotiations to come.
Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's Permanent Representative to the EU, arrived at the European Council building in Brussels at 8.51am British time, carrying a diplomatic bag thought to contain the letter
Sir Tim is due to hand over the Article 50 notification to European Council President Donald Tusk at around 12.30pm
Theresa May officially invokes Article 50 as she signs a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk, under the watchful eye of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole (pictured)
She will say we should be 'no longer defined by the vote we cast, but by our determination to make a success of the result'. 'We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future,' she will add.
'Now that the decision has been made to leave the EU, it is time to come together.'
Chancellor Philip Hammond said it was an 'exciting time' and the government was making a 'new future for Britain'. 'This is a moment when we put the divisions of the past behind us,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Sat in the cabinet office of Downing Street, May last night signed her name under the watchful eye of Sir Robert Walpole, the country's first ever Prime Minister.
Afterwards she telephoned Mr Tusk, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, to inform them about her approach.
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'In separate calls, they agreed that a strong EU was in everyone's interests and that the UK would remain a close and committed ally.
'They also agreed on the importance of entering into negotiations in a constructive and positive spirit, and of ensuring a smooth and orderly exit process.'
It emerged last night that Britain will obey Brussels free movement rules for up to two more years.
DETAIL OF HANDOVER KEPT A SECRET TO AVOID PROTESTS
Details of where the handover of the Article 50 letter will take place have been kept under wraps amid fears of protests.
Sir Tim Barrow will deliver the historic document to European Council president Donald Tusk at 12.30pm British time.
The moment could take place at Mr Tusk's office in Brussels, around 150 yards from the UK's embassy.
However, the exact arrangements are secret amid fears that Europhiles could seek to disrupt the process in a final act of defiance.
Ministers had considered using the official notification as a 'cut-off point', denying new EU arrivals the automatic right to stay here. But sources last night confirmed that this idea had been dropped and the timing of the cut-off will form part of the Brexit negotiations.
The decision on free movement last night raised fears of a rush by EU migrants to beat the deadline.
A government source insisted the Prime Minister had not avoided an early confrontation with Brussels in order to ease the opening of negotiations.
'We have not ducked anything,' the source said. 'The fact is that we have not got a reciprocal deal on the rights of citizens abroad so we cannot set a date for the start of a new system.'
Another source said the Home Office was concerned about the practical difficulties of enforcing a cut-off date before the introduction of a new post-Brexit immigration regime.
Mrs May last night signed the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk informing him that the UK is triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal method of leaving the 28-member bloc.
The letter was conveyed to Brussels by diplomats last night and will be handed to Mr Tusk by our envoy to the EU, Sir Tim, at lunchtime today. It starts a two-year process that will see the UK leave by midnight on March 29 2019.
Leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson was in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting this morning hours before the historic letter is delivered
International Development Secretary Priti Patel and Business Secretary Greg Clark were among those arriving for the Cabinet meeting this morning
The Prime Minister has written a letter that will be delivered by hand to EU Council President Donald Tusk, pictured marking the EU's 60th anniversary on Saturday, at around 12.30pm
The Prime Minister will pledge to represent 'every person in the UK', during talks with Brussels, including diehard Remain voters and 3.2million EU citizens living here.
Setting out her ambitions for the negotiations, she will pledge to make the UK stronger, fairer and more secure.
'It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country,' she will say.
'For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can, and must, bring us together.'
ARTICLE 50: HOW THE HISTORIC DAY FOR BRITAIN WILL UNFOLD
Theresa May will finally trigger Article 50 today and start the process of Britain's departure.
At 8am, she met her Cabinet in Downing Street and brief her senior team on its contents.
At around the same time the UK's envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at his offices in Brussels. He now has the signed letter notifying the EU of Brexit in his possession.
Mrs May will take her normal PMQs session at noon.
And at 12.30pm she will make a statement to MPs on Article 50, timed to coincide with the moment Sir Tim delivers the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk. The exact location of the handover has been kept a secret to avoid Europhile protests.
Mr Tusk will tweet to say he has formally received the historic notification.
Meanwhile, the text of the letter will be released in the UK and Mrs May can expect a barrage of questions from MPs lasting up to two hours.
She will also submit herself to an in-depth BBC interview tonight to explain her approach to the British people.
The Article trigger is irreversible. It will begin a two year process of negotiations that will expire on March 29 2019.
While a transitional period is thought likely, Britain will cease to be a full member of the EU.
Some 279 days will have passed since the referendum on June 23, 2016 when Article 50 is invoked - and exit will occur 1,009 days after polling day.
Sources last night said the letter to Mr Tusk would set out the broad principles of Mrs May's negotiating aims, without getting into the detail.
The document is expected to confirm that Brexit will involve the UK's departure from the EU's single market, because membership would mean accepting free movement and EU court rulings.
Mrs May is expected to demand that trade talks are conducted in parallel with wrangling over the terms of the UK's exit. EU leaders have warned of a £50billion divorce bill.
The Prime Minister will call for an early agreement guaranteeing the rights of 3.2million EU citizens living in the UK and 1.2million British citizens in Europe.
Government lawyers have warned that any cut-off prior to the end of Britain's EU membership would inevitably face court challenges.
Sources last night said a date was unlikely to be set until a deal on reciprocal citizen rights has been agreed.
The European Parliament yesterday threatened to block a final Brexit deal if the UK tried to introduce a cut-off before its full departure from the EU.
A resolution setting out MEPs' demands will be voted on next week and will include a provision for 'non-discrimination' against EU citizens in the UK.
A source who has seen the document said: 'The Parliament will demand that EU free movement law is applied until the day the UK leaves.'
The Article 50 process has never been used before. Ministers believe that, after today, the UK's departure from the organisation it joined in 1973 will be irrevocable.
Mr Tusk will set out the EU's 'draft negotiation guidelines' by the end of the week before sending them to the 27 remaining states for consultation.
EU leaders will meet on April 29 at an extraordinary European Council summit to agree a mandate for chief negotiator Michel Barnier and clear the way for talks to begin in earnest in May.
Mr Hammond risked fuelling tensions with Cabinet colleagues today by giving a cautious assessment of what the government will be able to negotiate from Brussels.
'We've already made it clear that we accept that, because of our requirements, because of the requirements the British people specified in the referendum result, we will not be members of the European single market, we will not be full members of the European customs union and not being members of those entities has some consequences, it carries some significance and the European Union understands that,' he said.
MORE THAN 50,000 EU LAWS TO BE PUT ON UK STATUTE BOOKS
The government is set to enshrine more than 50,000 EU laws into the domestic statute books, research has revealed.
Figures from Thomson Reuters, show some 52,741 pieces of Brussels legislation have been passed since 1990 alone.
They are set to be transposed into UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, which is being unveiled tomorrow.
'I think the fact that we set that out very clearly has sent a clear signal to our European partners that we understand that we can't cherry pick, we can't have our cake and eat it, that by deciding to leave the European Union and negotiate a future relationship with the EU as an independent nation, there will be certain consequences of that and we accept those.'
But Mr Hammond voiced confidence that the UK would create a new 'special relationship' with the EU encompassing trade, security and education.
'I am very confident that we will not get an outcome which would be a worst-case outcome for everybody. That would be ridiculous,' he said.
'We are going to get a deal. The question is about the shape and nature of that deal.'
Meanwhile, far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has warned that the EU 'undeniably' intends to punish Britain over Brexit and the bloc wants the split to be 'as painful as possible'.
The National Front leader, who is standing on a fiercely anti-Brussels ticket, said European leaders could 'feel' other members want to break away and want to avoid a 'domino effect'.
The landmark document (pictured) will be handed over by Britain's EU ambassador Sir Tim Barrow and represents the first act of an irreversible Brexit process
The UK's representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, arrives at his office in Brussels today for one of the biggest moments in his career
Brexit Secretary David Davis and Home Secretary Amber Rudd were both seen arriving in Downing Street last night as the finishing touches were put to the Article 50 letter
However, speaking to BBC's Newsnight, Ms Le Pen said she expected Britain to ultimately secure a good deal during negotiations to leave the EU, which formally begin on Wednesday.
Asked if the UK will be punished for triggering Article 50, she said: 'That's undeniably the intention of the EU. The EU wants the divorce to be as painful as possible. That's simply because they can feel that other nations of Europe want to leave this political structure.
'They don't want a domino effect. Blackmail didn't work, project fear didn't work either. So they have to try to make the separation as painful as possible. Will they succeed? I don't think so.'
Ms Le Pen said Britain's position will be favourable after leaving the EU as it will be able to protect itself from 'uncontrolled globalisation'.
'Gloomy' Brexit report sparks MPs' walkout
Tory MPs staged an unprecedented walkout from a cross-party committee on Brexit yesterday in protest against a 'massively skewed' report.
During a stormy meeting at Westminster, pro-Brexit MPs complained that the committee's Labour chairman Hilary Benn had failed to consult them before presenting them with a 155-page report savaging the Government's handling of Britain's departure from the EU.
A source said Mr Benn, a former Cabinet minister, tried to pressure committee members into signing the 'gloomy' report.
When Mr Benn refused to back down, three Tories walked out – Dominic Raab, Maria Caulfield and Karl McCartney.
A source said Hilary Benn (pictured) tried to pressure committee members into signing the 'gloomy' report
The other six pro-Brexit members of the 21-strong committee are also expected to vote against the report's findings, rendering it almost worthless. Last night they were even discussing the release of a minority report setting out a more balanced appraisal of the Government's approach to Brexit.
One source on the panel accused Mr Benn of 'trying to use the committee to fire an Exocet [missile] at the Government in the week it triggers Article 50'.
The source added: 'Normally when you are drawing up a committee report you start with a debate about the principles.
'This time, we were presented with a 155-page draft report that is massively skewed against Brexit. We were told we could offer some drafting suggestions, but there is no point doing that when the report itself is irredeemably flawed.
'Several of us suggested that we go back to first principles, but when this idea was rejected, there didn't seem much point in staying. It was perfectly amicable but pretty frustrating.'
Former Tory Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, who is on the committee, was not at yesterday's meeting but said he was 'not happy' with Mr Benn's report.
A spokesman for the committee said Mr Benn would not be commenting on the row, adding: 'We do not comment on private discussions.' But the failure to reach a consensus means the committee's report on the Government's Brexit white paper now risks being fatally undermined when it is published later this week.
It also highlights concerns about the operation of the committee, which has an in-built majority of Remain MPs including Mr Benn, who played a prominent role in the campaign to keep Britain in the EU last year.
The committee, which is almost twice the size of a normal Commons committee, is made up of 12 pro-Remain MPs and just nine who supported Brexit.
Eurosceptic Tory MP Peter Bone said yesterday's walkout raised question marks about the future operation of the committee.
'It is unheard of for MPs to walk out of a private meeting during deliberations on a report,' he said.
'It does appear that the chairman is trying to use the committee to promote a personal, pro-Remain agenda, which does not reflect the mood in the country. I am not sure this committee can work if it carries on like this. The whole point about select committees is to reach a consensus. Unless you can do that, any conclusions you reach are pretty pointless.'
But pro-Remain MPs yesterday insisted the committee was working.
Alistair Burt, a former Tory Foreign Office minister who is on the panel, dismissed the walkout, posting a message on Twitter saying: 'Rest of Committee still sitting and doing its job to consider the report.'
Anna Soubry, one of the most Europhile Tory MPs, said the committee was fully entitled to produce a 'gloomy' report on Brexit, adding: 'Gloomy = Brexit reality. It doesn't have to be like this. Membership of the single market will make our prospects brighter.'
Committee sources said the report is likely to be published this week.
IN FULL: MAY'S WARCRY TO THE UK AHEAD OF BREXIT
'When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between.
'And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home.
'It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.
'For, as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this momentous journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can - and must - bring us together.
'We all want to see a Britain that is stronger than it is today. We all want a country that is fairer so that everyone has the chance to succeed.
'We all want a nation that is safe and secure for our children and grandchildren. We all want to live in a truly Global Britain that gets out and builds relationships with old friends and new allies around the world.
'These are the ambitions of this Government's Plan for Britain. Ambitions that unite us, so that we are no longer defined by the vote we cast, but by our determination to make a success of the result.
'We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future.
'And, now that the decision has been made to leave the EU, it is time to come together.'
'BRUSSELS OWES UK A TRILLION EUROS'
The UK should sidestep demands for a hefty 'divorce bill' during Brexit talks by handing Brussels a one trillion euro counterclaim.
The audacious approach in a report by a leading think tank called for Downing Street to demand compensation for inefficiency and bad practice since the UK joined the EU.
Disputes over the £52billion 'divorce bill', which covers contributions towards eurocrat pensions and future EU budgets, is likely to prove contentious. Leading EU figures yesterday refused to back down and said they would only approve a Brexit deal that was 'very costly' for the UK. But the Civitas think tank's report calls for the UK to launch a significant array of financial claims during negotiations.
The cross-party body said that the UK should enter compensation claims for 'fraudulent and extravagant' EU use of British funds, as well as increased military expenditure caused by EU recklessness.
It calls for a £22billion compensation claim for being associated with the 'EU's chronic dysfunction and maladministration', as well as £48billion in financial damage caused by European banks.
Read more: Brexit letter to trigger EU divorce arrives in Brussels | Daily Mail Online
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For those who dreamed of this moment, a toast to Brexit
Telegraph View
29 March 2017
83 Comments
A Leave supporter is seen as fishing boats campaigning for Brexit sail down the Thames through central London on June 15 2016. Credit: Anadolu Agency
This is a historic day for Britain. Today, a UK government triggers Article 50 and begins the process of Brexit. And so the country enters a period of negotiation that, early signs suggest, will be tough, even acrimonious. But the goal is worth some hard work. Britain is seeking to restore its sovereignty.
Mrs May is a serious-minded politician and will doubtless regard today as an occasion for getting down to business, rather than celebrating. But for those who have for so long dreamed of this moment, a toast is irresistible.
Even Eurosceptics have to marvel at how far the country has come. Until recently, Brexit was dismissed by the establishment as a fringe position. A referendum was offered largely as a bribe to Ukip voters; a Remain win was predicted. Not only did Leave triumph against the odds but the prime minister, David Cameron, was forced to resign.
Mr Cameron’s replacement, Theresa May, had also opposed Brexit – and yet she astutely read the winds and declared that she would see it through, even if it meant walking away from the EU without a deal. The length of time Mrs May set from her ascendancy to triggering Article 50 proved wise. It allowed the Civil Service to prepare. It allowed the country to get over the shock of the referendum result. And it allowed the Remain militants to exhaust parliamentary obstruction. Britain is on the way to Brexit.
The road will be long; there will be obstacles to progress. The problem boils down to perspective. In her Lancaster House speech, delivered in January, the Prime Minister signalled that her focus is on the future: on the terms of withdrawal, yes, but also future cooperation – laying the foundations for “the greatest possible access” to the European market “through a… bold and ambitious free trade agreement”.
Many EU leaders, however, are thinking about punishment. They want to make Britain pay, to set an example. The European Commission calculates that the UK owes it €60 billion. This is a bold opening gambit by the EU, but the UK Government has already signalled that it regards the sum as preposterously large – and the House of Lords has even said that Britain could walk away from the negotiating table without paying anything at all.
Then there is the issue of the fate of foreign citizens. Mrs May wanted to strike an early deal on this matter, to say that the EU citizens currently resident in the UK were welcome to stay. But Berlin and Brussels refused to discuss it.
The contrast in attitudes is sobering. Mrs May will tell the Commons that she is fighting on behalf of “EU nationals who have made this country their home”. Ministers are said to have wanted to make today the cut-off point for the free movement of people – a reasonable request. Again, the EU has said no.
This stubborness is reminiscent of the EU’s behaviour during Mr Cameron’s renegotiation effort. It serves an emotional need to put the UK in its place – but amounts in the long-run to self-harm. After all, by some estimations Europe needs Britain even more than Britain needs Europe.
The Europeans need access to our markets: Germany sells more cars to the UK than to any other country, while our financial services are second to none. And the UK’s cooperation on everything from energy to defence is critical to the stability of the continent. The row over migration is indicative of a painful fact: the UK’s economy is vibrant, growing and attracting the youth of Europe. Britain is one of the few European success stories still going strong, while the eurozone struggles from crisis to crisis.
Britain enters these negotiations in a strong position. Mrs May’s long-term goal will be to shift the EU’s attention away from the conditions of separation and towards constructing a framework for the future. She must resist being distracted by any naysayers back home, especially the SNP and its grandstanding vote last night at Holyrood for a second independence referendum.
Mrs May is a serious-minded politician and will doubtless regard today as an occasion for getting down to business, rather than celebrating. But for those who have for so long dreamed of this moment, a toast is irresistible. To a long campaign well fought. To the triggering of Article 50 and the accomplishment of an impossible dream. And to Britain, whose future is full of potential.
For those who dreamed of this moment, a toast to Brexit
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Donald Tusk ✔ 
