Theresa May is chairing a meeting of her cabinet at Chequers to discuss the UK's approach to leaving the EU and its objectives in future negotiations.
The prime minister and senior ministers are gathering to debate the way forward amid reports of tensions and diverging priorities among key figures.
Those present include David Davis, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, each of whose departments is focused on Brexit.
Mrs May has said talks with the rest of the EU will not begin this year.
Theresa May chairs cabinet Brexit brainstorm at Chequers
31st August 2016
BBC News
The Chequers talks are being billed as the most significant since the referendum result
Theresa May is chairing a meeting of her cabinet at Chequers to discuss the UK's approach to leaving the EU and its objectives in future negotiations.
The prime minister and senior ministers are gathering to debate the way forward amid reports of tensions and diverging priorities among key figures.
Those present include David Davis, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, each of whose departments is focused on Brexit.
Mrs May has said talks with the rest of the EU will not begin this year.
BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman said Mrs May had asked every Cabinet minister before the summer break to identify what were described as the "opportunities" for their departments and she will now expect them to report back.
The prime minister has said the UK government will not trigger Article 50 - the official mechanism for beginning the process of separation - until the start of 2017 at the earliest.
From that moment, discussions over the terms of the UK's exit will conclude in two years unless all 28 members of the EU agree to extend them.
'Sooner the better'
The UK voted to leave the EU, by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%, in a referendum on 23 June and Mrs May, who became prime minister in its aftermath, has insisted that "Brexit will mean Brexit".
But the relationship the UK will have with the EU after its exit, in terms of access to the EU internal market and obligations in regard to freedom of movement, remains unclear.
The Three Brexiteers: Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (left), Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (centre) and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox (right) will be present at the "away day"
Wednesday's meeting at the prime minister's country residence is being seen as an opportunity for Mrs May and senior colleagues to talk through many issues involved ahead of this weekend's summit of G20 leaders in China.
The talks are being billed as the most significant since the referendum result and mark an end to the relative lull in proceedings over the summer recess - which ends on Monday.
Mrs May, who has held face-to-face talks with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Slovakia since taking office, has said time is needed to determine the UK's strategy as a "sensible and orderly departure" is in the national interest.
Hard negotiations with Germany and other EU nations lie ahead for Mrs May
But several senior Conservatives have warned against undue delay and said nothing should stand in the way of the UK triggering Article 50 as soon as possible next year.
Ex-Chancellor Lord Lawson, a leading Leave campaigner, said the UK should not try to negotiate a special trade deal with the EU, allowing it to remain within the single market, because it simply wasn't on offer on acceptable terms and would hold the process up.
"As soon as you stop wasting time trying to negotiate the unnegotiable - some special trade deal with the EU - it is possible to have a relatively quick exit," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"A prolonged period of uncertainty is bad for the economy and for British business. The sooner this is sorted out the better."
Among those round the table with Mrs May will be Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.
'Showing progress'
Mr Johnson, Mr Fox and Mr Davis are reported to have held private talks last week amid reports of early disagreements over the shape of a future Brexit settlement and departmental responsibility for trade issues.
Former Conservative minister Anna Soubry, who backed the UK remaining in the EU, said it was now up to the "three Brexiteers" to deliver the best deal for the British people.
"Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis - these are the people that have to show us the progress they have made, what Brexit is beginning to look like, what successes, difficulties or failures they have had," she told Today.
Although she accepted the outcome of the referendum, Ms Soubry said she did not accept the British people had voted, in and of itself, for a cut in immigration or curbs on the right of EU citizens to live and work in the UK and more debate was needed.
"I am very liberal on immigration," she told Today. "British business could not survive without access to that free movement of labour."
The SNP, meanwhile, has accused the government of "breathtaking complacency" over a plan for Brexit and "making it up as they go along".
Although MPs will have a say on the timing of talks there was no legal requirement to consult Parliament before Article 50 was activated, No 10 has said.
Downing Street has also confirmed that Mrs May will not hold a second referendum or an early general election to give voters the chance to sign off on any deal struck between the UK and the EU.
Chequers, an isolated 16th Century mansion in Buckinghamshire, 40 miles north-west of London, has played host to a number of historic occasions in the past 50 years and was one of Margaret Thatcher's favourite locations to conduct high-level meetings and personal diplomacy.
Theresa May tells ministers UK must make success of Brexit - BBC News
Coffee House
Theresa May shows she wants to be defined by more than just Brexit
James Forsyth
James Forsyth
31 August 2016
The Spectator
Theresa May welcomed the Cabinet to Chequers with this address, just released by Number 10:
First, they show that she is still determined that her government should be about more than Brexit. Hence, the emphasis on social reform and getting ‘tough on irresponsible behaviour in big business’. The line about ‘irresponsible behaviour in big business’ is also striking in the light of the fact the Cabinet is discussing Brexit today. It suggests that May isn’t, unlike some in the government, keen on trying to make Brexit work by undercutting the EU on tax and regulation.
Theresa May shows she wants to be defined by more than just Brexit | Coffee House
The prime minister and senior ministers are gathering to debate the way forward amid reports of tensions and diverging priorities among key figures.
Those present include David Davis, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, each of whose departments is focused on Brexit.
Mrs May has said talks with the rest of the EU will not begin this year.
Theresa May chairs cabinet Brexit brainstorm at Chequers
31st August 2016
BBC News

The Chequers talks are being billed as the most significant since the referendum result
Theresa May is chairing a meeting of her cabinet at Chequers to discuss the UK's approach to leaving the EU and its objectives in future negotiations.
The prime minister and senior ministers are gathering to debate the way forward amid reports of tensions and diverging priorities among key figures.
Those present include David Davis, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, each of whose departments is focused on Brexit.
Mrs May has said talks with the rest of the EU will not begin this year.
BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman said Mrs May had asked every Cabinet minister before the summer break to identify what were described as the "opportunities" for their departments and she will now expect them to report back.
The prime minister has said the UK government will not trigger Article 50 - the official mechanism for beginning the process of separation - until the start of 2017 at the earliest.
From that moment, discussions over the terms of the UK's exit will conclude in two years unless all 28 members of the EU agree to extend them.
'Sooner the better'
The UK voted to leave the EU, by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%, in a referendum on 23 June and Mrs May, who became prime minister in its aftermath, has insisted that "Brexit will mean Brexit".
But the relationship the UK will have with the EU after its exit, in terms of access to the EU internal market and obligations in regard to freedom of movement, remains unclear.

The Three Brexiteers: Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis (left), Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (centre) and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox (right) will be present at the "away day"
Wednesday's meeting at the prime minister's country residence is being seen as an opportunity for Mrs May and senior colleagues to talk through many issues involved ahead of this weekend's summit of G20 leaders in China.
The talks are being billed as the most significant since the referendum result and mark an end to the relative lull in proceedings over the summer recess - which ends on Monday.
Mrs May, who has held face-to-face talks with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Slovakia since taking office, has said time is needed to determine the UK's strategy as a "sensible and orderly departure" is in the national interest.

Hard negotiations with Germany and other EU nations lie ahead for Mrs May
But several senior Conservatives have warned against undue delay and said nothing should stand in the way of the UK triggering Article 50 as soon as possible next year.
Ex-Chancellor Lord Lawson, a leading Leave campaigner, said the UK should not try to negotiate a special trade deal with the EU, allowing it to remain within the single market, because it simply wasn't on offer on acceptable terms and would hold the process up.
"As soon as you stop wasting time trying to negotiate the unnegotiable - some special trade deal with the EU - it is possible to have a relatively quick exit," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"A prolonged period of uncertainty is bad for the economy and for British business. The sooner this is sorted out the better."
Among those round the table with Mrs May will be Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.
'Showing progress'
Mr Johnson, Mr Fox and Mr Davis are reported to have held private talks last week amid reports of early disagreements over the shape of a future Brexit settlement and departmental responsibility for trade issues.
Former Conservative minister Anna Soubry, who backed the UK remaining in the EU, said it was now up to the "three Brexiteers" to deliver the best deal for the British people.
"Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis - these are the people that have to show us the progress they have made, what Brexit is beginning to look like, what successes, difficulties or failures they have had," she told Today.
Although she accepted the outcome of the referendum, Ms Soubry said she did not accept the British people had voted, in and of itself, for a cut in immigration or curbs on the right of EU citizens to live and work in the UK and more debate was needed.
"I am very liberal on immigration," she told Today. "British business could not survive without access to that free movement of labour."
The SNP, meanwhile, has accused the government of "breathtaking complacency" over a plan for Brexit and "making it up as they go along".
Although MPs will have a say on the timing of talks there was no legal requirement to consult Parliament before Article 50 was activated, No 10 has said.
Downing Street has also confirmed that Mrs May will not hold a second referendum or an early general election to give voters the chance to sign off on any deal struck between the UK and the EU.
Chequers, an isolated 16th Century mansion in Buckinghamshire, 40 miles north-west of London, has played host to a number of historic occasions in the past 50 years and was one of Margaret Thatcher's favourite locations to conduct high-level meetings and personal diplomacy.
Theresa May tells ministers UK must make success of Brexit - BBC News
Coffee House
Theresa May shows she wants to be defined by more than just Brexit
James Forsyth


James Forsyth
31 August 2016
The Spectator
Theresa May welcomed the Cabinet to Chequers with this address, just released by Number 10:
'Thank you very much for coming together today. It’s our first opportunity to meet since the summer recess, but also the first opportunity for us to meet since the fantastic success of the GB team at the Olympics – absolutely great. And also the Paralympics will be starting very soon, so we wish our Paralympic athletes all the very best and success there as well.
But obviously over the summer – over the last few weeks – quite a lot of work has been done. We’re going to be having an opportunity today to discuss this. We will have an update on Brexit; we’ll be looking at the next steps that we need to take, and we’ll also be looking at the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the UK in the world. We must continue to be very clear that ‘Brexit means Brexit’, that we’re going to make a success of it. That means there’s no second referendum; no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door; that we’re actually going to deliver on this.
We’re also going to talk this morning about social reform. We want to be a government and a country that works for everyone, and we’ll be talking about some of the steps that we need to take in order to build that society that works for everyone. And I want it to be a society where it’s the talent that you have and how hard you’re prepared to work that determines how you get on, rather than your background.
We’ll be having an update on the state of the economy. We’ll be looking at how we can work to increase productivity – that’s one of the key issues that we want to address. But also how we can get tough on irresponsible behaviour in big business – again making sure that actually everyone is able to share in the country’s prosperity.
We will be looking at the legislative programme that we have coming up in Parliament. And we’ll also be hearing a political update from the Party Chairman, particularly as we look forward to our party conference.
So quite a packed agenda for our meeting today. But can I just remind everybody that this really is a very significant moment for the country, as we look ahead to the next steps that we need to take. We have the opportunity to forge a new positive role for the UK in the world; to make sure that we are that government and country that works for everyone – that everyone can share in the country’s prosperity. So there are challenges ahead but it’s an important and significant moment for us and I think we have real opportunities to develop the United Kingdom and ensure that it does work for everyone in the UK.'
Now, Number 10 have released it to the media for a reason—it gives little away. We knew that May opposed both a second referendum and ‘back door’ efforts to keep the UK in the EU. But I still think her remarks are telling.But obviously over the summer – over the last few weeks – quite a lot of work has been done. We’re going to be having an opportunity today to discuss this. We will have an update on Brexit; we’ll be looking at the next steps that we need to take, and we’ll also be looking at the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the UK in the world. We must continue to be very clear that ‘Brexit means Brexit’, that we’re going to make a success of it. That means there’s no second referendum; no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door; that we’re actually going to deliver on this.
We’re also going to talk this morning about social reform. We want to be a government and a country that works for everyone, and we’ll be talking about some of the steps that we need to take in order to build that society that works for everyone. And I want it to be a society where it’s the talent that you have and how hard you’re prepared to work that determines how you get on, rather than your background.
We’ll be having an update on the state of the economy. We’ll be looking at how we can work to increase productivity – that’s one of the key issues that we want to address. But also how we can get tough on irresponsible behaviour in big business – again making sure that actually everyone is able to share in the country’s prosperity.
We will be looking at the legislative programme that we have coming up in Parliament. And we’ll also be hearing a political update from the Party Chairman, particularly as we look forward to our party conference.
So quite a packed agenda for our meeting today. But can I just remind everybody that this really is a very significant moment for the country, as we look ahead to the next steps that we need to take. We have the opportunity to forge a new positive role for the UK in the world; to make sure that we are that government and country that works for everyone – that everyone can share in the country’s prosperity. So there are challenges ahead but it’s an important and significant moment for us and I think we have real opportunities to develop the United Kingdom and ensure that it does work for everyone in the UK.'
First, they show that she is still determined that her government should be about more than Brexit. Hence, the emphasis on social reform and getting ‘tough on irresponsible behaviour in big business’. The line about ‘irresponsible behaviour in big business’ is also striking in the light of the fact the Cabinet is discussing Brexit today. It suggests that May isn’t, unlike some in the government, keen on trying to make Brexit work by undercutting the EU on tax and regulation.
Theresa May shows she wants to be defined by more than just Brexit | Coffee House
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