EU boss says Britain must trigger Article 50 to begin Brexit talks by THIS TUESDAY

A TOP EU politician has demanded that Britain begin negotiations to leave within two days.

Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, said Britain had until Tuesday to trigger Article 50 and formerly begin talks to agree the terms of Brexit.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Shultz said a long period of uncertainty would “lead to even more insecurity and thus endanger jobs”.

“Hesitating simply to accommodate the party tactics of the British Conservatives hurts everyone,” he said.

“That is why we expect the British government to now deliver.

“The summit on Tuesday is the right time.”

The remaining 27 members are set to meet – without Britain – to discuss the future for the organisation after Brexit.

But David Cameron announced his decision to step down just hours after the vote – leaving the task of triggering Article 50 to his successor.

With Leavers like Boris Johnson tipped for the big job, the PM reportedly told aides: “Why should I do all the hard s**t?”

Shultz isn’t the first EU bigwig to call for the UK to hurry up in packing its bags and leaving.

Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders said he expected the government to “provide clarity…as soon as possible”.

And French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the UK not to play a “cat and mouse” game after the referendum result came in.

He said: “Of course a new prime minister must be appointed, that will probably require a few days but this is quite urgent.”

Ayrault added: “It's in Britain's interest and in the interest of Europeans not to have a period of uncertainty that would have financial consequences, and that could have economic and political consequences.”

The four biggest groups within the EU Parliament are also reported to have drawn up a draft resolution calling on the PM to get the ball rolling.

But the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond insisted the Government was in no rush, pointing out that European leaders were powerless to influence the timing.

He said: “There is no imperative on us to serve Article 50 at any particular time.

“We're under pressure from our EU partners to do it quickly, but the timing is entirely up to us.”

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon sparked outrage yesterday by threatening to veto Brexit in the Scottish Parliament.

The SNP leader said she would ask MSPs to stop the UK leaving the EU as it is not in her country’s best interests.