Theresa May will be able to begin the process of leaving the EU from 11am today when the Brexit bill gets ‘Royal Assent’
The Queen will sign off on the legislation allowing the PM to trigger Article 50 and kickstart divorce talks
THERESA May will be allowed to begin Brexit from 11am today when her new powers become law.
The Queen signed the bill that authorises the PM to trigger Britain’s EU departure last night.
It formally receives Royal Assent to become an act when it is read out in both houses of Parliament late this morning.
No10 sources say she doesn’t want to anger the EU’s other 27 members ahead of two years of difficult negotiations.
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They warned her that triggering ‘Article 50’ talks now would overshadow the run up to the 60th anniversary celebrations next weekend of the EU’s foundation.
Leaders from the original member states met in the Italian capital to mark the Treaty of Rome, signed on March 25, 1957.
But Mrs May has decided to stay away.
A senior Whitehall source said last night: “The PM is still sticking to her timetable to trigger in the last week of March.
“That was always her plan.”
The Lib Dems last night pledged to keep defying the government over Brexit despite Royal Assent.
Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said: “Just because this Bill has passed through Parliament does not mean we are giving up.
“We will continue to fight for our membership of the Single Market and to give the people the final say.”