Britain formally fires starting gun on Brexit negotiations

British prime minister Theresa May will formally trigger Article 50, the mechanism for starting negotiations for Britain to leave the European Union, on this date.

A Downing Street spokesman confirmed earlier this month that May would write a letter to the European Council on Mar 29, putting the UK on course to leave the EU on the same date in 2019. The spokesman added that May hoped negotiations on the terms of exit and future relations could then begin as soon as possible.

In response to the news, European council president Donald Tusk tweeted: "Within 48 hours of the UK triggering Article 50, I will present the draft Brexit guidelines to the EU27 Member States."

Mr Tusk has already said he expects to call an extraordinary summit of the 27 other members within four to six weeks, to draw up a mandate for the European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. Under this scenario, it is likely that talks will begin in earnest in May.

Under the Article 50 process, talks are not allowed to begin until the UK formally informs the EU of its departure. Two years of intense negotiations are allowed for in the official timetable.

No 10 said there were no plans for an early general election to take place after the triggering of Article 50.