Britain&#39;s economy has for months defied the cataclysmic predictions made by campaigners for staying in the EU ahead of last year&#39;s referendum but its smooth run shows signs of hitting the skids.

As Britain begins the delicate process of extracting itself from the European Union, headwinds are expected for the economy even though the forecast financial storm has so far failed to materialise.

The first nine months since the Brexit vote have been deftly handled by Prime Minister Theresa May, aided by the Bank of England&#39;s injections of liquidity into the banking system and unflagging consumer confidence.

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<h5>The real question is what will happen over the two years of likely fraught negotiations ahead</h5>
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The economy grew by a wholly respectable 1.8 per cent in 2016 and could expand by 2 per cent this year, according to the latest forecasts.

But economists say the positive results are due to the fact that nothing concrete has happened on the Brexit front since the referendum on June 23.

The real question is what will happen over the two years of likely fraught negotiations ahead.

Top of the rollercoaster&nbsp;

&quot;Right now, it feels like we&#39;re just reaching the top of the Article 50 rollercoaster,&quot; said Paul Drechsler, head of the Confederation of British Industry, the country&#39;s main big business lobby.

&quot;Any minute now... we&#39;ll suddenly drop into the twists and turns of negotiations,&quot; he said.

Drechsler said the worst outcome would be if London and Brussels were to hammer out a divorce without a new trade deal in place that would allow businesses on both sides to prepare for the hefty cost of Britain leaving the European single market.

May, who has said she will take Britain out of the single market in order to be able to reduce immigration, has said she is ready to implement Brexit without a deal if the conditions put forward by EU negotiators are too demanding.

Businesses are warning against such an outcome and say that it would hit two key sectors particularly hard -- the powerful financial sector and a car industry that is currently in full bloom.

By way of example, if Britain is forced to fall back on World Trade Organization rules for trading with the EU after it leaves, British car exports would face a 10-per cent tariff at the EU border.

Any announcement by carmakers about their activities in Britain is already making the government jumpy, be that investment by Nissan in Sunderland in northeast England, job cuts by Ford in Wales or PSA&#39;s takeover of Vauxhall factories.

British employers have also been pushing hard for EU nationals to be allowed to continue coming in.

The immigrant labour force, particularly from Eastern Europe, has greatly helped the economy in recent years but constituted a key argument for the Brexit campaign and helped explain the vote outcome.

Sectors that depend on low-skilled workers such as retail, catering and construction have already suffered from a slowdown in arrivals seen since the vote, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said in a study published last month.

Gas in the tank

Businesses are also questioning whether to invest over the next two years, since there will be uncertainty until the end of the negotiations.

&quot;UK demand for funding from both businesses and households has been softening somewhat at the beginning of this year, which we believe is the first sign of the gradual slowing of the economy that we expect for 2017,&quot; said Boris Glass, senior economist at S&amp;P Global Ratings.

Consumers are also beginning to feel the effect of a sharp rise in prices due to more expensive imports -- a consequence of the devaluation of the pound on currency markets caused by the Brexit vote.

With Britain facing turbulence, finance minister Philip Hammond presented a cautious budget last week that he hopes will give him enough spending power to act quickly if the economy starts to sputter.

Hammond said that &quot;as we embark on the journey that we will be taking over the next couple of years, we are confident that we have got enough gas in the tank to see us through that journey&quot;.

(AFP)

Economists say the positive results so far are due to the fact that nothing concrete has happened on the Brexit front since the referendum

Britain's economy has for months defied the cataclysmic predictions made by campaigners for staying in the EU ahead of last year's referendum but its smooth run shows signs of hitting the skids. As Britain begins the delicate process of extracting itself from the European Union, headwinds are expected for the economy even though the forecast financial storm has so far failed to materialise. The first nine months since the Brexit vote have been deftly handled by Prime Minister Theresa May, aided by the Bank of England's injections of liquidity into the banking system and unflagging consumer confidence. The real question is what will happen over the two years of likely fraught negotiations ahead × The economy grew by a wholly respectable 1.8 per cent in 2016 and could expand by 2 per cent this year, according to the latest forecasts. But economists say the positive results are due to the fact that nothing concrete has happened on the Brexit front since the referendum on June 23. The real question is what will happen over the two years of likely fraught negotiations ahead. Top of the rollercoaster "Right now, it feels like we're just reaching the top of the Article 50 rollercoaster," said Paul Drechsler, head of the Confederation of British Industry, the country's main big business lobby. "Any minute now... we'll suddenly drop into the twists and turns of negotiations," he said. Drechsler said the worst outcome would be if London and Brussels were to hammer out a divorce without a new trade deal in place that would allow businesses on both sides to prepare for the hefty cost of Britain leaving the European single market. May, who has said she will take Britain out of the single market in order to be able to reduce immigration, has said she is ready to implement Brexit without a deal if the conditions put forward by EU negotiators are too demanding. Businesses are warning against such an outcome and say that it would hit two key sectors particularly hard -- the powerful financial sector and a car industry that is currently in full bloom. By way of example, if Britain is forced to fall back on World Trade Organization rules for trading with the EU after it leaves, British car exports would face a 10-per cent tariff at the EU border. Any announcement by carmakers about their activities in Britain is already making the government jumpy, be that investment by Nissan in Sunderland in northeast England, job cuts by Ford in Wales or PSA's takeover of Vauxhall factories. British employers have also been pushing hard for EU nationals to be allowed to continue coming in. The immigrant labour force, particularly from Eastern Europe, has greatly helped the economy in recent years but constituted a key argument for the Brexit campaign and helped explain the vote outcome. Sectors that depend on low-skilled workers such as retail, catering and construction have already suffered from a slowdown in arrivals seen since the vote, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said in a study published last month. Gas in the tank Businesses are also questioning whether to invest over the next two years, since there will be uncertainty until the end of the negotiations. "UK demand for funding from both businesses and households has been softening somewhat at the beginning of this year, which we believe is the first sign of the gradual slowing of the economy that we expect for 2017," said Boris Glass, senior economist at S&P Global Ratings. Consumers are also beginning to feel the effect of a sharp rise in prices due to more expensive imports -- a consequence of the devaluation of the pound on currency markets caused by the Brexit vote. With Britain facing turbulence, finance minister Philip Hammond presented a cautious budget last week that he hopes will give him enough spending power to act quickly if the economy starts to sputter. Hammond said that "as we embark on the journey that we will be taking over the next couple of years, we are confident that we have got enough gas in the tank to see us through that journey". (AFP)

First warning signs appear post-Brexit for UK's resilient economy

British Prime Minister Theresa May will press her case on Monday for a strong union in Scotland, using a visit to staff working on international aid to say &quot;there is no limit to what we can do&quot; when Britain works together.

May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together after Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union revealed deep divisions, with England and Wales voting for Brexit, while Scotland and Northern Ireland supported staying in the bloc.

Just days before the British leader launches the formal divorce procedure with the EU, May wants to try to stem demands in Scotland for a new independence referendum by promising to get a Brexit deal that will suit all parts of the country.

Due to visit staff from the Department for International Development in East Kilbride in southern Scotland before meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, May will also say Britain will not turn its back on the world as it negotiates Brexit.

&quot;Indeed, we are going to take this opportunity to forge a more global Britain. The closest friend and ally with Europe, but also a country that looks beyond Europe to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike,&quot; she will say, according to excerpts of a speech released by her office.

Referencing British support for programmes in Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria and Afghanistan, May will say &quot;UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the world&quot;.

&quot;And it says this: That when this great union of nations &ndash; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland &ndash; sets its mind on something and works together with determination, we are an unstoppable force,&quot; she said.

May is a fierce unionist and hopes to stall plans by Sturgeon to hold a new referendum on independence in late 2018 or early 2019 after the country voted against breaking away in 2014 by 55 to 45 per cent.

A debate in the Scottish parliament before voting on Sturgeon&#39;s proposal was suspended last week when an attacker, later identified as British-born Khalid Masood, ploughed his car into pedestrians and tried to force his way into parliament in London, killing four. He was shot dead.

That debate is due to resume on Tuesday.

On Monday May will appeal to a sense of history and shared values to make her case for a strong union in Scotland, saying Britain has a &quot;proud shared heritage&quot;.

&quot;And on that foundation we have built a country where we share the challenges that we face, and bring all the expertise, ingenuity and goodwill we share across this union to bear to tackle them,&quot; she will say.

&quot;So as Britain leaves the European Union, and we forge a new role for ourselves in the world, the strength and stability of our union will become even more important.&quot;

(Reuters)

May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together: England and Wales voted to leave the EU but Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay

British Prime Minister Theresa May will press her case on Monday for a strong union in Scotland, using a visit to staff working on international aid to say "there is no limit to what we can do" when Britain works together. May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together after Britain's vote to leave the European Union revealed deep divisions, with England and Wales voting for Brexit, while Scotland and Northern Ireland supported staying in the bloc. Just days before the British leader launches the formal divorce procedure with the EU, May wants to try to stem demands in Scotland for a new independence referendum by promising to get a Brexit deal that will suit all parts of the country. Due to visit staff from the Department for International Development in East Kilbride in southern Scotland before meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, May will also say Britain will not turn its back on the world as it negotiates Brexit. "Indeed, we are going to take this opportunity to forge a more global Britain. The closest friend and ally with Europe, but also a country that looks beyond Europe to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike," she will say, according to excerpts of a speech released by her office. Referencing British support for programmes in Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria and Afghanistan, May will say "UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the world". "And it says this: That when this great union of nations – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – sets its mind on something and works together with determination, we are an unstoppable force," she said. May is a fierce unionist and hopes to stall plans by Sturgeon to hold a new referendum on independence in late 2018 or early 2019 after the country voted against breaking away in 2014 by 55 to 45 per cent. A debate in the Scottish parliament before voting on Sturgeon's proposal was suspended last week when an attacker, later identified as British-born Khalid Masood, ploughed his car into pedestrians and tried to force his way into parliament in London, killing four. He was shot dead. That debate is due to resume on Tuesday. On Monday May will appeal to a sense of history and shared values to make her case for a strong union in Scotland, saying Britain has a "proud shared heritage". "And on that foundation we have built a country where we share the challenges that we face, and bring all the expertise, ingenuity and goodwill we share across this union to bear to tackle them," she will say. "So as Britain leaves the European Union, and we forge a new role for ourselves in the world, the strength and stability of our union will become even more important." (Reuters)

British PM Theresa May to press for stronger union on Scotland visit

The attacker who killed three people near the British parliament before being shot dead was British-born and was once investigated by MI5 intelligence agents over concerns about violent extremism, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday.

Police arrested eight people at six locations in London and Birmingham in the investigation into Wednesday&#39;s lone-wolf attack that May said was inspired by a warped Islamist ideology. Forty people were injured and 29 remain in hospital, seven in critical condition.

The assailant sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, ploughing into pedestrians along the way, then ran through the gates of the nearby parliament building and fatally stabbed an unarmed policeman before being shot dead. http://tmsnrt.rs/2napbkD

&quot;What I can confirm is that the man was British-born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism,&quot; May said in a statement to parliament.

&quot;He was a peripheral figure...He was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot,&quot; she said, adding that his identity would be revealed when the investigation allowed.

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He had been investigated by MI5 &#39;in relation to concerns about violent extremism&#39;. (WION)
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Westminster Bridge and the area just around parliament were still cordoned off on Thursday morning and a line of forensic investigators in light blue overalls were on their hands and knees, examining the scene where the attacker was shot.

The dead were two members of the public, the stabbed policeman and the attacker.

It was the worst such attack in Britain since 2005, when 52 people were killed by militant islamist suicide bombers on London&#39;s public transport system. Police had given the death toll as five but revised it down to four on Thursday.

The casualties included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Chinese, one American and two Greeks, May said.

&quot;We meet here, in the oldest of all parliaments, because we know that democracy and the values it entails will always prevail,&quot; she said.

&quot;A terrorist came to the place where people of all nationalities and cultures gather what it means to be free and he took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children,&quot; said May.

A minute&#39;s silence was held in parliament and in front of police headquarters at New Scotland Yard at 0933 GMT, in honour of the victims -- 933 was the shoulder number on the uniform of Keith Palmer, the policeman who was stabbed to death.

&quot;THINGS FROM DAILY LIFE&quot;

Some have been shocked that the attacker was able to cause such mayhem in the heart of the capital equipped with nothing more sophisticated than a hired car and a knife.

&quot;The police and agencies that we rely on for our security have forestalled a large number of these attacks in recent years, over a dozen last year,&quot; said defence minister Michael Fallon.

&quot;This kind of attack, this lone-wolf attack, using things from daily life, a vehicle, a knife, are much more difficult to forestall,&quot; he told the BBC.

Three French high-school students aged 15 or 16, who were on a school trip to London with fellow students from Brittany, were among the injured.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who travelled to London to bring a message of solidarity, met some of the other students who were on the school trip and their families at a hotel near the hospital where the injured were being treated.

He told reporters the lives of the three youngsters were not in danger. Ayrault later attended the session in parliament where May spoke. France has been hit by repeated deadly Islamist attacks over the past two years.

A vigil was planned in London&#39;s Trafalgar Square at 6 P.M.

A meeting of COBR, the government&#39;s crisis response committee, was due to take place later on Thursday morning.

Anti-immigration groups were quick to make links between immigration and the attack, though it was subsequently revealed the attacker was British-born.

Leave.EU, a group that has campaigned for immigration to be severely restrained as part of Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union, accused mainstream politicians of facilitating acts of terror by failing to secure borders.

In France, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen also drew a link, saying that events in London highlighted the importance of protecting national borders and stepping up security measures.

The Scottish parliament, which suspended a planned debate and vote on independence on Wednesday because of events in London, was due to resume those proceedings on Tuesday, the BBC reported.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

'... he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism,' Prime Minister Theresa May said

The attacker who killed three people near the British parliament before being shot dead was British-born and was once investigated by MI5 intelligence agents over concerns about violent extremism, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday. Police arrested eight people at six locations in London and Birmingham in the investigation into Wednesday's lone-wolf attack that May said was inspired by a warped Islamist ideology. Forty people were injured and 29 remain in hospital, seven in critical condition. The assailant sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, ploughing into pedestrians along the way, then ran through the gates of the nearby parliament building and fatally stabbed an unarmed policeman before being shot dead. http://tmsnrt.rs/2napbkD "What I can confirm is that the man was British-born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism," May said in a statement to parliament. "He was a peripheral figure...He was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot," she said, adding that his identity would be revealed when the investigation allowed. He had been investigated by MI5 'in relation to concerns about violent extremism'. (WION) × Westminster Bridge and the area just around parliament were still cordoned off on Thursday morning and a line of forensic investigators in light blue overalls were on their hands and knees, examining the scene where the attacker was shot. The dead were two members of the public, the stabbed policeman and the attacker. It was the worst such attack in Britain since 2005, when 52 people were killed by militant islamist suicide bombers on London's public transport system. Police had given the death toll as five but revised it down to four on Thursday. The casualties included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Chinese, one American and two Greeks, May said. "We meet here, in the oldest of all parliaments, because we know that democracy and the values it entails will always prevail," she said. "A terrorist came to the place where people of all nationalities and cultures gather what it means to be free and he took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children," said May. A minute's silence was held in parliament and in front of police headquarters at New Scotland Yard at 0933 GMT, in honour of the victims -- 933 was the shoulder number on the uniform of Keith Palmer, the policeman who was stabbed to death. "THINGS FROM DAILY LIFE" Some have been shocked that the attacker was able to cause such mayhem in the heart of the capital equipped with nothing more sophisticated than a hired car and a knife. "The police and agencies that we rely on for our security have forestalled a large number of these attacks in recent years, over a dozen last year," said defence minister Michael Fallon. "This kind of attack, this lone-wolf attack, using things from daily life, a vehicle, a knife, are much more difficult to forestall," he told the BBC. Three French high-school students aged 15 or 16, who were on a school trip to London with fellow students from Brittany, were among the injured. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who travelled to London to bring a message of solidarity, met some of the other students who were on the school trip and their families at a hotel near the hospital where the injured were being treated. He told reporters the lives of the three youngsters were not in danger. Ayrault later attended the session in parliament where May spoke. France has been hit by repeated deadly Islamist attacks over the past two years. A vigil was planned in London's Trafalgar Square at 6 P.M. A meeting of COBR, the government's crisis response committee, was due to take place later on Thursday morning. Anti-immigration groups were quick to make links between immigration and the attack, though it was subsequently revealed the attacker was British-born. Leave.EU, a group that has campaigned for immigration to be severely restrained as part of Britain's exit from the European Union, accused mainstream politicians of facilitating acts of terror by failing to secure borders. In France, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen also drew a link, saying that events in London highlighted the importance of protecting national borders and stepping up security measures. The Scottish parliament, which suspended a planned debate and vote on independence on Wednesday because of events in London, was due to resume those proceedings on Tuesday, the BBC reported. (Reuters)

London attacker was British-born, had been investigated by MI5

Another person, who was injured in Wednesday&#39;s terrorist attack outside the UK Parliament,&nbsp;has died, police said on Thursday.

The victim was a 75-year-old man, the police said.&nbsp;

With his death, the total number of victims who have died has reached four.

On Wednesday, London was struck by a terror attack. The attacker, who has been identified as British-born Khalid Masood, was killed by the police outside the UK parliament after he stabbed a policeman to death.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, which the British Prime Minister Theresa May described as &quot;sick and depraved&quot;. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Victim death toll mounts to four in one of the worst terrorist attacks in London in over a decade

Another person, who was injured in Wednesday's terrorist attack outside the UK Parliament, has died, police said on Thursday. The victim was a 75-year-old man, the police said. With his death, the total number of victims who have died has reached four. On Wednesday, London was struck by a terror attack. The attacker, who has been identified as British-born Khalid Masood, was killed by the police outside the UK parliament after he stabbed a policeman to death. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, which the British Prime Minister Theresa May described as "sick and depraved". (WION with inputs from Reuters)

London terrorist attack: 75-year-old man succumbs to injuries

UK Prime Minister Theresa May today termed the terror strike in the heart of London as &quot;sick and depraved&quot; attack on democratic values, which was &quot;doomed to failure&quot;, after five&nbsp;people were killed and 40 injured.

After chairing an emergency Cobra meeting at Downing Street, the British PM confirmed that the attack was carried out by a single attacker who drove his vehicle into pedestrians walking across Westminster Bridge, killing two people and injuring many more, including three police officers.

&quot;This attacker, who was armed with a knife, then ran towards Parliament where he was confronted by the police officers who keep us and our democratic institutions safe. Tragically, one officer was killed. The terrorist was also shot dead,&quot; she said. 
May stressed that the UK&#39;s threat level has been set at severe for some time and &quot;this will not change&quot;.

Praising the &quot;exceptional bravery&quot; of the city&#39;s security forces, she added: &quot;Once again today, these exceptional men and women ran towards the danger even as they encouraged others to move the other way. On behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to them and to all our emergency services for the work they have been doing to reassure the public and bring security back to the streets of our capital city.&quot;

&quot;The location of this attack was no accident. The terrorists chose to strike at the heart of our capital city, where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech,&quot; she said.

She said any attempt to defeat these values through violence and terror is &quot;doomed to failure&quot; and announced that Parliament will meet as &quot;normal&quot; on Thursday.

&quot;And Londoners - and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great city - will get up and go about their day as normal? Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart,&quot; she said.

The Prime Minister herself was within the House of Commons complex when the incident took place, having just concluded her weekly Prime Minister&#39;s Questions. She was seen quickly being huddled up in a car and driven away to Downing Street.

At least three people were killed and 20 injured as terror struck the British capital when a man mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers.

(PTI)

Theresa May confirmed that the attack was carried out by a single attacker who drove his vehicle into pedestrians on Westminster bridge

UK Prime Minister Theresa May today termed the terror strike in the heart of London as "sick and depraved" attack on democratic values, which was "doomed to failure", after five people were killed and 40 injured. After chairing an emergency Cobra meeting at Downing Street, the British PM confirmed that the attack was carried out by a single attacker who drove his vehicle into pedestrians walking across Westminster Bridge, killing two people and injuring many more, including three police officers. "This attacker, who was armed with a knife, then ran towards Parliament where he was confronted by the police officers who keep us and our democratic institutions safe. Tragically, one officer was killed. The terrorist was also shot dead," she said. May stressed that the UK's threat level has been set at severe for some time and "this will not change". Praising the "exceptional bravery" of the city's security forces, she added: "Once again today, these exceptional men and women ran towards the danger even as they encouraged others to move the other way. On behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to them and to all our emergency services for the work they have been doing to reassure the public and bring security back to the streets of our capital city." "The location of this attack was no accident. The terrorists chose to strike at the heart of our capital city, where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech," she said. She said any attempt to defeat these values through violence and terror is "doomed to failure" and announced that Parliament will meet as "normal" on Thursday. "And Londoners - and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great city - will get up and go about their day as normal? Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart," she said. The Prime Minister herself was within the House of Commons complex when the incident took place, having just concluded her weekly Prime Minister's Questions. She was seen quickly being huddled up in a car and driven away to Downing Street. At least three people were killed and 20 injured as terror struck the British capital when a man mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers. (PTI)

British PM Theresa May calls London attack 'sick and depraved'

Prime Minister Theresa May will write to the European Union on March 29 formally announcing Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the bloc, EU sources told Reuters on Monday, saying Brussels had been told of the plan by British officials.

That letter next Wednesday will start the clock ticking on a two-year countdown to Brexit and allow negotiations to start between London and Brussels in the coming weeks.

By the end of next week, after he has received May&#39;s letter, European Council President Donald Tusk should have distributed draft guidelines for the negotiations to the 27 other national governments. Tusk will also summon those 27 leaders for a summit to endorse the final guidelines, probably in early May.

Once those are in place, giving a negotiating mandate to the EU executive, the European Commission, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier should be able to schedule talks with his British counterpart, Brexit Secretary David Davis.

(Reuters)

Prime Minister Theresa May will write to the European Union on March 29 formally announcing Britain's withdrawal from the bloc

Prime Minister Theresa May will write to the European Union on March 29 formally announcing Britain's withdrawal from the bloc, EU sources told Reuters on Monday, saying Brussels had been told of the plan by British officials. That letter next Wednesday will start the clock ticking on a two-year countdown to Brexit and allow negotiations to start between London and Brussels in the coming weeks. By the end of next week, after he has received May's letter, European Council President Donald Tusk should have distributed draft guidelines for the negotiations to the 27 other national governments. Tusk will also summon those 27 leaders for a summit to endorse the final guidelines, probably in early May. Once those are in place, giving a negotiating mandate to the EU executive, the European Commission, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier should be able to schedule talks with his British counterpart, Brexit Secretary David Davis. (Reuters)

Britain to launch Brexit process on March 29: EU sources

Queen Elizabeth II gave royal assent on Thursday to a bill empowering British Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty and begin the process of leaving the European Union.

May has said she will send a letter to the European Council informing them of Britain&#39;s decision to leave the bloc by the end of March, following a majority vote for Brexit in last year&#39;s referendum.

The House of Commons speaker John Bercow announced the final go-ahead in the parliamentary chamber, prompting cheers from ruling Conservative Party MPs.

The queen&#39;s signature on the bill allows May to invoke Article 50 any time from now in a process that will take a maximum of two years unless Britain and its EU partners agree to extend the deadline.

May said she will address the British parliament to inform lawmakers that she has triggered Article 50 and an initial response is expected from the European Commission within 48 hours.

Full negotiations, however, are not expected to start for several weeks or months as both sides prepare.

&quot;This will be a defining moment for our whole country as we begin to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world,&quot; May told MPs on Tuesday.

She had been widely expected to trigger Article 50 this week but the plan appears to have been derailed by a surprise announcement by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday that she would seek a new independence referendum.

During the EU referendum campaign, Buckingham Palace denied a report in The Sun tabloid that the queen was a supporter of Brexit.

The newspaper cited an anonymous &quot;senior source&quot; who said the monarch had &quot;let rip&quot; at pro-EU politician Nick Clegg during a lunch in 2011 when he was deputy prime minister.

&quot;People who heard their conversation were left in no doubt at all about the queen&#39;s views on European integration,&quot; the source was quoted as saying.

&quot;It was really something, and it went on for quite a while.

&quot;The EU is clearly something her majesty feels passionately about,&quot; the source said.

(AFP)

PM May has said she will send a letter to the European Council informing them of Britain's decision to leave the bloc by the end of March

Queen Elizabeth II gave royal assent on Thursday to a bill empowering British Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty and begin the process of leaving the European Union. May has said she will send a letter to the European Council informing them of Britain's decision to leave the bloc by the end of March, following a majority vote for Brexit in last year's referendum. The House of Commons speaker John Bercow announced the final go-ahead in the parliamentary chamber, prompting cheers from ruling Conservative Party MPs. The queen's signature on the bill allows May to invoke Article 50 any time from now in a process that will take a maximum of two years unless Britain and its EU partners agree to extend the deadline. May said she will address the British parliament to inform lawmakers that she has triggered Article 50 and an initial response is expected from the European Commission within 48 hours. Full negotiations, however, are not expected to start for several weeks or months as both sides prepare. "This will be a defining moment for our whole country as we begin to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world," May told MPs on Tuesday. She had been widely expected to trigger Article 50 this week but the plan appears to have been derailed by a surprise announcement by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday that she would seek a new independence referendum. During the EU referendum campaign, Buckingham Palace denied a report in The Sun tabloid that the queen was a supporter of Brexit. The newspaper cited an anonymous "senior source" who said the monarch had "let rip" at pro-EU politician Nick Clegg during a lunch in 2011 when he was deputy prime minister. "People who heard their conversation were left in no doubt at all about the queen's views on European integration," the source was quoted as saying. "It was really something, and it went on for quite a while. "The EU is clearly something her majesty feels passionately about," the source said. (AFP)

Queen signs law authorising May to begin Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the Scottish government on Thursday &quot;now is not the time&quot; for a second independence referendum, saying it would be unfair to ask people to vote without knowing the result of Brexit talks. 
 
While May fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum, her Scottish minister David Mundell was more forthright. He ruled out any discussion on the procedure to launch a vote now and immediately raised hackles north of the English border. 
 
Scottish nationalists have called for a new referendum and accuse May of all but ignoring their demands in her preparations for divorce talks with the European Union. 
 
Scotland voted to remain in the EU last June and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after May spoke that blocking an independence referendum would be undemocratic. 
 
The remarks upped the ante in a war of words over Scottish independence as Britain prepares for intense EU exit talks. 
 
&quot;Right now we should be working together, not pulling apart,&quot; May told British television. 
 
&quot;We should be working together to get that right deal for Scotland, that right deal for the UK. That`s my job as prime minister and so for that reason I say to the SNP (Scottish National Party) now is not the time.&quot; 
 
Mundell said there would be no negotiations on Section 30, a procedure that allows the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum. 
 
&quot;We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement, and any request at this time will be declined,&quot; Mundell told a news conference. 
 
He declined to clarify if or when a vote could take place.

Sturgeon hits back, says UK government &#39;undemocratic&#39; 
 
Sturgeon hit back, accusing May`s government of being frightened of listening to the Scots.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Any bid by the UK Government to block the people of Scotland from making a choice will be untenable, undemocratic and totally unsustainable &ndash; and clearly shows that the UK Government recognises it is out of step with the Scottish people,&quot; she said in a statement.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It would be outrageous for the Scottish Parliament to be frozen out of the process.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
No guarantees 
 
Sturgeon said Scotland should have the chance to stay in the EU`s lucrative single market and keep an open-door policy to immigrants after voting to remain, and has criticised May for failing to consult the Scottish government on her strategy. 
 
The Scottish Greens, another pro-independence party, said May risked boosting support for independence if she wanted to veto a decision expected to be made by Scotland`s devolved parliament next week. 
 
Sturgeon is by no means guaranteed of winning a referendum just 2-1/2 years after Scots voted to keep the union, but she has managed to put pressure on May just days before Britain is expected to trigger Article 50 of the EU`s Lisbon Treaty and start the formal divorce procedure. 
 
May is a unionist and will fight hard to keep Britain together but her government will be stretched in trying to negotiate a &quot;good deal&quot; with the EU and keeping vocal eurosceptics in her ruling Conservatives onboard. 
 
Britain`s vote to leave the bloc last June deepened geographical and social divisions in the country, with Scotland and Northern Ireland voting to stay in the bloc while England and Wales backed an exit. 
 
May says her government is committed to engaging with the whole of Britain over Brexit to negotiate a good deal for everyone, suggesting there should be no independence referendum until after a final deal is reach with the EU. 
&quot;To look at this issue at this time would be unfair because people wouldn`t have the necessary information to make such a crucial decision,&quot; May said. 
 
(Reuters)

The British Prime Minister, however, fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the Scottish government on Thursday "now is not the time" for a second independence referendum, saying it would be unfair to ask people to vote without knowing the result of Brexit talks. While May fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum, her Scottish minister David Mundell was more forthright. He ruled out any discussion on the procedure to launch a vote now and immediately raised hackles north of the English border. Scottish nationalists have called for a new referendum and accuse May of all but ignoring their demands in her preparations for divorce talks with the European Union. Scotland voted to remain in the EU last June and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after May spoke that blocking an independence referendum would be undemocratic. The remarks upped the ante in a war of words over Scottish independence as Britain prepares for intense EU exit talks. "Right now we should be working together, not pulling apart," May told British television. "We should be working together to get that right deal for Scotland, that right deal for the UK. That`s my job as prime minister and so for that reason I say to the SNP (Scottish National Party) now is not the time." Mundell said there would be no negotiations on Section 30, a procedure that allows the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum. "We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement, and any request at this time will be declined," Mundell told a news conference. He declined to clarify if or when a vote could take place. Sturgeon hits back, says UK government 'undemocratic' Sturgeon hit back, accusing May`s government of being frightened of listening to the Scots. "Any bid by the UK Government to block the people of Scotland from making a choice will be untenable, undemocratic and totally unsustainable – and clearly shows that the UK Government recognises it is out of step with the Scottish people," she said in a statement. "It would be outrageous for the Scottish Parliament to be frozen out of the process." No guarantees Sturgeon said Scotland should have the chance to stay in the EU`s lucrative single market and keep an open-door policy to immigrants after voting to remain, and has criticised May for failing to consult the Scottish government on her strategy. The Scottish Greens, another pro-independence party, said May risked boosting support for independence if she wanted to veto a decision expected to be made by Scotland`s devolved parliament next week. Sturgeon is by no means guaranteed of winning a referendum just 2-1/2 years after Scots voted to keep the union, but she has managed to put pressure on May just days before Britain is expected to trigger Article 50 of the EU`s Lisbon Treaty and start the formal divorce procedure. May is a unionist and will fight hard to keep Britain together but her government will be stretched in trying to negotiate a "good deal" with the EU and keeping vocal eurosceptics in her ruling Conservatives onboard. Britain`s vote to leave the bloc last June deepened geographical and social divisions in the country, with Scotland and Northern Ireland voting to stay in the bloc while England and Wales backed an exit. May says her government is committed to engaging with the whole of Britain over Brexit to negotiate a good deal for everyone, suggesting there should be no independence referendum until after a final deal is reach with the EU. "To look at this issue at this time would be unfair because people wouldn`t have the necessary information to make such a crucial decision," May said. (Reuters)

'Now is not the time': Theresa May on Scotland's demand for independence referendum

The House of Lords voted Wednesday to amend and thereby delay a bill empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to begin Brexit negotiations, demanding guarantees for EU nationals living in Britain.

In a major defeat for the government, peers voted by 358 to 256 for an amendment requiring ministers to protect the rights of more than three million European citizens after Britain leaves the bloc.

The change means the bill must return to the lower House of Commons for deliberation, delaying final approval just weeks ahead of May&#39;s deadline for starting Brexit negotiations by the end of this month.

Before the vote, May said her timetable for triggering Article 50 of the European Union&#39;s Lisbon treaty, which starts a two-year negotiating period, would not change.

&quot;It is, indeed, my plan to trigger by the end of March,&quot; she told MPs.

A Brexit ministry spokesman said it was &quot;disappointed&quot; at the Lords vote, which comes after MPs overwhelmingly approved the bill last month. Lawmakers in the lower house defeated all amendments to the bill, including one on the rights of EU nationals.

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed Wednesday&#39;s vote as &quot;great news&quot; on Twitter, suggesting he may support the amendment when it returns to the lower house.

A spokeswoman for May&#39;s office told AFP the government would seek to reverse the change when it moves back to the Commons, where May&#39;s Conservatives have a majority.

If they succeed, the original bill would go back to the Lords in what is known as parliamentary ping-pong.

The delay may only end up being a few days, but the defeat signals the domestic opposition that May could face during the next two years of complex EU negotiations.The June referendum vote was fuelled by concerns about mass EU migration into Britain, and immigration promises to be a critical issue once negotiations begin.

May has said she will prioritise ending free movement of workers from the other 27 EU countries, even at the cost of trade ties with the bloc.

But the fate of those who are already in Britain remains uncertain, causing intense worry for people affected.

The prime minister has repeatedly said she wants them to stay, but says she must also secure the rights of 1.2 million British citizens living elsewhere in the EU.

Labour party peer Baroness Dianne Hayter said the amendment was tabled on behalf of &quot;three million people who quite literally feel they are being used as mere bargaining chips&quot;.

She rejected May&#39;s argument that she must wait for a reciprocal deal, saying: &quot;These two groups of people should not be traded against each other.&quot;

She added: &quot;These people need to know now, not in two years&#39;&nbsp;time or even 12 months&#39; time. They simply can&#39;t put their lives on hold.&quot;May was forced to introduce the Brexit bill after the Supreme Court ruled she could not trigger Article 50 without parliament&#39;s approval, sparking fears that pro-European lawmakers would use the opportunity to block Brexit.

Unlike in the Commons, May&#39;s Conservative party is in the minority in the 800-seat House of Lords, and Labour&#39;s amendment had cross-party support.

Former Conservative minister Quintin Hogg had backed it, urging peers to &quot;take the moral high ground&quot;.

Another former Tory minister, Lord Norman Tebbit, was jeered when he said the debate seemed to focus on &quot;nothing but the rights of foreigners&quot;.

May had hoped to agree a deal on EU nationals late last year, but European leaders insisted there could be no talks on any subject before the government triggers Article 50.

&quot;The hold-up is less an issue of principle than one of timing,&quot; Home Secretary Amber Rudd wrote to peers on the eve of the vote in a bid to fend off the defeat.

&quot;However, I believe the UK and the EU have a common goal to provide this assurance as quickly as possible.&quot;

The government risks defeat on another amendment due for consideration in the Lords next week, on giving parliament a vote on the final withdrawal deal.

May has given verbal assurances that such a vote will take place, but her opponents want this enshrined in law.

(AFP)

&nbsp;

In a major defeat for the government, peers voted by 358 to 256 for an amendment requiring ministers to protect the rights of more than 3 mn ?EU nationals after Brexit?

The House of Lords voted Wednesday to amend and thereby delay a bill empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to begin Brexit negotiations, demanding guarantees for EU nationals living in Britain. In a major defeat for the government, peers voted by 358 to 256 for an amendment requiring ministers to protect the rights of more than three million European citizens after Britain leaves the bloc. The change means the bill must return to the lower House of Commons for deliberation, delaying final approval just weeks ahead of May's deadline for starting Brexit negotiations by the end of this month. Before the vote, May said her timetable for triggering Article 50 of the European Union's Lisbon treaty, which starts a two-year negotiating period, would not change. "It is, indeed, my plan to trigger by the end of March," she told MPs. A Brexit ministry spokesman said it was "disappointed" at the Lords vote, which comes after MPs overwhelmingly approved the bill last month. Lawmakers in the lower house defeated all amendments to the bill, including one on the rights of EU nationals. Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed Wednesday's vote as "great news" on Twitter, suggesting he may support the amendment when it returns to the lower house. A spokeswoman for May's office told AFP the government would seek to reverse the change when it moves back to the Commons, where May's Conservatives have a majority. If they succeed, the original bill would go back to the Lords in what is known as parliamentary ping-pong. The delay may only end up being a few days, but the defeat signals the domestic opposition that May could face during the next two years of complex EU negotiations.The June referendum vote was fuelled by concerns about mass EU migration into Britain, and immigration promises to be a critical issue once negotiations begin. May has said she will prioritise ending free movement of workers from the other 27 EU countries, even at the cost of trade ties with the bloc. But the fate of those who are already in Britain remains uncertain, causing intense worry for people affected. The prime minister has repeatedly said she wants them to stay, but says she must also secure the rights of 1.2 million British citizens living elsewhere in the EU. Labour party peer Baroness Dianne Hayter said the amendment was tabled on behalf of "three million people who quite literally feel they are being used as mere bargaining chips". She rejected May's argument that she must wait for a reciprocal deal, saying: "These two groups of people should not be traded against each other." She added: "These people need to know now, not in two years' time or even 12 months' time. They simply can't put their lives on hold."May was forced to introduce the Brexit bill after the Supreme Court ruled she could not trigger Article 50 without parliament's approval, sparking fears that pro-European lawmakers would use the opportunity to block Brexit. Unlike in the Commons, May's Conservative party is in the minority in the 800-seat House of Lords, and Labour's amendment had cross-party support. Former Conservative minister Quintin Hogg had backed it, urging peers to "take the moral high ground". Another former Tory minister, Lord Norman Tebbit, was jeered when he said the debate seemed to focus on "nothing but the rights of foreigners". May had hoped to agree a deal on EU nationals late last year, but European leaders insisted there could be no talks on any subject before the government triggers Article 50. "The hold-up is less an issue of principle than one of timing," Home Secretary Amber Rudd wrote to peers on the eve of the vote in a bid to fend off the defeat. "However, I believe the UK and the EU have a common goal to provide this assurance as quickly as possible." The government risks defeat on another amendment due for consideration in the Lords next week, on giving parliament a vote on the final withdrawal deal. May has given verbal assurances that such a vote will take place, but her opponents want this enshrined in law. (AFP)

Brexit bill delayed as House of Lords backs EU nationals' rights

British Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s Conservatives secured a landmark victory in a parliamentary by-election on Friday, boosting her hand ahead of upcoming Brexit negotiations as her rivals suffered damaging poll setbacks.

The Conservatives captured the north western region of Copeland that Labour have held since 1935, the first by-election gain for a governing party for 35 years and a result which piles pressure on the opposition&#39;s under-fire socialist leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Meanwhile in the central English seat of Stoke-on-Trent, Paul Nuttall, leader of the populist anti-EU UK Independence Party, failed to overturn a Labour majority despite almost 70 per cent of the city&#39;s voters backing leaving the bloc at last year&#39;s referendum, casting doubt on his future too.

The two results point to May&#39;s tightening grip on political power following the Brexit vote, and will be used as evidence that her strategy of pursuing a clean break with the EU has stemmed rising right-wing populism without denting her ability to take votes from an increasingly left-wing Labour Party.

Although Labour avoided the worst-case scenario of two defeats, Corbyn is likely to face renewed criticism.

Many lawmakers worry his leadership is damaging their fight for a &quot;softer&quot; Brexit, with closer ties to the EU&#39;s single market, while his leftist agenda is making the party unelectable before a 2020 national election.

&quot;The simple truth of the matter is seven years into opposition the Labour Party is going backwards, not going forwards,&quot; academic and polling expert Michael Thrasher told Sky News. &quot;Their vote share is falling in by-elections where they should be causing the Conservatives problems, and they&#39;re not.&quot;

Despite long-running unrest within the upper ranks of his party, Corbyn is unlikely to face a fresh leadership challenge because he retains strong support among the grassroots Labour members who re-elected him last year after a botched coup.

&quot;To win power to rebuild and transform Britain, Labour will go further to reconnect with voters, and break with the failed political consensus,&quot; Corbyn said in a statement after the result.

&nbsp;

UKIP Stutter

In Stoke, UKIP were unable to capitalise on the anti-establishment sentiment it tapped so successfully when persuading voters to leave the EU last year, despite pouring resources into a campaign waged on fertile Brexit territory.

The party&#39;s former leader and best-known figure Nigel Farage had warned last week the Stoke vote was vital for the future of the party, beset by in-fighting since the Brexit vote.

&quot;UKIP&#39;s time will come ... there&#39;s a lot more to come from us, we&#39;re not going anywhere, I&#39;m not going anywhere,&quot; Nuttall told reporters after the result.

A campaign dogged by personal gaffes risks reigniting feuding within the party, which has struggled to break into mainstream politics despite playing a pivotal role in forcing the government to call an EU referendum and the subsequent campaign to leave the bloc.

&quot;If you want to be an electoral force and a political force in this country you have to be able to win by-elections in difficult circumstances as a third party,&quot; Rob Ford, a politics professor from Manchester University and an expert on UKIP, told Reuters

&quot;If they can&#39;t do that even in the most propitious of seats people will start to have questions.&quot;

(Reuters)

The Conservatives captured a region that Labour have held since 1935, the first by-election gain for a governing party for 35 years

British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives secured a landmark victory in a parliamentary by-election on Friday, boosting her hand ahead of upcoming Brexit negotiations as her rivals suffered damaging poll setbacks. The Conservatives captured the north western region of Copeland that Labour have held since 1935, the first by-election gain for a governing party for 35 years and a result which piles pressure on the opposition's under-fire socialist leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Meanwhile in the central English seat of Stoke-on-Trent, Paul Nuttall, leader of the populist anti-EU UK Independence Party, failed to overturn a Labour majority despite almost 70 per cent of the city's voters backing leaving the bloc at last year's referendum, casting doubt on his future too. The two results point to May's tightening grip on political power following the Brexit vote, and will be used as evidence that her strategy of pursuing a clean break with the EU has stemmed rising right-wing populism without denting her ability to take votes from an increasingly left-wing Labour Party. Although Labour avoided the worst-case scenario of two defeats, Corbyn is likely to face renewed criticism. Many lawmakers worry his leadership is damaging their fight for a "softer" Brexit, with closer ties to the EU's single market, while his leftist agenda is making the party unelectable before a 2020 national election. "The simple truth of the matter is seven years into opposition the Labour Party is going backwards, not going forwards," academic and polling expert Michael Thrasher told Sky News. "Their vote share is falling in by-elections where they should be causing the Conservatives problems, and they're not." Despite long-running unrest within the upper ranks of his party, Corbyn is unlikely to face a fresh leadership challenge because he retains strong support among the grassroots Labour members who re-elected him last year after a botched coup. "To win power to rebuild and transform Britain, Labour will go further to reconnect with voters, and break with the failed political consensus," Corbyn said in a statement after the result. UKIP Stutter In Stoke, UKIP were unable to capitalise on the anti-establishment sentiment it tapped so successfully when persuading voters to leave the EU last year, despite pouring resources into a campaign waged on fertile Brexit territory. The party's former leader and best-known figure Nigel Farage had warned last week the Stoke vote was vital for the future of the party, beset by in-fighting since the Brexit vote. "UKIP's time will come ... there's a lot more to come from us, we're not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere," Nuttall told reporters after the result. A campaign dogged by personal gaffes risks reigniting feuding within the party, which has struggled to break into mainstream politics despite playing a pivotal role in forcing the government to call an EU referendum and the subsequent campaign to leave the bloc. "If you want to be an electoral force and a political force in this country you have to be able to win by-elections in difficult circumstances as a third party," Rob Ford, a politics professor from Manchester University and an expert on UKIP, told Reuters "If they can't do that even in the most propitious of seats people will start to have questions." (Reuters)

UK May's Conservatives gain parliamentary seat as rivals suffer election setbacks

British MPs overwhelmingly backed a bill on Wednesday empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to start negotiations on leaving the European Union, bringing Brexit a significant step closer. Members of the House of Commons voted by 494 votes to 122 for a law enabling May to trigger Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, which begins two years of talks on pulling out of the 28-nation bloc.

&quot;We&#39;ve seen a historic vote tonight -- a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states,&quot; said Brexit minister David Davis.

The unamended two-clause bill now moves to the House of Lords, where there may be more opposition from unelected peers -- and where May&#39;s Conservative party does not have a majority. But its passage through the Commons, where two-thirds of MPs had campaigned against Brexit ahead of the June referendum, puts May on course to begin the withdrawal process by the end of March, as she has vowed.

&nbsp;

Labour headaches

The referendum result sent shockwaves around Europe, spooking investors and raising fears for the future of the EU itself. In the early weeks, there was speculation that pro-European lawmakers might try to delay or even stop the Brexit process.

May initially sought to bypass parliament, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court that last month ruled she must obtain their approval to trigger Article 50. But during five days of debate on the resulting government bill, it became clear that most MPs would not stop the process -- even if some warned that leaving Europe&#39;s single market could be disastrous.

The opposition Labour party and the smaller Scottish National Party (SNP) tabled amendments demanding guarantees on market access, workers&#39; rights and those of EU citizens in Britain. Each was defeated, although during the process the government was forced to promise lawmakers a vote on the final Brexit deal before it is concluded.

Labour imposed a &quot;three-line whip&quot;, a tough disciplinary measure ordering its MPs not to oppose the legislation, ensuring it would pass. But some 52 Labour MPs rebelled in Wednesday&#39;s vote, including business spokesman Clive Lewis who resigned shortly beforehand, bringing a fresh headache for embattled leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn.

After two-thirds of Labour voters backed Brexit, many of them driven by concerns over mass immigration from the rest of the EU, Corbyn decided his party could not block the process.

&quot;Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards &amp; the economy,&quot; Corbyn wrote on Twitter following the vote. But he was swiftly reprimanded in a reply by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon: &quot;How? You&#39;ve just handed the Tories a blank cheque. You didn&#39;t win a single concession but still voted for the bill. Pathetic.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;Ode to Joy&#39; 
SNP lawmakers voiced their frustration during Wednesday&#39;s vote by singing Beethoven&#39;s &quot;Ode to Joy&quot;, the EU&#39;s anthem, before being told off by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. But the outcome was celebrated by Brexiteers such as Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party.

&quot;I never thought I&#39;d see the day where the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted for Britain to Leave the European Union,&quot; he wrote on Twitter. Liberal Democrat lawmaker Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, said the vote would allow the government to pursue its aim of a hard Brexit, which will see Britain pull out of the single market.

&quot;There is no mandate for the hardest of hard Brexits the government favours, which risks leaving us poorer, weaker and more isolated,&quot; he said. May has promised to prioritise controlling migration in the Brexit negotiations, even if that comes at the expense of giving up membership of Europe&#39;s single market and its 500 million customers.

(AFP)

The overwhelming majority vote brings Britain a significant step closer to leaving Europe

British MPs overwhelmingly backed a bill on Wednesday empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to start negotiations on leaving the European Union, bringing Brexit a significant step closer. Members of the House of Commons voted by 494 votes to 122 for a law enabling May to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which begins two years of talks on pulling out of the 28-nation bloc. "We've seen a historic vote tonight -- a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states," said Brexit minister David Davis. The unamended two-clause bill now moves to the House of Lords, where there may be more opposition from unelected peers -- and where May's Conservative party does not have a majority. But its passage through the Commons, where two-thirds of MPs had campaigned against Brexit ahead of the June referendum, puts May on course to begin the withdrawal process by the end of March, as she has vowed. Labour headaches The referendum result sent shockwaves around Europe, spooking investors and raising fears for the future of the EU itself. In the early weeks, there was speculation that pro-European lawmakers might try to delay or even stop the Brexit process. May initially sought to bypass parliament, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court that last month ruled she must obtain their approval to trigger Article 50. But during five days of debate on the resulting government bill, it became clear that most MPs would not stop the process -- even if some warned that leaving Europe's single market could be disastrous. The opposition Labour party and the smaller Scottish National Party (SNP) tabled amendments demanding guarantees on market access, workers' rights and those of EU citizens in Britain. Each was defeated, although during the process the government was forced to promise lawmakers a vote on the final Brexit deal before it is concluded. Labour imposed a "three-line whip", a tough disciplinary measure ordering its MPs not to oppose the legislation, ensuring it would pass. But some 52 Labour MPs rebelled in Wednesday's vote, including business spokesman Clive Lewis who resigned shortly beforehand, bringing a fresh headache for embattled leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn. After two-thirds of Labour voters backed Brexit, many of them driven by concerns over mass immigration from the rest of the EU, Corbyn decided his party could not block the process. "Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards & the economy," Corbyn wrote on Twitter following the vote. But he was swiftly reprimanded in a reply by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon: "How? You've just handed the Tories a blank cheque. You didn't win a single concession but still voted for the bill. Pathetic." 'Ode to Joy' SNP lawmakers voiced their frustration during Wednesday's vote by singing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", the EU's anthem, before being told off by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. But the outcome was celebrated by Brexiteers such as Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party. "I never thought I'd see the day where the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted for Britain to Leave the European Union," he wrote on Twitter. Liberal Democrat lawmaker Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, said the vote would allow the government to pursue its aim of a hard Brexit, which will see Britain pull out of the single market. "There is no mandate for the hardest of hard Brexits the government favours, which risks leaving us poorer, weaker and more isolated," he said. May has promised to prioritise controlling migration in the Brexit negotiations, even if that comes at the expense of giving up membership of Europe's single market and its 500 million customers. (AFP)

Brexit: British MPs vote to start EU exit negotiations

British Prime Minister Theresa May received Parliament&#39;s nod for invoking Article 50 that will start the process of UK&#39;s exit from the European Union.

The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill&nbsp;was passed by the House of Commons with a majority of 384 as 498 votes were cast in favour of the bill and 114 against it.

The bill will be debated in Commons for another three days and then go to the Lords before it can become a law.

&quot;I lost the case. I made it with passion, I sacrificed my position in government for it,&quot; said former Conservative finance minister George Osborne. &quot;In the end we have to now accept that in a democracy the majority has spoken,&quot; he added.

The Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn had issued a whip ordering his MPs to vote in favour of the bill.

However, many Labour lawmakers joined their counterparts from the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Liberal Democrat party, the SDLP, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Tory MP Ken Clarke in opposing the legislation that will trigger Article 50 and start the process of UK&#39;s exit from the bloc. &nbsp;

Theresa May said that a White Paper on the Brexit strategy will be published on Thursday. She was responding to a query by Conservative MP Maria Miller.

&quot;The White Paper will reflect the plan already set out by the Prime Minister in her Brexit speech,&quot; a Downing Street spokesperson told reporters at a briefing on Wednesday morning, PTI reported.

The government was expected to win despite the Liberal Democrats and SNP voting against it.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The bill, passed by the Commons with an overwhelming majority, will trigger Article 50 and start the process of UK's exit from EU

British Prime Minister Theresa May received Parliament's nod for invoking Article 50 that will start the process of UK's exit from the European Union. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was passed by the House of Commons with a majority of 384 as 498 votes were cast in favour of the bill and 114 against it. The bill will be debated in Commons for another three days and then go to the Lords before it can become a law. "I lost the case. I made it with passion, I sacrificed my position in government for it," said former Conservative finance minister George Osborne. "In the end we have to now accept that in a democracy the majority has spoken," he added. The Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn had issued a whip ordering his MPs to vote in favour of the bill. However, many Labour lawmakers joined their counterparts from the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Liberal Democrat party, the SDLP, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Tory MP Ken Clarke in opposing the legislation that will trigger Article 50 and start the process of UK's exit from the bloc. Theresa May said that a White Paper on the Brexit strategy will be published on Thursday. She was responding to a query by Conservative MP Maria Miller. "The White Paper will reflect the plan already set out by the Prime Minister in her Brexit speech," a Downing Street spokesperson told reporters at a briefing on Wednesday morning, PTI reported. The government was expected to win despite the Liberal Democrats and SNP voting against it. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Brexit: First hurdle cleared as lawmakers pass crucial bill approving UK's exit from EU

Fresh from talks with US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet Turkish leaders in Ankara Saturday, hoping to expand ties and seal a new trading relationship before Britain leaves the EU.&nbsp;

On a one-day visit to the Turkish capital, her first since becoming premier, May will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

While some EU states have been wary of sending top officials to Turkey following the July 15 failed coup and ensuing crackdown, May will follow several senior British ministers who have visited Ankara in recent weeks.

And symbolically, her visit to Turkey is the last leg of a trip which took her to the White House as the first foreign leader to be hosted by Trump.

Turkey, which has sought to join the European Union since the 1960s, has long seen Britain as one of the most enthusiastic supporters of its troubled bid.

But following Britain&#39;s June vote to leave the bloc, both sides are now looking to bring a new dynamic to relations, with London seeking to firm up post-Brexit trade deals with non-EU states.

&nbsp;

&#39;Engagement with Turkey&#39;

May&#39;s spokeswoman said increased security cooperation, especially on aviation, and a new trade relationship post-Brexit would top the agenda at the talks.

Following the failed coup, Turkey&#39;s relations with the EU have become strained, with Brussels sharply criticising the extent of the ensuing crackdown, and Ankara deploring Europe&#39;s failure to show solidarity.

The spokeswoman emphasised that there were no issues May would steer away from, including human rights and freedom of the press.

&quot;The Prime Minister&#39;s approach is quite clear - she thinks it&#39;s important, and in the UK&#39;s national interest - to engage with Turkey on a range of issues - from defence and security cooperation to capitalising on trade opportunities,&quot; she said.

She added: &quot;I don&#39;t think there are any issues that the prime minister is afraid to bring up.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;Unsavoury rulers&#39;

Ahead of May&#39;s visit, Britain&#39;s trade and investment minister Mark Price held a series of meetings with Turkish ministers in Ankara.

Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to more than $16 billion (14.9 billion euros) in 2015, Turkish figures show, with Britain the second most important country for exports and 11th in terms of imports.&nbsp;

Three months after the Brexit vote, foreign minister Boris Johnson made a colourful visit to Turkey during which he said Britain was seeking a &quot;jumbo free trade deal&quot; with Ankara.

Noting that trade ties were already significant, Johnson said he was the &quot;proud&quot; owner of a Turkish washing machine and acknowledged that Britain&#39;s iconic Jaffa Cake biscuits were owned by a Turkish confectionary giant.

He also ebulliently brushed off the embarrassment of penning the winning entry in an offensive poetry competition about Erdogan which was published by The Spectator magazine earlier in the year.&nbsp;

Back in the UK, MPs have urged May not to let her eagerness to promote trade overshadow human rights concerns over Turkey&#39;s post-coup crackdown.&nbsp;

&quot;The Conservative Brexit government is so desperate for trade deals with anyone but the mature democracies of the European Union that even the most unsavoury rulers are to be subjected to the prime ministerial charm,&quot; opposition Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney wrote in the Guardian newspaper.

Writers&#39; group PEN International called on May to raise &quot;serious concerns about the grave violations&quot; being committed within the state of emergency imposed in Turkey after the coup.

Regarding the coup and its aftermath, May&#39;s spokeswoman said: &quot;We have already expressed our strong support for Turkey&#39;s democracy and institutions following the coup - but we have also been clear that we urge Turkey to ensure that their response is proportionate, justified and in line with international human rights obligations.&quot;

(AFP)

Both sides are looking to bring a new dynamic to relations, with London seeking to firm up post-Brexit trade deals with non-EU states

Fresh from talks with US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet Turkish leaders in Ankara Saturday, hoping to expand ties and seal a new trading relationship before Britain leaves the EU. On a one-day visit to the Turkish capital, her first since becoming premier, May will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. While some EU states have been wary of sending top officials to Turkey following the July 15 failed coup and ensuing crackdown, May will follow several senior British ministers who have visited Ankara in recent weeks. And symbolically, her visit to Turkey is the last leg of a trip which took her to the White House as the first foreign leader to be hosted by Trump. Turkey, which has sought to join the European Union since the 1960s, has long seen Britain as one of the most enthusiastic supporters of its troubled bid. But following Britain's June vote to leave the bloc, both sides are now looking to bring a new dynamic to relations, with London seeking to firm up post-Brexit trade deals with non-EU states. 'Engagement with Turkey' May's spokeswoman said increased security cooperation, especially on aviation, and a new trade relationship post-Brexit would top the agenda at the talks. Following the failed coup, Turkey's relations with the EU have become strained, with Brussels sharply criticising the extent of the ensuing crackdown, and Ankara deploring Europe's failure to show solidarity. The spokeswoman emphasised that there were no issues May would steer away from, including human rights and freedom of the press. "The Prime Minister's approach is quite clear - she thinks it's important, and in the UK's national interest - to engage with Turkey on a range of issues - from defence and security cooperation to capitalising on trade opportunities," she said. She added: "I don't think there are any issues that the prime minister is afraid to bring up." 'Unsavoury rulers' Ahead of May's visit, Britain's trade and investment minister Mark Price held a series of meetings with Turkish ministers in Ankara. Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to more than $16 billion (14.9 billion euros) in 2015, Turkish figures show, with Britain the second most important country for exports and 11th in terms of imports. Three months after the Brexit vote, foreign minister Boris Johnson made a colourful visit to Turkey during which he said Britain was seeking a "jumbo free trade deal" with Ankara. Noting that trade ties were already significant, Johnson said he was the "proud" owner of a Turkish washing machine and acknowledged that Britain's iconic Jaffa Cake biscuits were owned by a Turkish confectionary giant. He also ebulliently brushed off the embarrassment of penning the winning entry in an offensive poetry competition about Erdogan which was published by The Spectator magazine earlier in the year. Back in the UK, MPs have urged May not to let her eagerness to promote trade overshadow human rights concerns over Turkey's post-coup crackdown. "The Conservative Brexit government is so desperate for trade deals with anyone but the mature democracies of the European Union that even the most unsavoury rulers are to be subjected to the prime ministerial charm," opposition Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney wrote in the Guardian newspaper. Writers' group PEN International called on May to raise "serious concerns about the grave violations" being committed within the state of emergency imposed in Turkey after the coup. Regarding the coup and its aftermath, May's spokeswoman said: "We have already expressed our strong support for Turkey's democracy and institutions following the coup - but we have also been clear that we urge Turkey to ensure that their response is proportionate, justified and in line with international human rights obligations." (AFP)

British PM May eyes trade ties with Turkey ahead of Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday promised steps to ramp up trade between Turkey and Britain ahead of Brexit but also urged Ankara to uphold human rights following a failed coup.

On her first visit to Turkey as premier and fresh from meeting new US President Donald Trump at the White House, May held three hours of talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.&nbsp;

May sought to strike a delicate balance between showing Britain&#39;s keen interest in expanding trade with Turkey following the June vote to leave the European Union while echoing European alarm over the scale of the crackdown after the July 15 attempted coup.

May announced the creation of a joint group to boost trade ahead of Britain&#39;s departure from the EU and also oversaw the signing of a deal for Britain&#39;s BAE Systems to develop a new Turkish fighter jet.&nbsp;

May said after meeting Erdogan at his palace she was &quot;proud&quot; Britain had stood with Turkey&#39;s democratically-elected government when the coup struck.

But she added: &quot;Now it is important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations, as the government has undertaken to do.&quot;

May stressed that Turkey was one of Britain&#39;s &quot;oldest friends&quot; with relations going back over 400 years, referring to the establishment of relations between the Ottoman Empire and England under Elizabeth I.&nbsp;

Earlier, a spokeswoman countered criticism from some MPs that Britain was cosying up to Turkey while turning a blind eye to its human rights record.

The spokeswoman said: &quot;I don&#39;t think there are any issues that the prime minister is afraid to bring up.&quot;

Around 43,000 people are under arrest on charges of links to the coup bid, which Ankara blames on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. He denies the charges.

May&#39;s visit is also seen as the first to Ankara by a major Western leader since the attempted putsch, although then US vice president Joe Biden held talks with Erdogan in August.

Her visit came hours after Erdogan had hosted the American actress Lindsay Lohan -- a keen supporter of Erdogan&#39;s vision of a multipolar world -- in his vast presidential palace in Ankara.

&#39;Post-Brexit trading relationship&#39;&nbsp;

Erdogan said the two sides were targeting increasing annual trade from over $15 billion to $20 billion.

Meanwhile, May said Britain and Turkey have agreed to set up a working group to &quot;prepare the ground for our post-Brexit trading relationship&quot; after Britain leaves the European Union.

&quot;We both want to build on our existing links and I believe that doing so will be to the benefit of both of our countries and for the prosperity of both our nations,&quot; she said.

Under a non-binding agreement, BAE Systems and state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will establish a partnership for the development of the TF-X fighter jet.

May said it indicated that &quot;Britain is a great, global, trading nation and that we are open for business&quot;, after the Brexit vote.

She added that &quot;it marks the start of a new and deeper trading relationship with Turkey.&quot;

The initial phase is worth over 100 million pounds (117 million euros), Downing Street said.

But the agreement can pave the way for further deals potentially worth billions of pounds over a 20-year lifespan, May&#39;s spokeswoman told reporters.

&nbsp;&#39;Unsavoury rulers&#39;&nbsp;

Back in the UK, some MPs have urged May not to let her focus on trade overshadow human rights concerns over the crackdown in Turkey.&nbsp;

&quot;The Conservative Brexit government is so desperate for trade deals with anyone but the mature democracies of the European Union that even the most unsavoury rulers are to be subjected to the prime ministerial charm,&quot; opposition Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney wrote in the Guardian newspaper.

Erdogan and May also discussed the battle against jihadists in Syria and efforts to reunify Cyprus, where both Ankara and London are guarantor powers, as well as aviation security.

&quot;I am pleased with the steps we have taken and I believe in the continuation of this success in the future,&quot; Erdogan said after the talks.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The British PM announced the creation of a joint group to boost trade ahead of Britain's departure from the EU

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday promised steps to ramp up trade between Turkey and Britain ahead of Brexit but also urged Ankara to uphold human rights following a failed coup. On her first visit to Turkey as premier and fresh from meeting new US President Donald Trump at the White House, May held three hours of talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. May sought to strike a delicate balance between showing Britain's keen interest in expanding trade with Turkey following the June vote to leave the European Union while echoing European alarm over the scale of the crackdown after the July 15 attempted coup. May announced the creation of a joint group to boost trade ahead of Britain's departure from the EU and also oversaw the signing of a deal for Britain's BAE Systems to develop a new Turkish fighter jet. May said after meeting Erdogan at his palace she was "proud" Britain had stood with Turkey's democratically-elected government when the coup struck. But she added: "Now it is important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations, as the government has undertaken to do." May stressed that Turkey was one of Britain's "oldest friends" with relations going back over 400 years, referring to the establishment of relations between the Ottoman Empire and England under Elizabeth I. Earlier, a spokeswoman countered criticism from some MPs that Britain was cosying up to Turkey while turning a blind eye to its human rights record. The spokeswoman said: "I don't think there are any issues that the prime minister is afraid to bring up." Around 43,000 people are under arrest on charges of links to the coup bid, which Ankara blames on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. He denies the charges. May's visit is also seen as the first to Ankara by a major Western leader since the attempted putsch, although then US vice president Joe Biden held talks with Erdogan in August. Her visit came hours after Erdogan had hosted the American actress Lindsay Lohan -- a keen supporter of Erdogan's vision of a multipolar world -- in his vast presidential palace in Ankara. 'Post-Brexit trading relationship' Erdogan said the two sides were targeting increasing annual trade from over $15 billion to $20 billion. Meanwhile, May said Britain and Turkey have agreed to set up a working group to "prepare the ground for our post-Brexit trading relationship" after Britain leaves the European Union. "We both want to build on our existing links and I believe that doing so will be to the benefit of both of our countries and for the prosperity of both our nations," she said. Under a non-binding agreement, BAE Systems and state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will establish a partnership for the development of the TF-X fighter jet. May said it indicated that "Britain is a great, global, trading nation and that we are open for business", after the Brexit vote. She added that "it marks the start of a new and deeper trading relationship with Turkey." The initial phase is worth over 100 million pounds (117 million euros), Downing Street said. But the agreement can pave the way for further deals potentially worth billions of pounds over a 20-year lifespan, May's spokeswoman told reporters. 'Unsavoury rulers' Back in the UK, some MPs have urged May not to let her focus on trade overshadow human rights concerns over the crackdown in Turkey. "The Conservative Brexit government is so desperate for trade deals with anyone but the mature democracies of the European Union that even the most unsavoury rulers are to be subjected to the prime ministerial charm," opposition Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney wrote in the Guardian newspaper. Erdogan and May also discussed the battle against jihadists in Syria and efforts to reunify Cyprus, where both Ankara and London are guarantor powers, as well as aviation security. "I am pleased with the steps we have taken and I believe in the continuation of this success in the future," Erdogan said after the talks. (AFP)

Theresa  May woos Turkey for trade, presses on human rights

Britain will continue to follow the European Union (EU) trade rules until it remains a member of the bloc, Britain&#39;s finance minister, Philip Hammond, said.

&quot;Britain remains a fully engaged member of EU,&quot; Hammond said.

He was responding to a question on Theresa May&#39;s visit to United States where she is expected to hold a meeting with her counterpart, President Donald Trump, drawing up a free trade deal that will link the two countries once the UK exits the European Union.

Theresa May will hold talks with Trump in a few hours from now where she is expected to lay the roadmap for the bilateral trade deal between the two countries.&nbsp;

&quot;Of course we want to strengthen our trade ties with the very many trade partners we have around the world. But we are very mindful of our obligations under the treaty and will follow them precisely,&quot; Philip Hammond told reporters arriving at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, Reuters reported.

May&#39;s visit has created a furore among EU members as negotiating independent trade deals outside of the 27-member bloc would amount to a violation of EU treaties.

On Wednesday, European Union&#39;s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that Britain was free to &quot;discuss&quot; its trade ties with the US but it remains bound by EU treaties as long as it is a part of the bloc, AFP reported.

Britain is expected to start negotiating a two-year-long exit route out of the bloc beginning March.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Theresa May and Donald Trump are expected to draw up a free trade deal today which will link US and Britain once it exits EU

Britain will continue to follow the European Union (EU) trade rules until it remains a member of the bloc, Britain's finance minister, Philip Hammond, said. "Britain remains a fully engaged member of EU," Hammond said. He was responding to a question on Theresa May's visit to United States where she is expected to hold a meeting with her counterpart, President Donald Trump, drawing up a free trade deal that will link the two countries once the UK exits the European Union. Theresa May will hold talks with Trump in a few hours from now where she is expected to lay the roadmap for the bilateral trade deal between the two countries. "Of course we want to strengthen our trade ties with the very many trade partners we have around the world. But we are very mindful of our obligations under the treaty and will follow them precisely," Philip Hammond told reporters arriving at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, Reuters reported. May's visit has created a furore among EU members as negotiating independent trade deals outside of the 27-member bloc would amount to a violation of EU treaties. On Wednesday, European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that Britain was free to "discuss" its trade ties with the US but it remains bound by EU treaties as long as it is a part of the bloc, AFP reported. Britain is expected to start negotiating a two-year-long exit route out of the bloc beginning March. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Britain's finance minister says will uphold EU rules on trade till it's a member

President Donald Trump hailed a &quot;most special relationship&quot; with Britain and threw his support behind Brexit Friday, as he hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May for his debut on the diplomatic stage.

At a tense moment in trans-Atlantic relations, Trump tried to recast the &quot;deep bond&quot; as a meeting of ideological minds: two countries embracing populist policies and taking an uncompromising view of the national interest.

Trump pointed to Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union as a &quot;wonderful thing&quot; and said: &quot;When it irons out, you&#39;re going to have your own identity, and you are going to have the people that you want in your country.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;You&#39;re going to be able to make free trade deals without having somebody watching you and what you are doing,&quot; he added.

May brushed aside deep-seated differences on issues from torture to Russia, to pursue a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at securing commitments on trade and mutual defense.

May conveyed an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II for Trump to come to Britain for a state visit later this year.&nbsp;

The pair even briefly held hands as they walked down the West Wing colonnade.&nbsp;

Trump greeted May himself upon her arrival at the White House and then they went to the Oval Office, posing and shaking hands in front of a bust of Winston Churchill.&nbsp;

Behind closed doors, May was expected to give Trump an engraved quaich -- a ceremonial cup exchanged by Scottish highland chiefs -- in a nod to Trump&#39;s Scottish ancestry. His mother was born on the island of Lewis.

For First Lady Melania Trump, May was to gift a hamper of apple juice, damson plum jam, marmalade, Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate shortbread cookies.

But May also came with a diplomatic shopping list. Trans-Atlantic relations have been rocked by Trump&#39;s election and his willingness to rethink NATO, the UN and other foundation blocks of the liberal world order.

With Trump largely silent on these issues during a joint press conference, May conveyed what had been said in private.

&quot;We&#39;ve reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to this alliance,&quot; she said. &quot;Mr President, I think you confirmed that you were 100 percent behind NATO.&quot;

Much of Britain&#39;s military power, including its nuclear deterrent, depends on US equipment and systems.

In private, European diplomats worry about the influence of top Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who has made common cause with right-wing nationalists and populists in France, Britain and beyond.

Many in European capitals are conscious of the continent&#39;s previous embraces of nationalism -- the Balkan wars and the horrors of World War II, which left millions dead.

Post-Brexit trade

Trump&#39;s break with decades of US support for multilateral trade deals and his preference for bilateral accords did offer May one opening as she seeks to navigate Britain&#39;s complex exit from the European Union.

Faced with exit from the European single market, the British government is scrambling to secure bilateral deals around the world.&nbsp;

Trump nevertheless offered no firm commitment to negotiate a free trade agreement, but did say: &quot;We look forward to working closely with you as we strengthen our mutual ties and commerce, business and foreign affairs.&quot;

That could pose problems for May at home. Her decision to meet Trump just one week after his inauguration has caused considerable controversy.&nbsp;

Trump has been condemned by European politicians of all stripes for his comments about women, Muslims and the use of torture.

May was not helped Thursday when the White House misspelled her name multiple times when announcing her visit.

&#39;I think we are going to get along&#39;

The reserved daughter of a vicar had promised to be &quot;frank&quot; in her dealings with the unpredictable billionaire. The pair laughed off questions about their personal compatibility.

Trump joked that he was &quot;not as brash as you might think&quot; and, turning to May, said: &quot;I think we&#39;re going to get along very well.&quot;

Throughout the long US election campaign, Trump showed little interest in foreign policy except through the prism of his image at home and a pledge to put &quot;America First.&quot;

His first week in office has been marked by a war of words with Mexico over the building of a border wall, and his vow to make Mexico pay for it.

On Thursday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto called off a planned trip to Washington in protest. But the pair spoke by telephone on Friday and agreed to try to resolve their differences, the two sides said.

May arrived in the United States on Thursday and received a rapturous welcome from Republican lawmakers gathering in Philadelphia with a speech urging them to &quot;beware&quot; of Russia, and warning US allies to &quot;step up&quot; and play a greater role in global security.

On Friday, Trump said it was &quot;too early&quot; to talk about whether he might lift sanctions against Moscow. May took a much sterner line, saying the sanctions should continue.

(AFP)

The US president?reiterated his support for Britain's decision to leave the European Union, calling it a 'blessing to the world'

President Donald Trump hailed a "most special relationship" with Britain and threw his support behind Brexit Friday, as he hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May for his debut on the diplomatic stage. At a tense moment in trans-Atlantic relations, Trump tried to recast the "deep bond" as a meeting of ideological minds: two countries embracing populist policies and taking an uncompromising view of the national interest. Trump pointed to Britain's exit from the European Union as a "wonderful thing" and said: "When it irons out, you're going to have your own identity, and you are going to have the people that you want in your country." "You're going to be able to make free trade deals without having somebody watching you and what you are doing," he added. May brushed aside deep-seated differences on issues from torture to Russia, to pursue a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at securing commitments on trade and mutual defense. May conveyed an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II for Trump to come to Britain for a state visit later this year. The pair even briefly held hands as they walked down the West Wing colonnade. Trump greeted May himself upon her arrival at the White House and then they went to the Oval Office, posing and shaking hands in front of a bust of Winston Churchill. Behind closed doors, May was expected to give Trump an engraved quaich -- a ceremonial cup exchanged by Scottish highland chiefs -- in a nod to Trump's Scottish ancestry. His mother was born on the island of Lewis. For First Lady Melania Trump, May was to gift a hamper of apple juice, damson plum jam, marmalade, Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate shortbread cookies. But May also came with a diplomatic shopping list. Trans-Atlantic relations have been rocked by Trump's election and his willingness to rethink NATO, the UN and other foundation blocks of the liberal world order. With Trump largely silent on these issues during a joint press conference, May conveyed what had been said in private. "We've reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to this alliance," she said. "Mr President, I think you confirmed that you were 100 percent behind NATO." Much of Britain's military power, including its nuclear deterrent, depends on US equipment and systems. In private, European diplomats worry about the influence of top Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who has made common cause with right-wing nationalists and populists in France, Britain and beyond. Many in European capitals are conscious of the continent's previous embraces of nationalism -- the Balkan wars and the horrors of World War II, which left millions dead. Post-Brexit trade Trump's break with decades of US support for multilateral trade deals and his preference for bilateral accords did offer May one opening as she seeks to navigate Britain's complex exit from the European Union. Faced with exit from the European single market, the British government is scrambling to secure bilateral deals around the world. Trump nevertheless offered no firm commitment to negotiate a free trade agreement, but did say: "We look forward to working closely with you as we strengthen our mutual ties and commerce, business and foreign affairs." That could pose problems for May at home. Her decision to meet Trump just one week after his inauguration has caused considerable controversy. Trump has been condemned by European politicians of all stripes for his comments about women, Muslims and the use of torture. May was not helped Thursday when the White House misspelled her name multiple times when announcing her visit. 'I think we are going to get along' The reserved daughter of a vicar had promised to be "frank" in her dealings with the unpredictable billionaire. The pair laughed off questions about their personal compatibility. Trump joked that he was "not as brash as you might think" and, turning to May, said: "I think we're going to get along very well." Throughout the long US election campaign, Trump showed little interest in foreign policy except through the prism of his image at home and a pledge to put "America First." His first week in office has been marked by a war of words with Mexico over the building of a border wall, and his vow to make Mexico pay for it. On Thursday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto called off a planned trip to Washington in protest. But the pair spoke by telephone on Friday and agreed to try to resolve their differences, the two sides said. May arrived in the United States on Thursday and received a rapturous welcome from Republican lawmakers gathering in Philadelphia with a speech urging them to "beware" of Russia, and warning US allies to "step up" and play a greater role in global security. On Friday, Trump said it was "too early" to talk about whether he might lift sanctions against Moscow. May took a much sterner line, saying the sanctions should continue. (AFP)

Trump, May renew 'most special US-UK relationship'

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the BBC she has &quot;absolute faith&quot; in the UK&#39;s nuclear weapons system despite reports that an unarmed British nuclear Trident missile malfunctioned during a test last year.

&quot;I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident,&quot; she told the BBC.

The Sunday Times reported that the Trident II D5 missile experienced an &quot;alarming failure&quot;&nbsp;after being launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, just weeks before the crucial House of Commons vote on the future of the missile system.

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, May repeatedly refused to say if she knew about the malfunction ahead of the vote.&nbsp;May&rsquo;s spokeswoman said she was told on taking office last year that a nuclear submarine and its crew had been successfully certified in tests.

&quot;On taking office, the current prime minister was briefed on a range of nuclear issues, including this,&quot; the spokeswoman told reporters.&nbsp;However, she declined to discuss operational details of the tests while talking to reporters, asserting that&nbsp;the capability and effectiveness of Trident missiles was not in question.

According to The Sunday Times, the missile was intended to be fired 5,600 miles to a sea target off the west coast of Africa but veered towards the US.

(WION)

The Sunday Times had reported that the Trident missile experienced an 'alarming failure'?after being launched from a British submarine

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the BBC she has "absolute faith" in the UK's nuclear weapons system despite reports that an unarmed British nuclear Trident missile malfunctioned during a test last year. "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident," she told the BBC. The Sunday Times reported that the Trident II D5 missile experienced an "alarming failure" after being launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, just weeks before the crucial House of Commons vote on the future of the missile system. In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, May repeatedly refused to say if she knew about the malfunction ahead of the vote. May’s spokeswoman said she was told on taking office last year that a nuclear submarine and its crew had been successfully certified in tests. "On taking office, the current prime minister was briefed on a range of nuclear issues, including this," the spokeswoman told reporters. However, she declined to discuss operational details of the tests while talking to reporters, asserting that the capability and effectiveness of Trident missiles was not in question. According to The Sunday Times, the missile was intended to be fired 5,600 miles to a sea target off the west coast of Africa but veered towards the US. (WION)

I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles: British PM Theresa May

Prime Minister Theresa May unveiled her Brexit blueprint on Tuesday, announcing for the first time that Britain will leave Europe&#39;s single market in order to control EU immigration.

In a highly-anticipated speech, May warned the EU against imposing harsh terms on Britain&#39;s historic divorce from the bloc after more than four decades of membership.

She revealed that Britain would look to strike a new customs agreement with the EU to be able to carve out its own trade deals with the rest of the world.

In a concession to parliamentary critics, the Conservative leader also said lawmakers would get a vote on any final Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels.

EU leaders have insisted that single market membership means accepting free movement -- a key issue in Britain&#39;s shock June referendum vote to become the first country to leave the 28-member grouping.

&quot;Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver,&quot; May told foreign ambassadors in London.

&quot;What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.&quot;

EU immigration to Britain ran at 284,000 in the year to June 2016.

EU president Donald Tusk said May&#39;s plans were &quot;at least more realistic&quot; about what London wanted.

But the European Commission&#39;s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that an orderly divorce from the bloc within the specified two years was a &quot;prerequisite&quot; for any future free trade deal.

Good deal or no deal

Britain has two years to negotiate a break-up deal once May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, officially declaring the country&#39;s intention to quit, or face leaving with no agreement.

May said London could accept departing on such terms if Brussels played hardball, but it would hurt the EU hardest.

&quot;No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain,&quot; she said.

May has promised to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, and said she was confident that final settlements could be negotiated within the two-year timeframe.

Seeking to calm fears of a sudden jolt to the economy on abruptly leaving the EU in 2019, May said she would seek a &quot;phased process of implementation&quot;.

EU countries accounted for 44 percent of Britain&#39;s total exports in goods and services in 2015, with the country recording a &pound;68.6 billion ($82.7 billion, 77.9 billion euros) trade deficit with the bloc.

The single market without Britain covers 460 million people.

Brussels has estimated the bill Britain will have to pay at 55 to 60 billion euros, EU sources told AFP.

The British currency has endured a rocky ride since the June referendum, but sterling responded strongly to May&#39;s speech, wiping out losses earlier in the week to stand at $1.2379 at 1730 GMT.

&quot;The prime minister has adopted a more pragmatic approach to Brexit than expected, providing some much needed relief for the pound,&quot; NFS Macro analyst Nick Stamenkovic told AFP.

Meanwhile London stocks closed down 1.5 percent at 7,220.38 points.

Warning on &#39;punitive deal&#39;

May hinted that Britain might undercut the EU economically if it does not get a free trade deal.

Excluded from the single market, May said London would be free to change its economic model and &quot;set competitive tax rates&quot;.

&quot;There are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path.

&quot;That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe.&quot;

Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973 but was often an uncomfortable partner as the grouping moved to greater integration, refusing to join the euro currency or the Schengen open borders zone.

May said Britain voted to leave because Europe had not been flexible enough for voters on key issues, but Britain nonetheless wanted the EU to succeed, not unravel.

She said Britain would remain a key intelligence and security partner in Europe, as she couched her speech as repositioning Britain as an outward-looking global trading player.

Professor Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe research initiative, said: &quot;Her ability to achieve the ambitions she set out will ultimately hinge on what her partners are willing to give her.&quot;

Scotland&#39;s nationalist First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said May&#39;s speech had made Scottish independence more likely.

&quot;The UK is heading for a hard Brexit, which threatens to be economically catastrophic,&quot; she said.

A new independence referendum is now &quot;even more likely&quot;.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said May had &quot;finally brought a bit more clarity&quot;.

&quot;We also want as good, close and trusting a relationship as possible,&quot; he said.

Britain&#39;s Supreme Court is due to rule later this month on whether May must seek parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50, which could delay the start of negotiations.

(AFP)

May unveiled her Brexit blueprint on Tuesday,?warning the EU against imposing harsh terms on Britain

Prime Minister Theresa May unveiled her Brexit blueprint on Tuesday, announcing for the first time that Britain will leave Europe's single market in order to control EU immigration. In a highly-anticipated speech, May warned the EU against imposing harsh terms on Britain's historic divorce from the bloc after more than four decades of membership. She revealed that Britain would look to strike a new customs agreement with the EU to be able to carve out its own trade deals with the rest of the world. In a concession to parliamentary critics, the Conservative leader also said lawmakers would get a vote on any final Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels. EU leaders have insisted that single market membership means accepting free movement -- a key issue in Britain's shock June referendum vote to become the first country to leave the 28-member grouping. "Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver," May told foreign ambassadors in London. "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market." EU immigration to Britain ran at 284,000 in the year to June 2016. EU president Donald Tusk said May's plans were "at least more realistic" about what London wanted. But the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that an orderly divorce from the bloc within the specified two years was a "prerequisite" for any future free trade deal. Good deal or no deal Britain has two years to negotiate a break-up deal once May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, officially declaring the country's intention to quit, or face leaving with no agreement. May said London could accept departing on such terms if Brussels played hardball, but it would hurt the EU hardest. "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain," she said. May has promised to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, and said she was confident that final settlements could be negotiated within the two-year timeframe. Seeking to calm fears of a sudden jolt to the economy on abruptly leaving the EU in 2019, May said she would seek a "phased process of implementation". EU countries accounted for 44 percent of Britain's total exports in goods and services in 2015, with the country recording a £68.6 billion ($82.7 billion, 77.9 billion euros) trade deficit with the bloc. The single market without Britain covers 460 million people. Brussels has estimated the bill Britain will have to pay at 55 to 60 billion euros, EU sources told AFP. The British currency has endured a rocky ride since the June referendum, but sterling responded strongly to May's speech, wiping out losses earlier in the week to stand at $1.2379 at 1730 GMT. "The prime minister has adopted a more pragmatic approach to Brexit than expected, providing some much needed relief for the pound," NFS Macro analyst Nick Stamenkovic told AFP. Meanwhile London stocks closed down 1.5 percent at 7,220.38 points. Warning on 'punitive deal' May hinted that Britain might undercut the EU economically if it does not get a free trade deal. Excluded from the single market, May said London would be free to change its economic model and "set competitive tax rates". "There are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path. "That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe." Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973 but was often an uncomfortable partner as the grouping moved to greater integration, refusing to join the euro currency or the Schengen open borders zone. May said Britain voted to leave because Europe had not been flexible enough for voters on key issues, but Britain nonetheless wanted the EU to succeed, not unravel. She said Britain would remain a key intelligence and security partner in Europe, as she couched her speech as repositioning Britain as an outward-looking global trading player. Professor Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe research initiative, said: "Her ability to achieve the ambitions she set out will ultimately hinge on what her partners are willing to give her." Scotland's nationalist First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said May's speech had made Scottish independence more likely. "The UK is heading for a hard Brexit, which threatens to be economically catastrophic," she said. A new independence referendum is now "even more likely". German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said May had "finally brought a bit more clarity". "We also want as good, close and trusting a relationship as possible," he said. Britain's Supreme Court is due to rule later this month on whether May must seek parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50, which could delay the start of negotiations. (AFP)

Britain will leave EU single market: British PM May

Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said Britain will leave the EU&#39;s single market after leaving the European Union in order to restrict immigration in a clean break from the politico-economic union.

&quot;What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market,&quot; May said.

The prime minister also announced that the exit deal would be approved by votes in both chambers of Britain&#39;s parliament.

The pound rebounded as the British PM drew out her&nbsp;12-point plan to leave the 29-member bloc.&nbsp;

&quot;Brexit must mean control of the number of people coming from Europe, and that is what we will deliver. What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single 
market,&quot; May said during a highly-anticipated speech at London&#39;s Lancaster House.

May said Britain wanted a news customs deal with the EU that would focus on giving Britain &quot;the greatest possible access&quot; to the market on its departure.

&quot;I do want us to have a customs agreement with the EU,&quot; May said, adding that she had an &quot;open mind&quot; on how it was achieved and wanted &quot;to remove as many barriers to trade as possible&quot;.

In her speech, May also said Britain wanted a &quot;phased approach&quot; to implementing its future relations with the politico-economic union to avoid a &quot;cliff edge&quot; for business.&nbsp;

&quot;We will seek to avoid a disruptive cliff edge,&quot; she said, calling for a &quot;phased approach&quot; but saying she did not want an &quot;unlimited transitional status&quot;.

May warned European Union member states against pushing for a punitive deal over Britain&#39;s departure, saying it would be an &quot;act of calamitous self-harm&quot;.

&quot;No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain,&quot; she said.

Britain has two years to negotiate a break-up deal once May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, officially declaring the country&#39;s intention to quit.

May has promised to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, and said that she believed a final settlement and trade deal could be simultaneously negotiated within the timeframe.

Foreign partners doubt such a timetable, with Austrian Foreign Minister Hans Joerg Schelling saying Brexit would take five years. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

Theresa May said Britain could not remain a member of the EU single market after leaving the European Union

Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said Britain will leave the EU's single market after leaving the European Union in order to restrict immigration in a clean break from the politico-economic union. "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market," May said. The prime minister also announced that the exit deal would be approved by votes in both chambers of Britain's parliament. The pound rebounded as the British PM drew out her 12-point plan to leave the 29-member bloc. "Brexit must mean control of the number of people coming from Europe, and that is what we will deliver. What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market," May said during a highly-anticipated speech at London's Lancaster House. May said Britain wanted a news customs deal with the EU that would focus on giving Britain "the greatest possible access" to the market on its departure. "I do want us to have a customs agreement with the EU," May said, adding that she had an "open mind" on how it was achieved and wanted "to remove as many barriers to trade as possible". In her speech, May also said Britain wanted a "phased approach" to implementing its future relations with the politico-economic union to avoid a "cliff edge" for business. "We will seek to avoid a disruptive cliff edge," she said, calling for a "phased approach" but saying she did not want an "unlimited transitional status". May warned European Union member states against pushing for a punitive deal over Britain's departure, saying it would be an "act of calamitous self-harm". "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain," she said. Britain has two years to negotiate a break-up deal once May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, officially declaring the country's intention to quit. May has promised to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, and said that she believed a final settlement and trade deal could be simultaneously negotiated within the timeframe. Foreign partners doubt such a timetable, with Austrian Foreign Minister Hans Joerg Schelling saying Brexit would take five years. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Want customs deal with EU, phased approach to avoid cliff-edge for business: Theresa May outlines Brexit plan

US President-elect Donald Trump said that Brexit would turn out to be a great thing and other countries would follow Britain out of the European Union but promised to strike a swift bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom.

Speaking in an interview with The Times of London newspaper five days before his inauguration, Trump described himself as a big fan of Britain and endorsed last year&#39;s vote to leave the European Union.

&quot;I think Brexit is going to end up being a great thing,&quot; Trump said. &quot;I&rsquo;ll tell you, the fact that your pound sterling has gone down? Great. Because business is unbelievable in a lot of parts in the UK.&quot; The June 23 vote took many investors and chief executives by surprise, triggering the deepest political and financial turmoil in Britain since World War II and the biggest ever one-day fall in sterling against the dollar.&nbsp;Sterling has since fallen further against the US&nbsp;dollar as traders, businesses and investors fret about the type of relationship Britain will have with its biggest single trading partner after it leaves the European Union.

Trump&#39;s election campaign seized on the Brexit vote as an example of disillusioned voters rising up against the political establishment, and he forged a friendship with leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage - a fierce critic of Prime Minister Theresa May.&nbsp;Trump&#39;s election has raised questions over the future of the so-called &#39;special relationship&#39; that has underpinned close British-American ties for decades.&nbsp;But in the Times&nbsp;interview Trump played up his ancestral ties to Britain, saying his Scottish mother was &quot;so proud&quot; of Queen Elizabeth, and said he was eager to get a trade deal done.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to work very hard to get it done quickly and done properly. Good for both sides,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;I will be meeting with May. She&rsquo;s requesting a meeting and we&rsquo;ll have a meeting right after I get into the White House. We&rsquo;re going to get something done very quickly.&rdquo;

However, he predicted that more countries would seek to follow Britain&#39;s example and quit the EU.

&quot;I believe others will leave,&quot; he said. &quot;If refugees keep pouring into different parts of Europe . . . I think it&rsquo;s going to&nbsp;be very hard to keep it together because people are angry about it.&quot;

He singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose open-door policies have allowed about 1.1 million refugees from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere into Germany since mid-2015 - calling her immigration policy a catastrophic mistake.

US President-elect Donald Trump said other countries would follow Britain out of the European Union

US President-elect Donald Trump said that Brexit would turn out to be a great thing and other countries would follow Britain out of the European Union but promised to strike a swift bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom. Speaking in an interview with The Times of London newspaper five days before his inauguration, Trump described himself as a big fan of Britain and endorsed last year's vote to leave the European Union. "I think Brexit is going to end up being a great thing," Trump said. "I’ll tell you, the fact that your pound sterling has gone down? Great. Because business is unbelievable in a lot of parts in the UK." The June 23 vote took many investors and chief executives by surprise, triggering the deepest political and financial turmoil in Britain since World War II and the biggest ever one-day fall in sterling against the dollar. Sterling has since fallen further against the US dollar as traders, businesses and investors fret about the type of relationship Britain will have with its biggest single trading partner after it leaves the European Union. Trump's election campaign seized on the Brexit vote as an example of disillusioned voters rising up against the political establishment, and he forged a friendship with leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage - a fierce critic of Prime Minister Theresa May. Trump's election has raised questions over the future of the so-called 'special relationship' that has underpinned close British-American ties for decades. But in the Times interview Trump played up his ancestral ties to Britain, saying his Scottish mother was "so proud" of Queen Elizabeth, and said he was eager to get a trade deal done. “We’re going to work very hard to get it done quickly and done properly. Good for both sides,” Trump said. “I will be meeting with May. She’s requesting a meeting and we’ll have a meeting right after I get into the White House. We’re going to get something done very quickly.” However, he predicted that more countries would seek to follow Britain's example and quit the EU. "I believe others will leave," he said. "If refugees keep pouring into different parts of Europe . . . I think it’s going to be very hard to keep it together because people are angry about it." He singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose open-door policies have allowed about 1.1 million refugees from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere into Germany since mid-2015 - calling her immigration policy a catastrophic mistake.

Brexit a great thing, EU countries may follow Britain: Trump

Britain could change its economic model to regain competitiveness if it were to leave the European Union without an agreement on market access, British finance minister Philip Hammond said in a German newspaper interview published on Sunday.

In a thinly veiled threat that Britain could use its corporate tax as a form of leverage in Brexit negotiations, Hammond told Welt am Sonntag he hoped Britain would remain a European-style economy with corresponding tax and regulation systems.

&quot;But if we are forced to be something different, then we will have to become something different,&quot; Hammond said when asked directly about Britain&#39;s plans to lower corporate tax.

&quot;If we have no access to the European market, if we are closed off, if Britain were to leave the European Union without an agreement on market access, then we could suffer from economic damage at least in the short-term,&quot; he said.

&quot;In this case, we could be forced to change our economic model and we will have to change our model to regain competitiveness,&quot; Hammond said. &quot;We will change our model, and we will come back, and we will be competitively engaged.&quot;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the EU must consider limiting Britain&#39;s access to its market if London fails to accept the bloc&#39;s &#39;four freedoms&#39; in Brexit negotiations.

The EU&#39;s single market emerged from the 1992 Maastricht Treaty on European integration. This enshrines the EU&#39;s &quot;four freedoms&quot; - of movement of goods, capital, people, and services.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly said she will not reveal her Brexit negotiating strategy before triggering Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, a step expected by the end of March.

May has said she wants Britain to regain control over immigration, restore its sovereignty and also establish the best possible trading relations with the EU.

But senior EU leaders have warned Britain there could be no &quot;cherry picking&quot;, and Merkel has urged the 27 remaining EU states not to allow themselves to be divided.

Hammond said in the interview Britain had not taken a firm position yet on what form of immigration controls it wants.

&quot;But we are aware that the message from the referendum is that we must control our immigration policy,&quot; he added.

Hammond said Britain did not want to close its doors completely to EU citizens who wanted to work in the UK.

&quot;Clearly we need people to come and work in our economy to keep it functioning,&quot; Hammond said. &quot;But we must have overall control.&quot;

(Reuters)

Theresa May has repeatedly said she will not reveal her Brexit negotiating strategy before triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty

Britain could change its economic model to regain competitiveness if it were to leave the European Union without an agreement on market access, British finance minister Philip Hammond said in a German newspaper interview published on Sunday. In a thinly veiled threat that Britain could use its corporate tax as a form of leverage in Brexit negotiations, Hammond told Welt am Sonntag he hoped Britain would remain a European-style economy with corresponding tax and regulation systems. "But if we are forced to be something different, then we will have to become something different," Hammond said when asked directly about Britain's plans to lower corporate tax. "If we have no access to the European market, if we are closed off, if Britain were to leave the European Union without an agreement on market access, then we could suffer from economic damage at least in the short-term," he said. "In this case, we could be forced to change our economic model and we will have to change our model to regain competitiveness," Hammond said. "We will change our model, and we will come back, and we will be competitively engaged." German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the EU must consider limiting Britain's access to its market if London fails to accept the bloc's 'four freedoms' in Brexit negotiations. The EU's single market emerged from the 1992 Maastricht Treaty on European integration. This enshrines the EU's "four freedoms" - of movement of goods, capital, people, and services. British Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly said she will not reveal her Brexit negotiating strategy before triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a step expected by the end of March. May has said she wants Britain to regain control over immigration, restore its sovereignty and also establish the best possible trading relations with the EU. But senior EU leaders have warned Britain there could be no "cherry picking", and Merkel has urged the 27 remaining EU states not to allow themselves to be divided. Hammond said in the interview Britain had not taken a firm position yet on what form of immigration controls it wants. "But we are aware that the message from the referendum is that we must control our immigration policy," he added. Hammond said Britain did not want to close its doors completely to EU citizens who wanted to work in the UK. "Clearly we need people to come and work in our economy to keep it functioning," Hammond said. "But we must have overall control." (Reuters)

Britain to change 'economic model' if it leaves EU without market access, says finance minister

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday it was wrong to say she was talking about a &quot;hard Brexit&quot;, after the pound fell to two-month lows following an interview she gave on Sunday.

The pound dropped after traders felt May had indicated during the interview that Britain would dramatically rework trade ties with the EU after Brexit.

Asked if her comments had been interpreted wrongly, May said: &quot;I&#39;m tempted to say that the people who are getting it wrong are those who print things saying I`m talking about a hard Brexit, (that) it is absolutely inevitable there`s a hard Brexit.&quot;

&quot;I don`t accept the terms hard and soft Brexit. What we&#39;re doing is going to get an ambitious, good and best possible deal for the United Kingdom in terms of ... trading with and operating within the single European market,&quot; she added.

(Reuters)

The Pound fell to two-month lows after May's interview indicated that Britain will dramatically rework trade-ties with the European Union

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday it was wrong to say she was talking about a "hard Brexit", after the pound fell to two-month lows following an interview she gave on Sunday. The pound dropped after traders felt May had indicated during the interview that Britain would dramatically rework trade ties with the EU after Brexit. Asked if her comments had been interpreted wrongly, May said: "I'm tempted to say that the people who are getting it wrong are those who print things saying I`m talking about a hard Brexit, (that) it is absolutely inevitable there`s a hard Brexit." "I don`t accept the terms hard and soft Brexit. What we're doing is going to get an ambitious, good and best possible deal for the United Kingdom in terms of ... trading with and operating within the single European market," she added. (Reuters)

British Prime Minister Theresa May seeks to allay fears about 'hard' Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would set out her strategy for Brexit over the coming weeks, denying suggestions she was &quot;muddled&quot; in the pursuit of what she called the right relationship with the EU.

In her first interview of the year, May ignored growing calls from business leaders, lawmakers and opposition leaders for more detail on her strategy to leave the European Union, offering little beyond a pledge to get the best possible deal.

She repeated that what is a crucial issue on both sides of the EU debate - whether curbing immigration into Britain will be prioritised over preferential access to the bloc&#39;s single market - was not a &quot;binary choice&quot; and said that the country would not be keeping &quot;bits&quot; of EU membership.

&quot;First of all I will be setting out some more details in the coming weeks as we look ahead to triggering Article 50,&quot; she said, referring to the start of the formal divorce procedure that she will invoke before the end of March.

&quot;But what I am saying is that I think it is wrong to look at this as just a binary issue, as to either you have control of immigration or you have a good trade deal - I don&#39;t see it as a binary issue.&quot;

EU officials say Britain cannot have access to its single market of 500 million consumers without accepting the principle of free movement and have repeatedly warned May against trying to &quot;cherry pick&quot; the profitable parts of their union.

May said she was aiming for &quot;an ambitious deal&quot;, shrugging off a suggestion by Britain&#39;s former ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, that her government was &quot;muddled&quot; in its approach to some of the most complicated negotiations the country has held since World War Two.

&quot;Our thinking on this isn&#39;t muddled at all,&quot; she said.

&quot;What I am talking about is getting the right relationship for the UK with the EU. We mustn&#39;t think about this as somehow we are coming out of membership but we want to keep bits of membership.&quot;

But beyond stating that she would provide more detail in the coming weeks, May offered little further insight into her strategy - something that the first minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, described as &quot;unacceptable&quot;.

&quot;I don&#39;t feel as if I know any more about her negotiating objectives today than I did six months ago, and probably what&#39;s more worrying than that, I&#39;m not sure she knows more about her negotiating objectives than she did back then as well,&quot; Sturgeon told the BBC.

Increasingly under fire, May, appointed prime minister after Britain&#39;s EU referendum in June, will use a speech on Monday to try to switch the focus from Brexit to her vision of a &quot;shared society&quot; which protects those families who are just managing.

&quot;We must...deliver real social reform across every layer of society so that those who feel that the system is stacked against them - those just above the threshold that attracts the government&#39;s focus today yet those who are by no means rich or well off - are also given the help they need,&quot; she will say.

(Reuters)

May ignored growing calls from business leaders, lawmakers and opposition leaders for more detail on her Brexit strategy

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would set out her strategy for Brexit over the coming weeks, denying suggestions she was "muddled" in the pursuit of what she called the right relationship with the EU. In her first interview of the year, May ignored growing calls from business leaders, lawmakers and opposition leaders for more detail on her strategy to leave the European Union, offering little beyond a pledge to get the best possible deal. She repeated that what is a crucial issue on both sides of the EU debate - whether curbing immigration into Britain will be prioritised over preferential access to the bloc's single market - was not a "binary choice" and said that the country would not be keeping "bits" of EU membership. "First of all I will be setting out some more details in the coming weeks as we look ahead to triggering Article 50," she said, referring to the start of the formal divorce procedure that she will invoke before the end of March. "But what I am saying is that I think it is wrong to look at this as just a binary issue, as to either you have control of immigration or you have a good trade deal - I don't see it as a binary issue." EU officials say Britain cannot have access to its single market of 500 million consumers without accepting the principle of free movement and have repeatedly warned May against trying to "cherry pick" the profitable parts of their union. May said she was aiming for "an ambitious deal", shrugging off a suggestion by Britain's former ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, that her government was "muddled" in its approach to some of the most complicated negotiations the country has held since World War Two. "Our thinking on this isn't muddled at all," she said. "What I am talking about is getting the right relationship for the UK with the EU. We mustn't think about this as somehow we are coming out of membership but we want to keep bits of membership." But beyond stating that she would provide more detail in the coming weeks, May offered little further insight into her strategy - something that the first minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, described as "unacceptable". "I don't feel as if I know any more about her negotiating objectives today than I did six months ago, and probably what's more worrying than that, I'm not sure she knows more about her negotiating objectives than she did back then as well," Sturgeon told the BBC. Increasingly under fire, May, appointed prime minister after Britain's EU referendum in June, will use a speech on Monday to try to switch the focus from Brexit to her vision of a "shared society" which protects those families who are just managing. "We must...deliver real social reform across every layer of society so that those who feel that the system is stacked against them - those just above the threshold that attracts the government's focus today yet those who are by no means rich or well off - are also given the help they need," she will say. (Reuters)

Britain will not keep 'bits' of EU membership: PM Theresa May

More than half a million South Koreans marked New Year&#39;s Eve with a massive protest Saturday calling for the immediate arrest and ouster of impeached President Park Geun-Hye.

Candle-carrying and banner-waving protestors marched towards key buildings in Seoul including the presidential Blue House and the prime minister&#39;s office.

Police figures were unavailable but organisers estimated crowd numbers to be more than 600,000.

&quot;Park Geun-Hye step down. Go to prison now,&quot; they chanted.

Parliament voted on December 9 to impeach Park over a corruption scandal in which she allegedly colluded with her friend, Choi Soon-Sil, to wrest donations from large conglomerates to two dubious foundations.

The case is now being considered by the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the impeachment.

&quot;I came here to help usher in a new year that has no Park Geun-Hye&quot;, Kang Jae-Chun, who was at the protest with his two children, told AFP.

Demonstrators also planned to take part in a midnight ceremony in which a large bronze bell in the city centre is rung to herald in the new year.

It was the tenth protest calling for Park&#39;s immediate departure from office.

But Park, who has been suspended from her duties since the impeachment vote, has remained defiant, declaring she will wait until the Constitutional Court arrives at a decision.

Earlier on Saturday, former health minister Moon Hyung-Pyo was arrested under a court order in a widening probe to determine whether Park and Choi took bribes from businesses including Samsung.

Moon, who is now head of the National Pension Service (NPS), admitted to pressuring the state-run fund to back a controversial merger of two Samsung units &nbsp;-- &nbsp;Cheil Industries and Samsung C&amp;T -- last year when he served as health minister.

The acquisition was seen as a crucial step to ensure a smooth father-to-son power transfer to Lee Jae-Yong, scion of Samsung&#39;s founding family.

Critics said it undervalued Samsung C&amp;T stock but NPS -- the world&#39;s third largest public pension fund and a major Samsung shareholder -- backed the deal, allegedly incurring hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for NPS subscribers.

Investigators reportedly plan to question Lee next month to determine whether he told Samsung Electronics executives to funnel millions of dollars into questionable foundations and companies controlled by Choi in return for NPS&#39; backing.

Lee said at a parliamentary hearing this month he was not aware of the money transfers. 
 
(AFP)

Tim Barrow replaces Ivan Rogers who quit criticising Brexit preparation

More than half a million South Koreans marked New Year's Eve with a massive protest Saturday calling for the immediate arrest and ouster of impeached President Park Geun-Hye. Candle-carrying and banner-waving protestors marched towards key buildings in Seoul including the presidential Blue House and the prime minister's office. Police figures were unavailable but organisers estimated crowd numbers to be more than 600,000. "Park Geun-Hye step down. Go to prison now," they chanted. Parliament voted on December 9 to impeach Park over a corruption scandal in which she allegedly colluded with her friend, Choi Soon-Sil, to wrest donations from large conglomerates to two dubious foundations. The case is now being considered by the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the impeachment. "I came here to help usher in a new year that has no Park Geun-Hye", Kang Jae-Chun, who was at the protest with his two children, told AFP. Demonstrators also planned to take part in a midnight ceremony in which a large bronze bell in the city centre is rung to herald in the new year. It was the tenth protest calling for Park's immediate departure from office. But Park, who has been suspended from her duties since the impeachment vote, has remained defiant, declaring she will wait until the Constitutional Court arrives at a decision. Earlier on Saturday, former health minister Moon Hyung-Pyo was arrested under a court order in a widening probe to determine whether Park and Choi took bribes from businesses including Samsung. Moon, who is now head of the National Pension Service (NPS), admitted to pressuring the state-run fund to back a controversial merger of two Samsung units -- Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T -- last year when he served as health minister. The acquisition was seen as a crucial step to ensure a smooth father-to-son power transfer to Lee Jae-Yong, scion of Samsung's founding family. Critics said it undervalued Samsung C&T stock but NPS -- the world's third largest public pension fund and a major Samsung shareholder -- backed the deal, allegedly incurring hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for NPS subscribers. Investigators reportedly plan to question Lee next month to determine whether he told Samsung Electronics executives to funnel millions of dollars into questionable foundations and companies controlled by Choi in return for NPS' backing. Lee said at a parliamentary hearing this month he was not aware of the money transfers. (AFP)

Britain's Prime Minister May appoints new EU envoy

Britain&#39;s ambassador to the European Union, Ivan Rogers, has resigned less than three months before the UK is due to trigger the process to leave the bloc, a source told AFP.

Last month, he reportedly told British ministers that other EU countries believed it could take up to 10 years to negotiate a new trade arrangements with the departing UK.&nbsp;But Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s spokesman insisted a deal could be done within two years that would allow Britain to trade with and operate within the single European market.

Rogers headed the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep), which represents Britain in negotiations that take place in the EU. &quot;His resignation is not a surprise for those who work with him,&quot; a European diplomat told AFP.

&quot;He was very competent, but not convinced by the Brexit decision and the British government line, leading the UK into an area of dangerous uncertainty.&quot;

In the June 2016 referendum, 52 per cent voted for Britain leave the EU.

May intends to trigger Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, giving formal notification of Britain&#39;s intention to leave the bloc, by the end of March. This begins a two-year countdown after which Britain will leave all the institutions and the single market unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.

&nbsp;

&#39;Not a good thing&#39;

Rogers had been in his post since November 2013, having previously served as prime minister David Cameron&#39;s Europe adviser since 2011.

Aled Williams, the former spokesman for Britain&#39;s EU embassy, said Rogers&#39; departure was a &quot;big loss&quot; to the Brexit negotiations. &quot;Not many Brits know the ins and outs of Brussels better than Sir Ivan,&quot; he said.

&quot;Sir Ivan never sugar-coated his advice: had the credibility to tell his political bosses how he saw it in Brussels.&quot;

Hilary Benn, who chairs parliament&#39;s Brexit scrutiny committee, told BBC radio the resignation was &quot;not a good thing&quot;.

&quot;The government will have to get its skates on to make sure there is a replacement in place so he or she can work with Sir Ivan in the transition, the handover,&quot; he said.

&quot;But the hard work is going to start very soon, because if Article 50 is triggered, as the government says it wishes to, by the end of March, then negotiations will probably begin shortly thereafter. And having a handover in the middle of that, depending on when exactly he goes, is not ideal.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;Too much of a pessimist&#39;&nbsp;

The office of Michel Barnier, chief Brexit negotiator on behalf of the European Commission, did not wish to comment. However, Arron Banks, who chaired the Leave.EU campaign group in the referendum, welcomed the resignation.

&quot;This is a man who claimed it could take up to 10 years to agree a Brexit deal,&quot; he said. &nbsp;&quot;He is far too much of a pessimist and yet another of the establishment&#39;s pro-EU old guard. He has at least done the honourable thing in resigning.&nbsp;It&#39;s time now for someone who is optimistic about the future that lies ahead for Brexit Britain. Enough talk, we need to get on with getting out.&quot;

(AFP)

Ivan Rogers was not convinced by the Brexit decision and the British government line, a European diplomat said

Britain's ambassador to the European Union, Ivan Rogers, has resigned less than three months before the UK is due to trigger the process to leave the bloc, a source told AFP. Last month, he reportedly told British ministers that other EU countries believed it could take up to 10 years to negotiate a new trade arrangements with the departing UK. But Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman insisted a deal could be done within two years that would allow Britain to trade with and operate within the single European market. Rogers headed the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep), which represents Britain in negotiations that take place in the EU. "His resignation is not a surprise for those who work with him," a European diplomat told AFP. "He was very competent, but not convinced by the Brexit decision and the British government line, leading the UK into an area of dangerous uncertainty." In the June 2016 referendum, 52 per cent voted for Britain leave the EU. May intends to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, giving formal notification of Britain's intention to leave the bloc, by the end of March. This begins a two-year countdown after which Britain will leave all the institutions and the single market unless alternative arrangements have been agreed. 'Not a good thing' Rogers had been in his post since November 2013, having previously served as prime minister David Cameron's Europe adviser since 2011. Aled Williams, the former spokesman for Britain's EU embassy, said Rogers' departure was a "big loss" to the Brexit negotiations. "Not many Brits know the ins and outs of Brussels better than Sir Ivan," he said. "Sir Ivan never sugar-coated his advice: had the credibility to tell his political bosses how he saw it in Brussels." Hilary Benn, who chairs parliament's Brexit scrutiny committee, told BBC radio the resignation was "not a good thing". "The government will have to get its skates on to make sure there is a replacement in place so he or she can work with Sir Ivan in the transition, the handover," he said. "But the hard work is going to start very soon, because if Article 50 is triggered, as the government says it wishes to, by the end of March, then negotiations will probably begin shortly thereafter. And having a handover in the middle of that, depending on when exactly he goes, is not ideal." 'Too much of a pessimist' The office of Michel Barnier, chief Brexit negotiator on behalf of the European Commission, did not wish to comment. However, Arron Banks, who chaired the Leave.EU campaign group in the referendum, welcomed the resignation. "This is a man who claimed it could take up to 10 years to agree a Brexit deal," he said. "He is far too much of a pessimist and yet another of the establishment's pro-EU old guard. He has at least done the honourable thing in resigning. It's time now for someone who is optimistic about the future that lies ahead for Brexit Britain. Enough talk, we need to get on with getting out." (AFP)

Britain's EU ambassador quits months before Brexit negotiations

The UK government is finalising plans to cut annual student visa figures by nearly half, from the&nbsp;current 300,000 to 170,000, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/dec/12/uk-halve-international-student-visa-tougher-rules">media report</a> said today amid a sharp fall in students coming to the&nbsp;country from outside Europe including India.

Some university chiefs are also warning that many Indian students are already being denied visas on&nbsp;minor grounds as part of a wider move to cut immigration into the UK. 
 
&quot;They are telling some&nbsp;students there is exactly the same quality of course available in India so why are you coming here.&nbsp;That is outrageous,&quot; a UK vice-chancellor was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

The move comes despite recent UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures indicating there has&nbsp;been a drastic drop in students coming to the UK from outside Europe. &quot;There was a statistically&nbsp;significant decline in the number of non-EU citizens migrating to the UK to study, from 134,000 in&nbsp;the previous year to 111,000...there was a statistically significant decline in citizens of South&nbsp;Asia, with the number coming to study having almost halved,&quot; ONS said in its &#39;Migration Statistics&nbsp;Quarterly Report: August 2016&#39;.

India is the third-largest category in terms of student visa applications after the US and China,&nbsp;with 10,664 granted between June 2015 and 2016.

&quot;International students contribute, directly and indirectly, 14 billion pounds to the UK economy,&nbsp;making higher education one of this country&#39;s most valuable exports...Over the last five years, the&nbsp;number of Indian students attending UK universities has halved. I have consistently asked the&nbsp;government to remove students from the net migration target,&quot; said Lord Bilimoria, leading Indian-origin entrepreneur and Cobra Beer founder, who himself came to the UK as a student.

&quot;We should immediately re-introduce the two-year post-study work visa, which I fought hard to&nbsp;introduce before its withdrawal in 2012, to allow foreign students to implement their much-needed&nbsp;skills here and help boost our economy,&quot; he added.

During British Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s visit to India last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;had stressed on the importance of access for Indian students to UK institutions.

&quot;Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future. We must&nbsp;therefore encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in educational and research&nbsp;opportunities,&quot; PM Modi had told May in his address at the UK India Tech Summit in New Delhi.

However, senior university sources indicate the UK Home Office is on track for some dramatic&nbsp;immigration cuts in student visa numbers. While it has dismissed rumours of an annual cutback of&nbsp;more than two-thirds, the likely cut to around 170,000 seems likely to be enforced.

A UK Home Office spokesperson said: &quot;Claims the Home Office is modelling cuts to reduce&nbsp;international students to a third [ie 100,000 a year] are categorically untrue&quot;.

&quot;We want to strengthen the system to support the best universities - and those that stick to the&nbsp;rules - to attract the best talent. The British people have sent a clear message that they want more&nbsp;control of immigration and we are committed to getting net migration down to sustainable levels in&nbsp;the tens of thousands,&quot; he said.

(PTI)

Many Indian students are already being denied visas on minor grounds as part of a wider move to cut immigration into the UK, the report says

The UK government is finalising plans to cut annual student visa figures by nearly half, from the current 300,000 to 170,000, a media report said today amid a sharp fall in students coming to the country from outside Europe including India. Some university chiefs are also warning that many Indian students are already being denied visas on minor grounds as part of a wider move to cut immigration into the UK. "They are telling some students there is exactly the same quality of course available in India so why are you coming here. That is outrageous," a UK vice-chancellor was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper. The move comes despite recent UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures indicating there has been a drastic drop in students coming to the UK from outside Europe. "There was a statistically significant decline in the number of non-EU citizens migrating to the UK to study, from 134,000 in the previous year to 111,000...there was a statistically significant decline in citizens of South Asia, with the number coming to study having almost halved," ONS said in its 'Migration Statistics Quarterly Report: August 2016'. India is the third-largest category in terms of student visa applications after the US and China, with 10,664 granted between June 2015 and 2016. "International students contribute, directly and indirectly, 14 billion pounds to the UK economy, making higher education one of this country's most valuable exports...Over the last five years, the number of Indian students attending UK universities has halved. I have consistently asked the government to remove students from the net migration target," said Lord Bilimoria, leading Indian-origin entrepreneur and Cobra Beer founder, who himself came to the UK as a student. "We should immediately re-introduce the two-year post-study work visa, which I fought hard to introduce before its withdrawal in 2012, to allow foreign students to implement their much-needed skills here and help boost our economy," he added. During British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed on the importance of access for Indian students to UK institutions. "Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future. We must therefore encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in educational and research opportunities," PM Modi had told May in his address at the UK India Tech Summit in New Delhi. However, senior university sources indicate the UK Home Office is on track for some dramatic immigration cuts in student visa numbers. While it has dismissed rumours of an annual cutback of more than two-thirds, the likely cut to around 170,000 seems likely to be enforced. A UK Home Office spokesperson said: "Claims the Home Office is modelling cuts to reduce international students to a third [ie 100,000 a year] are categorically untrue". "We want to strengthen the system to support the best universities - and those that stick to the rules - to attract the best talent. The British people have sent a clear message that they want more control of immigration and we are committed to getting net migration down to sustainable levels in the tens of thousands," he said. (PTI)

UK to reduce student visas by almost half: Report

In a symbolic victory, British Prime Minister Theresa May today won a vote in Parliament backing her timetable for negotiating Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union (EU).

MPs voted in the House of Commons 461 to 89 in favour of May triggering Article 50 by the end of March 2017, which will begin the formal process of exit negotiations from the 28-member economic bloc.

The win followed a compromise between Opposition Labour and the ruling Conservatives, which saw May committing to revealing the official plan for Brexit before the actual process begins, without committing to any detailed account.

The vote also supported a Labour motion calling for Parliament to &quot;properly scrutinise&quot; the government in its proposals for leaving the EU by 448 votes to 75 - a margin of 373.

Labour&#39;s Brexit spokesman, Sir Keir Starmer, has said his party would continue to challenge the government if its plan was &quot;not detailed enough&quot;.

He said: &quot;I think it&#39;s got to be pretty detailed, they&#39;ve got to set out what those objectives are. I don&#39;t think it needs to be in a particular form, but if it&#39;s not detailed enough they can expect further challenge.&quot;

Brexit Secretary David Davis responded: &quot;The simple fact is that the mandate (in June&#39;s referendum) was to leave the European Union - full stop. We need to keep that in mind when we are going through that process.

&quot;This is a negotiation; it&#39;s not a policy statement. And, therefore, where you are aiming for may not be the exact place you end up.&quot;

The debate today came after a procedural battle between the parties over the wording of the motion to be put to MPs. Mrs May had been refusing to provide a &quot;running commentary&quot; on Brexit after the UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June.

As the Supreme Court in London continues to hear a case to establish the extent of British PM?s power in launching into a Brexit without parliamentary approval, Downing Street put forward an amendment agreeing to publish a plan before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Starmer described it as &quot;a welcome and hugely significant climbdown&quot;, while the government believes receiving this parliamentary backing for the timetable would avoid delays to the Brexit process.

The government&#39;s amendment was opposed by 23 Labour MPs and one Conservative - former chancellor Ken Clarke. Five Liberal Democrat MPs, three Welsh Plaid Cymru MPs and 51 SNP MPs also voted against it.

&nbsp;

(PTI)

Lawmakers voted 461 to 89 in favour of May triggering article 50 by end of March 2017, beginning the formal process of exit negotiations

In a symbolic victory, British Prime Minister Theresa May today won a vote in Parliament backing her timetable for negotiating Britain's exit from the European Union (EU). MPs voted in the House of Commons 461 to 89 in favour of May triggering Article 50 by the end of March 2017, which will begin the formal process of exit negotiations from the 28-member economic bloc. The win followed a compromise between Opposition Labour and the ruling Conservatives, which saw May committing to revealing the official plan for Brexit before the actual process begins, without committing to any detailed account. The vote also supported a Labour motion calling for Parliament to "properly scrutinise" the government in its proposals for leaving the EU by 448 votes to 75 - a margin of 373. Labour's Brexit spokesman, Sir Keir Starmer, has said his party would continue to challenge the government if its plan was "not detailed enough". He said: "I think it's got to be pretty detailed, they've got to set out what those objectives are. I don't think it needs to be in a particular form, but if it's not detailed enough they can expect further challenge." Brexit Secretary David Davis responded: "The simple fact is that the mandate (in June's referendum) was to leave the European Union - full stop. We need to keep that in mind when we are going through that process. "This is a negotiation; it's not a policy statement. And, therefore, where you are aiming for may not be the exact place you end up." The debate today came after a procedural battle between the parties over the wording of the motion to be put to MPs. Mrs May had been refusing to provide a "running commentary" on Brexit after the UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June. As the Supreme Court in London continues to hear a case to establish the extent of British PM?s power in launching into a Brexit without parliamentary approval, Downing Street put forward an amendment agreeing to publish a plan before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Starmer described it as "a welcome and hugely significant climbdown", while the government believes receiving this parliamentary backing for the timetable would avoid delays to the Brexit process. The government's amendment was opposed by 23 Labour MPs and one Conservative - former chancellor Ken Clarke. Five Liberal Democrat MPs, three Welsh Plaid Cymru MPs and 51 SNP MPs also voted against it. (PTI)

British PM Theresa May wins Brexit timetable vote in parliament

Britain&#39;s Supreme Court began a&nbsp;historic hearing on Monday to decide whether parliament has to approve the government&#39;s Brexit negotiations, in a highly-charged case that could delay the country&#39;s EU exit.&nbsp;

For the first time ever, all 11 Supreme Court judges convened to hear a challenge by the government against a ruling that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek lawmakers&#39; approval before starting the process to leave the European Union.

The High Court ruled last month that the government did not have the executive power alone to invoke Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, formally starting an exit talks which could take two years.

The decision enraged Brexit supporters and some newspapers who accused judges of thwarting the will of the 52 percent who voted &quot;Leave&quot; in the June 23 referendum.

The vote for Britain to become the first country to leave the 28-nation bloc sent shockwaves across the world and emboldened populists in Europe and the United States.

Supreme Court president David Neuberger said people involved in the case had received threats and abuse and stressed that the judges would rule without any political bias after criticism from Brexit backers.

A parliamentary vote on Article 50 could open the door to pro-EU lawmakers delaying or softening Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the bloc.

&#39;Threats of violence&#39;

Neuberger said the judges were &quot;aware of the strong feelings&quot; surrounding Brexit but &quot;those wider political questions are not the subject of this appeal&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;This appeal is concerned with legal issues, and, as judges, our duty is to consider those issues impartially, and to decide the case according to the law. That is what we shall do,&quot; he told the court.

He said some parties involved in the case had received threats of &quot;serious violence and unpleasant abuse&quot;, warning that there were &quot;legal powers&quot; to deal with such threats.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright, the government&#39;s chief legal advisor, outlined the government&#39;s case at the start of the four-day, live-broadcast hearing, with a judgment expected in January.

In his opening statement, he said there was a &quot;universal expectation&quot; that the government would implement the referendum result.

He argued that the government had constitutional authority over foreign affairs, including the right to withdraw from treaties, under so-called &quot;royal prerogative powers&quot;.

The royal prerogative is &quot;not an ancient relic but a contemporary necessity,&quot; he said.

If it loses, the government is expected to introduce a short bill -- reportedly comprising just three lines of text -- which it will seek to push rapidly through parliament to authorise the triggering of Article 50.

&#39;Slowing down&#39; Brexit

May, who became Conservative prime minister after the Brexit vote, has insisted a parliamentary vote on the legislation would not disrupt her plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017.

However, the opposition Labour Party delivered a blow to the government Saturday when it announced it would seek to amend any bill, potentially delaying the process.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the amendment would ensure that Britain retains access to the European single market and protect workers&#39; and environmental rights.

&quot;When the Article 50 debate comes up, we will put forward an amendment to it, which will be on the issues of market access and protections. We want those to be part of the negotiation,&quot; Corbyn told Sky News.

A spokesman for May&#39;s Conservative Party accused Labour of attempting to &quot;frustrate the will of the British people by slowing down the process... and trying to tie the government&#39;s hands&quot; in Brexit negotiations.

May faces a further potential complication at this week&#39;s hearing from representatives of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who will argue that Article 50 also needs to be approved by the devolved parliaments.

Such a ruling could further derail the prime minister&#39;s timetable and set up a stand-off between the nations.

Claimants in the case, led by investment fund manager Gina Miller, argue that triggering Article 50 would strip British citizens of certain rights established under European law -- which they say only parliament has the power to do.

Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, voiced confidence in the government&#39;s case Sunday, telling the BBC: &quot;There is no history in any EU negotiations or any EU treaty talks of the House of Commons doing anything to fetter the discretion of the government.&quot;

However, legal expert Michael Zander, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), said the government had little chance of winning, describing the original ruling as &quot;unanimous and very strong&quot;.

&quot;In my view, the government could be looking at losing 11-0,&quot; he wrote in legal magazine Counsel.

(AFP)

All 11 Supreme Court judges convened to hear the government's challenge against a ruling that PM May must seek lawmakers approval for Brexit

Britain's Supreme Court began a historic hearing on Monday to decide whether parliament has to approve the government's Brexit negotiations, in a highly-charged case that could delay the country's EU exit. For the first time ever, all 11 Supreme Court judges convened to hear a challenge by the government against a ruling that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek lawmakers' approval before starting the process to leave the European Union. The High Court ruled last month that the government did not have the executive power alone to invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, formally starting an exit talks which could take two years. The decision enraged Brexit supporters and some newspapers who accused judges of thwarting the will of the 52 percent who voted "Leave" in the June 23 referendum. The vote for Britain to become the first country to leave the 28-nation bloc sent shockwaves across the world and emboldened populists in Europe and the United States. Supreme Court president David Neuberger said people involved in the case had received threats and abuse and stressed that the judges would rule without any political bias after criticism from Brexit backers. A parliamentary vote on Article 50 could open the door to pro-EU lawmakers delaying or softening Britain's withdrawal from the bloc. 'Threats of violence' Neuberger said the judges were "aware of the strong feelings" surrounding Brexit but "those wider political questions are not the subject of this appeal". "This appeal is concerned with legal issues, and, as judges, our duty is to consider those issues impartially, and to decide the case according to the law. That is what we shall do," he told the court. He said some parties involved in the case had received threats of "serious violence and unpleasant abuse", warning that there were "legal powers" to deal with such threats. Attorney General Jeremy Wright, the government's chief legal advisor, outlined the government's case at the start of the four-day, live-broadcast hearing, with a judgment expected in January. In his opening statement, he said there was a "universal expectation" that the government would implement the referendum result. He argued that the government had constitutional authority over foreign affairs, including the right to withdraw from treaties, under so-called "royal prerogative powers". The royal prerogative is "not an ancient relic but a contemporary necessity," he said. If it loses, the government is expected to introduce a short bill -- reportedly comprising just three lines of text -- which it will seek to push rapidly through parliament to authorise the triggering of Article 50. 'Slowing down' Brexit May, who became Conservative prime minister after the Brexit vote, has insisted a parliamentary vote on the legislation would not disrupt her plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017. However, the opposition Labour Party delivered a blow to the government Saturday when it announced it would seek to amend any bill, potentially delaying the process. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the amendment would ensure that Britain retains access to the European single market and protect workers' and environmental rights. "When the Article 50 debate comes up, we will put forward an amendment to it, which will be on the issues of market access and protections. We want those to be part of the negotiation," Corbyn told Sky News. A spokesman for May's Conservative Party accused Labour of attempting to "frustrate the will of the British people by slowing down the process... and trying to tie the government's hands" in Brexit negotiations. May faces a further potential complication at this week's hearing from representatives of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who will argue that Article 50 also needs to be approved by the devolved parliaments. Such a ruling could further derail the prime minister's timetable and set up a stand-off between the nations. Claimants in the case, led by investment fund manager Gina Miller, argue that triggering Article 50 would strip British citizens of certain rights established under European law -- which they say only parliament has the power to do. Britain's foreign minister, Boris Johnson, voiced confidence in the government's case Sunday, telling the BBC: "There is no history in any EU negotiations or any EU treaty talks of the House of Commons doing anything to fetter the discretion of the government." However, legal expert Michael Zander, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), said the government had little chance of winning, describing the original ruling as "unanimous and very strong". "In my view, the government could be looking at losing 11-0," he wrote in legal magazine Counsel. (AFP)

UK top court begins hearing on Brexit challenge

Scotland has published legal documents to be sent to the British high court asking for a separate vote for Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the European Union, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

In its 58-page legal submissions, Scotland has argued that any parliamentary vote on Brexit will have a major impact on Scotland&#39;s devolution arrangements and will hamper Scotland&#39;s access to the European Union&#39;s single market.

In its legal publications, Scotland has asked the court that it be allowed to vote for its consent before British Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 to initiate the legal process of Brexit.&nbsp;

&quot;A bill brought before the UK Parliament to withdraw the UK from the EU would engage the constitutional convention in terms of which that Parliament does not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the Scottish Parliament,&quot; the document said, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the high court had specified that the government must seek the approval of the British parliament before official proceedings are made for Brexit.&nbsp;The British government is appealing the&nbsp;judgement in the Supreme Court.

The case of the Scottish parliament will be heard in early December, said Reuters.&nbsp;

Although 52 per cent of Britons voted to leave the bloc during a referendum in June, 62 per cent of Scots voted to stay in the EU.&nbsp;

Single Market Status&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, Nicola Sturgeon and &nbsp;Carwyn Jones today met with&nbsp;in the Welsh capital to hold discussions over maintaining an &ldquo;unfettered access to the EU&#39;s single market&rdquo;, where Sturgeon warned that she will bid for a second referendum to sever ties with Britain, if Brexit deal is not suitable for Scotland.&nbsp;

EU&#39;s single market refers to the bloc&nbsp;as one territory without any internal borders or other regulatory obstacles for the free movement of goods and services&nbsp;

&quot;Both Scotland and Wales have spoken loud and clear -- Single Market status is simply the only way to protect the economy not only of Scotland and Wales respectively, but the UK as a whole. Anything else risks us falling off a hard-Brexit cliff edge, and we are united in our call to ensure the UK government does all it can to ensure that happens,&quot;&nbsp;Sturgeon asserted.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Scotland's 58-page legal document argued that Brexit should require a separate vote in its own devolved parliament

Scotland has published legal documents to be sent to the British high court asking for a separate vote for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, Reuters reported. In its 58-page legal submissions, Scotland has argued that any parliamentary vote on Brexit will have a major impact on Scotland's devolution arrangements and will hamper Scotland's access to the European Union's single market. In its legal publications, Scotland has asked the court that it be allowed to vote for its consent before British Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 to initiate the legal process of Brexit. "A bill brought before the UK Parliament to withdraw the UK from the EU would engage the constitutional convention in terms of which that Parliament does not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the Scottish Parliament," the document said, Reuters reported. Earlier this month, the high court had specified that the government must seek the approval of the British parliament before official proceedings are made for Brexit. The British government is appealing the judgement in the Supreme Court. The case of the Scottish parliament will be heard in early December, said Reuters. Although 52 per cent of Britons voted to leave the bloc during a referendum in June, 62 per cent of Scots voted to stay in the EU. Single Market Status Meanwhile, the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones today met with in the Welsh capital to hold discussions over maintaining an “unfettered access to the EU's single market”, where Sturgeon warned that she will bid for a second referendum to sever ties with Britain, if Brexit deal is not suitable for Scotland. EU's single market refers to the bloc as one territory without any internal borders or other regulatory obstacles for the free movement of goods and services "Both Scotland and Wales have spoken loud and clear -- Single Market status is simply the only way to protect the economy not only of Scotland and Wales respectively, but the UK as a whole. Anything else risks us falling off a hard-Brexit cliff edge, and we are united in our call to ensure the UK government does all it can to ensure that happens," Sturgeon asserted. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Scotland lays out legal documents to have say on Brexit trigger

Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the &quot;cliff-edge scenario&quot; of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment.

May made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, shortly after industry leaders warned her about the impact of an abrupt departure from the EU and its customs union.

&quot;Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario -- a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions,&quot; Paul Drechsler, CBI president, said Monday.&nbsp;&quot;If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no man&#39;s land.&quot;

In comments widely interpreted as referring to a possible transitional arrangement with Brussels, May said: &quot;We don&#39;t want a cliff-edge&quot;.

Businesses &quot;want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward. That will be part of the work we do in terms of the negotiation,&quot; she said.

But companies at the gathering voiced their concerns.

&quot;I&#39;m not too optimistic about Brexit,&quot; a representative from German engineering firm Bosch told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. &quot;I don&#39;t see things moving in the right direction&quot;.

Some business leaders have called for a temporary deal to set the terms of trade between Britain and the EU if a full deal cannot be reached in the two-year window available to arrange Britain&#39;s divorce from the bloc. &quot;It&#39;s really about making sure that we have a transition in term of regulatory regime,&quot; Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, told AFP.&nbsp;

Research boost &#39;important&#39;&nbsp;

The prime minister has so far refused to outline what she will demand from EU leaders, but promised to update business on plans.

&quot;If we approach the difficult negotiations to come in the right way, with the right spirit, we can strike a deal that&#39;s right for Britain and right for the rest of Europe too.&quot;

One of her government&#39;s top priorities would be to secure an &quot;early agreement&quot; on the status of British nationals in Europe and EU nationals in Britain. The continued availability of a European workforce is a key concern for British businesses.

May also announced her government would invest an extra &pound;2 billion a year ($2.5 billion, 2.3 billion euros) in science research and development by 2020 and committed to the plans of the previous government to introduce the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20.

&quot;Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery,&quot; she said. &quot;We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success.&quot;

Mark Lloyd Davies, senior director of Johnson &amp; Johnson, called the announcement &quot;very positive&quot;. &nbsp;&quot;We can always want more but it&#39;s not trivial,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s not a gesture, it&#39;s actually important&quot;.

May spooked some industry leaders last month when she slammed &quot;dysfunctional&quot; markets and warned tax-avoiding multinationals she was &quot;coming after&quot; them during her first keynote speech as leader. However, she struck a softer tone on Monday, saying her government &quot;will always believe&quot; in free markets, capitalism and business but insisted they needed to serve the interests of everyone.

Other speakers at the one-day conference included Paul Kahn, president of Airbus Group UK, and Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook&#39;s vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The social networking site on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with 500 extra jobs.

The British economy has remained resilient in the face of post-referendum uncertainty, but finance minister Philip Hammond is expected to announce a downgrade in future growth prospects when he presents the government&#39;s first major post-Brexit financial statement on Wednesday. 
 
(AFP)

Theresa May said her government would avoid the 'cliff-edge' scenario that business leaders are worried about

Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the "cliff-edge scenario" of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment. May made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, shortly after industry leaders warned her about the impact of an abrupt departure from the EU and its customs union. "Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario -- a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions," Paul Drechsler, CBI president, said Monday. "If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no man's land." In comments widely interpreted as referring to a possible transitional arrangement with Brussels, May said: "We don't want a cliff-edge". Businesses "want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward. That will be part of the work we do in terms of the negotiation," she said. But companies at the gathering voiced their concerns. "I'm not too optimistic about Brexit," a representative from German engineering firm Bosch told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I don't see things moving in the right direction". Some business leaders have called for a temporary deal to set the terms of trade between Britain and the EU if a full deal cannot be reached in the two-year window available to arrange Britain's divorce from the bloc. "It's really about making sure that we have a transition in term of regulatory regime," Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, told AFP. Research boost 'important' The prime minister has so far refused to outline what she will demand from EU leaders, but promised to update business on plans. "If we approach the difficult negotiations to come in the right way, with the right spirit, we can strike a deal that's right for Britain and right for the rest of Europe too." One of her government's top priorities would be to secure an "early agreement" on the status of British nationals in Europe and EU nationals in Britain. The continued availability of a European workforce is a key concern for British businesses. May also announced her government would invest an extra £2 billion a year ($2.5 billion, 2.3 billion euros) in science research and development by 2020 and committed to the plans of the previous government to introduce the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20. "Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery," she said. "We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success." Mark Lloyd Davies, senior director of Johnson & Johnson, called the announcement "very positive". "We can always want more but it's not trivial," he said. "It's not a gesture, it's actually important". May spooked some industry leaders last month when she slammed "dysfunctional" markets and warned tax-avoiding multinationals she was "coming after" them during her first keynote speech as leader. However, she struck a softer tone on Monday, saying her government "will always believe" in free markets, capitalism and business but insisted they needed to serve the interests of everyone. Other speakers at the one-day conference included Paul Kahn, president of Airbus Group UK, and Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook's vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The social networking site on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with 500 extra jobs. The British economy has remained resilient in the face of post-referendum uncertainty, but finance minister Philip Hammond is expected to announce a downgrade in future growth prospects when he presents the government's first major post-Brexit financial statement on Wednesday. (AFP)

Theresa May reassures business leaders against abrupt Brexit

The Scottish and Welsh governments will be allowed to intervene in the upcoming Supreme Court case to decide how Britain will begin negotiations to leave the European Union, the court said Friday.

Judges are set to hear the Conservative government&#39;s appeal against an earlier ruling that parliament must approve the triggering of Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, which begins formal exit talks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May wants to trigger the start of the process by the end of March, but requiring approval by parliament could delay the process.

While Britain as a whole voted to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum, Scotland voted strongly for it to remain in the bloc.

From December 5, 11 judges will hear four days of arguments from the British government and the claimants who brought the case, as well as representatives from the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales.

&quot;The Supreme Court has today confirmed that the following applications to intervene in the above case have been granted: The Lord Advocate, Scottish Government; The Counsel General for Wales,&quot; said a statement.

The initial ruling prompted outrage among Brexit supporters, who believe that pro-European lawmakers will seek to water down the break with the EU and derail May&#39;s plans to invoke Article 50 by the end of March.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier announced that her semi-autonomous government would seek to join the case in a bid to secure a vote not just for the House of Commons but for the Scottish parliament.

&quot;The democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the national parliament of Scotland cannot be brushed aside as if they do not matter,&quot; she said.

&quot;So legislation should be required at Westminster and the consent of the Scottish Parliament should be sought.&quot;

Sturgeon&#39;s pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) party has threatened a fresh vote on leaving the UK if Scotland cannot keep its ties with the EU.

The court is expected to rule early next year.

(AFP) 
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UK govt is opposing an earlier court ruling that said the Parliament must approve Article 50 to begin formal Brexit talks

The Scottish and Welsh governments will be allowed to intervene in the upcoming Supreme Court case to decide how Britain will begin negotiations to leave the European Union, the court said Friday. Judges are set to hear the Conservative government's appeal against an earlier ruling that parliament must approve the triggering of Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which begins formal exit talks. British Prime Minister Theresa May wants to trigger the start of the process by the end of March, but requiring approval by parliament could delay the process. While Britain as a whole voted to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum, Scotland voted strongly for it to remain in the bloc. From December 5, 11 judges will hear four days of arguments from the British government and the claimants who brought the case, as well as representatives from the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. "The Supreme Court has today confirmed that the following applications to intervene in the above case have been granted: The Lord Advocate, Scottish Government; The Counsel General for Wales," said a statement. The initial ruling prompted outrage among Brexit supporters, who believe that pro-European lawmakers will seek to water down the break with the EU and derail May's plans to invoke Article 50 by the end of March. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier announced that her semi-autonomous government would seek to join the case in a bid to secure a vote not just for the House of Commons but for the Scottish parliament. "The democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the national parliament of Scotland cannot be brushed aside as if they do not matter," she said. "So legislation should be required at Westminster and the consent of the Scottish Parliament should be sought." Sturgeon's pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) party has threatened a fresh vote on leaving the UK if Scotland cannot keep its ties with the EU. The court is expected to rule early next year. (AFP)

Scotland, Wales allowed to intervene in Brexit court case

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