Theresa May signs letter to formally begin Brexit process

Prime minister Theresa May has formally signed the letter which will signify the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU).

Triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the document will be the beginning of the end of the United Kingdom’s forty-four year relationship with the EU.

The letter has now been delivered to the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and it is expected that the Brexit process will take up to two years to be fully established.

May is expected to address MPs in Parliament around the same time that Britain’s ambassador Tim Barrow will hand over the letter to Tusk.

The prime minister will stress the importance of uniting Britain to fellow MPs and promises to “represent every person in the whole United Kingdom” during the negotiation process.

There will be a TV special on BBC One at 7pm, where May will outline the steps that will be taken during the Brexit procedure. Negotiations for Brexit are expected to begin in May of this year.