May: UK faces defining moment as it leaves EU

The UK faces a "defining moment" as it leaves the European Union, Theresa May said as she prepared to begin the formal Brexit process.

Legislation allowing the Prime Minister to start the process cleared Parliament last night and Mrs May told MPs she would come to the Commons later this month to announce when she has taken that step.

Mrs May said the legislation would receive royal assent within the "coming days", allowing her to keep to her promise of starting the Brexit process by the end of March.

But in a Commons statement following last week's European Council, Mrs May was jeered by opposition MPs as she stressed her desire to see the single market strengthened because her Brexit plan involves leaving it.

Setting out the next steps in her plan, Mrs May said: "We remain on track with the timetable I set out six months ago, and I will return to this House before the end of this month to notify when I have formally triggered Article 50 and begun the process through which the UK will leave the European Union.

"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.

"We will be a strong, self-governing global Britain with control once again over our borders and our laws.

"We will use this moment of opportunity to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, so that we secure both the right deal for Britain abroad and a better deal for ordinary working people at home."