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Theresa May Sets Final Brexit Date For Spring 2019

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Jacob Bojesson Foreign Correspondent
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British Prime Minister Theresa May announced the two-year process of leaving the European Union will begin by the end of March 2017.

May said she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty during the “first quarter” next year during a Sunday interview with BBC. Exit negotiations take two years, which mean the country will be out of the EU by spring 2019.

May — who replaced David Cameron as prime minister in July — campaigned for the country to remain in the EU, but said it’s important to respect the will of the people and make a quick exit.

“This is about delivering for the British people,” May said. “It is not just about leaving the EU, it’s about people’s trust in politicians. The people have spoken, we must deliver.”

May further announced a “Great Repeal Bill,” which will be introduced to turn all EU law applying to the country into domestic law ready to go into effect in 2019.

The European Union’s immigration policy was a major factor behind the Brexit vote. May said “the brightest and best” immigrants will still be welcome when the country gains greater control of its borders.

“We will look at the various ways in which we can bring in the controls that the British people want, and ensuring, as we have been in our immigration policy generally, that the brightest and best can come to the UK,” she said.

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