Birmingham conference diary - the Brexit timetable
Much of the first day of conference was dedicated to setting out the goverment's vision for a post-Brexit world.
The picture set out was of a Britain which makes its' own laws and controls its' own affairs but is not hostile to our former EU partners.
Theresa May set out a clear aspiration for a "Global Britain" that trades more all over the world, not a Britain that is looking to put up barriers, against Europe or anyone else.
The phrase which was used again and again by too many speakers to enumerate was
"Britain is leaving the EU. We are not leaving Europe"
Theresa May made a robust defence of free trade, and Boris Johnson an equally robust defence both of free trade and the values of liberal democracy (not just free elections but the rule of law guaranteed by an independent judiciary and a free press.)
We now have a timetable for when Article 50 will be triggered to start the duly agreed process in the treaties for withdrawing from the EU. This will be done when the government have finished sorting out Britain's negotiating objectives, which is unlikely to be before the end of this year, but "will be soon" and we now have a clear idea of the likely dates. Theresa May said that it would happen by the end of March 2017.
This means that Britain is likely to leave the EU between January and March 2019.
The European Communities act will be repealed and EU law as such will cease to have any force in the UK on the day we leave, but the "Aquis" of EU rules which are currently in force here will initially be incorporated in British law. It will then be for the British legislative bodies to decide whether and when to repeal them using the normal avenues to change British law.
One class of law which will not be up for repeal under this government will by those laying down employee rights.
All in all a measured approach implementing Brexit in a carefully phased and managed way which does not upset too many apple carts. I think some government ministers have been reading the "Flexcit" proposals.
The picture set out was of a Britain which makes its' own laws and controls its' own affairs but is not hostile to our former EU partners.
Theresa May set out a clear aspiration for a "Global Britain" that trades more all over the world, not a Britain that is looking to put up barriers, against Europe or anyone else.
The phrase which was used again and again by too many speakers to enumerate was
"Britain is leaving the EU. We are not leaving Europe"
Theresa May made a robust defence of free trade, and Boris Johnson an equally robust defence both of free trade and the values of liberal democracy (not just free elections but the rule of law guaranteed by an independent judiciary and a free press.)
We now have a timetable for when Article 50 will be triggered to start the duly agreed process in the treaties for withdrawing from the EU. This will be done when the government have finished sorting out Britain's negotiating objectives, which is unlikely to be before the end of this year, but "will be soon" and we now have a clear idea of the likely dates. Theresa May said that it would happen by the end of March 2017.
This means that Britain is likely to leave the EU between January and March 2019.
The European Communities act will be repealed and EU law as such will cease to have any force in the UK on the day we leave, but the "Aquis" of EU rules which are currently in force here will initially be incorporated in British law. It will then be for the British legislative bodies to decide whether and when to repeal them using the normal avenues to change British law.
One class of law which will not be up for repeal under this government will by those laying down employee rights.
All in all a measured approach implementing Brexit in a carefully phased and managed way which does not upset too many apple carts. I think some government ministers have been reading the "Flexcit" proposals.
Comments
The one I wrote about in the comments on this blog back on 29th Feb.