Theresa May signed the historic letter that starts Britain’s exit from the EU yesterday, amid signs the prime minister is willing to compromise to prevent the UK’s 44-year relationship with the bloc ending in acrimonious divorce.
Although Mrs May will make it clear she is prepared to walk away without a deal, behind the scenes British officials have signalled a readiness to soften rigid positions in areas such as the role of the European Court of Justice and the so-called exit bill and to strengthen security ties.
The official Article 50 exit process will begin today at just after 1.30pm in Brussels, when Sir Tim Barrow, Britain’s ambassador to the EU, presents Mrs May’s letter of withdrawal to Donald Tusk, European Council president.