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Brexit Talks Start As MPs Ready For Legal Marathon

Britain’s historic talks to negotiate leaving the European Union have started in Brussels.

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis led his delegation into sit down opposite officials from the EU to discuss a timetable for the negotiations.

“I’m here in Brussels today, to begin the next phase of our work to build a new, deep and special partnership with the European Union,” he said.

“For there is more that unites us than divides us.

“So while there will undoubtedly be challenging times ahead of us in the negotiations we will do all that we can to ensure we deliver a deal that works in the best interests of all of our citizens.

UK first to leave EU

“To that end we are starting this negotiation in a positive and constructive tone, determined to build a strong and special partnership between ourselves, our European allies and friends.”.

Britain is the first country seeking to leave the various incarnations of the Common Market, European Economic Community and currently the European Union. The first seven countries signed the original common market pact in 1957.

Britain joined in 1973. The EU now has 28 member states.

The referendum of June 2016 set Britain on course to leave.

No outcome from the talks is expected for several months. Brexit negotiations are scheduled to end in March 2019, when Britain officially leaves the EU.

Clearing the decks

To clear the decks to review and untangle all Britain’s laws from the EU, the government has announced a two-year session of Parliament and is looking at pruning time for other legislation so that Britain is ready for Brexit.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom said: “We need to look ahead by setting out a legislative programme that not only delivers a successful EU exit but also a domestic agenda which aims to tackle the social injustices in our country.

“The UK will spend the next two years preparing for our departure from the European Union in a way that best places us to realise the opportunities ahead and build a fairer society.

“This will require substantial amounts of legislation, beginning with the Great Repeal Bill.

We will build the broadest possible consensus for our Brexit plans and that means giving Parliament the maximum amount of time to scrutinise these bills by holding a two-year session.”

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