Prime Minister reveals deadline for starting Brexit process

Theresa May has revealed the formal process for Britain to leave the EU will be triggered by the end of March. 

Activating Article 50 paves the way for official Brexit talks to get under way and starts the two-year countdown for the UK's departure.

It puts Britain on course to leave the EU by summer 2019. 

The Prime Minister made the announcement at the start of the Tory party conference in Birmingham, where the break from Brussels is set to dominate the agenda.

Mrs May could be hoping in setting a date she will take the sting out of the Brexit debate, but arguments are set to continue over the kind of relationship the UK will have with the bloc in future.

It comes as the PM revealed she was to introduce a "Great Repeal Bill" in the next Queen's Speech to scrap the legislation that took Britain into Europe 44 years ago.

Sky News understands that moves will be made to remove the European Communities Act from the statute book next year.

EU law and regulations will then be converted into domestic law and subsequently removed, kept or changed, depending on what the UK Parliament decides.

This process could take years - meaning many EU laws could be in force long after the day Britain formally leaves the union.

Ahead of her speech on Brexit to activists in Birmingham, Mrs May told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "As you know, I have been saying that we wouldn't trigger it before the end of this year so that we get some preparation in place.

"But yes, I will be saying in my speech today that we will trigger (Article 50) before the end of March next year."

Mrs May has also ruled out holding a general election before 2020 - warning an early vote would cause "instability".

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the Government will "take a simple approach" over changes to legislation.

He said: "EU law will be transposed into domestic law, wherever practical, on exit day.

"It will be for elected politicians here to make the changes to reflect the outcome of our negotiation and our exit."

The "Great Repeal Bill" will end the supremacy of EU law, meaning rulings by the European Court of Justice will stop applying to the UK once the legislation takes effect.

Mr Davis added: "That is what people voted for: power and authority residing once again with the sovereign institutions of our own country."

The move comes as former Cabinet ministers ramped up pressure on Theresa May by presenting her with a "Brexit Blueprint" to take the country out the EU in less than two years.

But some Conservatives have expressed concerns.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said: "The key issue is that this proposal if adopted will not provide a solution for long as divergence between our law and EU law will begin immediately.

"This will not provide reassurance to business wanting a level playing field with the EU. It is not clear if we would mirror EU law thereafter."

It is also understood former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan warn at the conference that a "hard Brexit" - in which the UK rejects the EU single market and closes its borders to European citizens - could lead to bigotry.

According to The Observer, she will say in her speech: "There are those for whom the referendum result is not enough - they want use to have a 'hard Brexit' that cuts us off from the EU... and allows people to say things about their fellow citizens that promote intolerance and bigotry."