European Union leaders agreed their plan for Brexit negotiations, pledging to move swiftly and stick together to ensure Britain does not cherry pick a sweet deal that might inspire others to do the same.
Prime Minister Theresa May left before the other 27 leaders met briefly to formalise their plan for how to run Brexit talks.
Before heading home, diplomats said May had assured her European partners that she would launch the two-year process by the end of March despite how London judges rule in a constitutional court case that some say might jeopardise her timetable.
The 27 issued a statement saying they were “determined to see the Union succeed”, and were ready to negotiate quickly to “tackle the uncertainties” raised by the prospect of Brexit.
They insisted, and reject British attempts to remain in the EU’s single market if it does not accept free immigration from the continent.
Some British ministers say they can secure a free trade deal with the EU by the time the two-year withdrawal process is over. Few EU leaders share that view and nor do many British officials. Typically, such deals can take up to a decade.
Will we Brexit? How long will it take? How will this uncertainty affect Pound Sterling?