Theresa May is giving her biggest speech since becoming Prime Minister. 

She says she wants Britain to be a 'great global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home.'

She says this will mean building a 'bold' free trading agreement with the EU. But this DOES NOT mean membership of the single market.

Instead, it will mean 'the greatest possible access to the single market' with a comprehensive contract. 

Mrs May has set out why she thinks Britain voted Brexit- that we have a political tradition of being able to hold our government to account, and that the European Union making decisions sat 'uneasily' with the British people. 

She says the 'days of Britain making vast contributions to the EU every year will end.'

However, she said it's 'overwhelmingly' in the UK's interest that the EU succeeds. She said our decision to leave was not us wishing harm to the EU or its member states. 

Mrs May added that she hopes we will be able to trade 'as freely as possibly' with the EU and that our citizens will be able to travel as freely as possible in Europe as EU citizens will be here. 

We will not be 'half-in, half out', she said, and we 'do not seek to hold on to bits of membership.'

The objectives of Brexit are

  • 1. Certainty wherever possible.
    The fluctuation in the value of the pound whenever a minister opens their mouth about Brexit illustrates the impact uncertainty has on the economy. The Prime Minister said she wanted to give "business, the public sector and everybody" as much certainty as possible - for example by converting all EU laws into British ones. But she also introduced the potential for fresh uncertainty by promising that both Houses of Parliament will be given a vote on the final deal.
  • 2. Control of our own laws.
    If Brexit was about "taking back control", then Mrs May stressed that must mean leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Laws made in the UK will be "interpreted by judges not in Luxembourg but in courts across this country".
  • 3. Strengthening the United Kingdom.
    Mrs May insisted that the UK Government was making sure the devolved administrations were "fully engaged" in the Brexit process, hinting that some of the powers returned from Brussels could be passed to Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont.
  • 4. Maintaining the common travel area with Ireland.
    This will be an "important priority" for the UK, Mrs May said, adding that "nobody wants to return to the borders of the past". But she acknowledged that a "practical solution" would have to be found that would protect the "integrity" of the UK's immigration system because, as an EU member, the Republic of Ireland will retain freedom of movement with the other nations in the bloc.
  • 5. Control of immigration.
    By ending freedom of movement there will be "control of the number of people coming to Britain from the EU". But the country will attract the "brightest and best" to work and study in the UK, Mrs May said.
    6. Rights for EU nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU.
    The Prime Minister has told fellow leaders she wants an early agreement on this. But she acknowledged that "one or two" of her counterparts do not.
  • 7 Enhancing rights for workers. Workers' rights will be "fully protected and maintained" after Brexit, as the EU's laws are translated into domestic legislation, the Prime Minister insisted.
  • 8 Free trade with European markets. The UK will quit the single market and seek a "new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious" free trade deal instead. This would aim to ensure the "greatest possible access" to the single market on a reciprocal basis.
  • 9. New trade agreements with other countries.
    Mrs May acknowledged that "full" customs union membership prevents the UK from striking comprehensive trade deals with other countries - such as the potential UK-US deal suggested by Donald Trump. Instead, Mrs May wants to retain tariff-free trade with the EU, potentially as an "associate member" of the customs union or under a new agreement.
  • 10. A leading role in science and innovation. The UK will seek to continue co-operation with European partners on science, research and technology initiatives. Mrs May said the UK would "remain at the forefront of collective endeavours" in areas "from space exploration to clean energy to medical technologies".
  • 11. Co-operation on crime, terrorism and foreign affairs.
    Under Mrs May's plan the relationship will include "practical arrangements" on law enforcement and security, including the sharing of intelligence with EU allies. The UK's intelligence expertise is viewed as a valuable card in Mrs May's hand during negotiations.
  • 12. A phased approach, delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit.
    Although the divorce deal following the triggering of Article 50 will need to be completed within two years, the future trading relationship may require longer to establish. Mrs May suggested there could be a "phased process of implementation" which would give businesses time to plan and prepare, avoiding a "disruptive cliff-edge" change in the relationship.
  • We will be out of the Customs Union, Mrs May has said.

We will strike new trade deals with countries across the world.

We will continue to work closely with the EU on matters of security and in foreign and defence policy. 

Mrs May says we will not be stuck in a 'permanent political purgatory' and that the goal is to strike a deal by the end of the two-year Article 50 timeline. 

She says she will not be revealing 'blow by blow' details of Brexit because it is a 'crucial and sensitive negotiation' and it is a matter of national security. 

She says every 'hyped up media report' will make it harder for us to get a good deal for Britain.

She said that however 'frustrating' people may find it, the government will not be 'pressured' in to revealing more information about the negotions and compromise the country's future. 

What do you think of the Prime Minister's speech?