This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36841066

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Brexit: Theresa May says talks won't start in 2016 Brexit: Theresa May says talks won't start in 2016
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has said the UK will not begin official negotiations on leaving the EU this year as she held talks with Germany's Angela Merkel.Theresa May has said the UK will not begin official negotiations on leaving the EU this year as she held talks with Germany's Angela Merkel.
Speaking in Berlin, the UK PM said securing a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU would take time.Speaking in Berlin, the UK PM said securing a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU would take time.
But she insisted the UK would not "walk away" from Europe and wanted to retain the "closest economic links".But she insisted the UK would not "walk away" from Europe and wanted to retain the "closest economic links".
Mrs Merkel said the two sides desired to get the "best result for Britain" but urged more clarity from the UK. Mrs Merkel said the two sides desired to get the "best result for Britain" but urged more clarity on timing.
Earlier, a military guard of honour greeted Mrs May, who succeeded David Cameron a week ago.Earlier, a military guard of honour greeted Mrs May, who succeeded David Cameron a week ago.
At a joint press conference, Mrs May said the UK was in no rush to trigger the two year process of leaving the EU - telling reporters that although "this would not please everyone", she said it was important that there was "clarity" on the UK's approach. At a joint press conference, Mrs May said the UK was in no rush to trigger the two year process of leaving the EU - telling reporters that although "this would not please everyone" it was right to hold off until the UK's "objectives were clear".
"We are taking some time to determine the principles and our objectives before we trigger the formal process of negotiation," she said.
'Special friend''Special friend'
The process of preparing the UK for Brexit would require "serious and detailed work" but, irrespective of this, she said the UK was determined to maintain strong trading, economic and security links with Germany, which she described as "a vital partner and special friend".The process of preparing the UK for Brexit would require "serious and detailed work" but, irrespective of this, she said the UK was determined to maintain strong trading, economic and security links with Germany, which she described as "a vital partner and special friend".
Asked how they had got on at their first meeting, in which Mrs May said they were two women and leaders "who just wanted to get on with the job and deliver the best possible results for the people of the UK and Germany". "Of course, the nature of our relationship is going to change as the UK leaves the EU, but we both want to maintain the closest possible economic relationship between our countries and I believe that is what German and British businesses want too," she said.
Mrs Merkel said that while she did expect there to be any formal negotiations at this stage, she hoped the UK would "define its principles" with regard to the formal Article 50 process. "So it's good that we start from such a strong foundation and a position where both our countries believe in liberal markets and free trade and these should be the principles that guide us in the discussions ahead."
"We have to listen to what Britain wants and find what the right answer is," she said, while suggesting that there was a need for a "certain timeline" with regard to Britain's exit. Asked how they had got on at their first meeting, in which Mrs May said they were two women and leaders who want to "get on with the job and deliver the best possible results for the people of the UK and Germany".
"Britain does not want an impasse, Germany does not want an impasse and the EU does not want an impasse". Mrs Merkel said she did expect there to be any formal negotiations at this stage and it was "understandable" the UK needed a period of time to prepare.
But the German chancellor said she was determined to proceed in the "spirit of unity and friendship" that characterised Anglo-German relations. But she said there was a need for a "certain timeline" with regard to Britain's exit and hoped the UK would begin to "define its principles" with regard to the formal Article 50 process.
"We have to listen to what Britain wants and find what the right answer is," she said. "Britain does not want an impasse, Germany does not want an impasse and the EU does not want an impasse".
'Balance of power''Balance of power'
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said it was hard to believe that it was the first time that the two women had properly met as they seemed immediately at ease in each other's company and determined to build a personal relationship based on mutual trust. The German chancellor said the two countries had "similar convictions and values" and she was determined to proceed in the "spirit of unity and friendship" that characterised Anglo-German relations.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said it was hard to believe that it was the first time that the two women had properly met as they seemed immediately at ease in each other's company and determined to build a personal relationship based on mutual trust.
But she said it was clear that Germany would hold the "balance of power" in the negotiations to come and although Mrs Merkel did want to make the UK's departure work, the UK's "leverage had really faded" following the decision to leave.But she said it was clear that Germany would hold the "balance of power" in the negotiations to come and although Mrs Merkel did want to make the UK's departure work, the UK's "leverage had really faded" following the decision to leave.
The two leaders will have a working dinner on Wednesday before Mrs May has talks with France's Francois Hollande on Thursday.The two leaders will have a working dinner on Wednesday before Mrs May has talks with France's Francois Hollande on Thursday.
Analysis by the BBC's Gavin Hewitt
The prime minister will meet a German chancellor who will have a huge influence on the outcome of Britain's future.
Angela Merkel's instincts are to be cautious. While some in Germany are impatient for Britain to start its negotiations quickly and for the EU to move on without Britain, Angela Merkel will be unemotional.
Where possible and without compromising the EU's basic values, she will seek a deal that is least disruptive to the EU.
The meeting with the French president will be more problematic. Francois Hollande wants the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU. His instinct is partly driven by the need to undermine support for Marine Le Pen, who wants to hold a similar referendum in France.
The French have also been openly lobbying UK banks and financial companies to relocate inside the eurozone and in particular to Paris. It has been a long-standing French interest to weaken the City of London.
Read more from Gavin
Ahead of the visit - Mrs May's first overseas trip as prime minister - Downing Street announced the UK was to relinquish its upcoming six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.Ahead of the visit - Mrs May's first overseas trip as prime minister - Downing Street announced the UK was to relinquish its upcoming six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.
EU presidency
The UK had been scheduled to take up the presidency of the Council of the EU - which rotates on a six-monthly basis between the 28 EU countries, giving each the opportunity to shape the agenda - in the second half of 2017.The UK had been scheduled to take up the presidency of the Council of the EU - which rotates on a six-monthly basis between the 28 EU countries, giving each the opportunity to shape the agenda - in the second half of 2017.
But Mrs May has decided that Britain should skip its turn in the light of the Brexit vote in June's referendum.But Mrs May has decided that Britain should skip its turn in the light of the Brexit vote in June's referendum.
Mrs May told European Council President Donald Tusk - in her first conversation with him as PM - it was "the right thing to do given we will be very busy with negotiations to leave the EU", a Downing Street spokesman said.Mrs May told European Council President Donald Tusk - in her first conversation with him as PM - it was "the right thing to do given we will be very busy with negotiations to leave the EU", a Downing Street spokesman said.
Mrs May has already spoken to both Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande on the phone but their first face-to-face meetings over the next two days are seen as highly important in setting the tone for the long and hard negotiations over EU exit that lie ahead. While the German and French leaders have said the UK's vote to leave must be respected, both are facing re-election next year and under domestic political pressure to drive a hard bargain.
The prime minister has said she does not expect to commence formal negotiations before the end of the year as she consults with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments as well as business, industry and other stakeholders about the way ahead. They have suggested no special exceptions can be made for Britain in terms of continued access to the EU's single market if, as Mrs May has insisted, the UK seeks controls on freedom of movement rules.
While the German and French leaders have said the UK's vote to leave must be respected and Britain must be given time to formulate its negotiating strategy, both are facing re-election next year and under domestic political pressure to drive a hard bargain.
They have suggested no special exceptions can be made for Britain in terms of continued access to the EU's single market if, as Mrs May has insisted, the UK absents itself from freedom of movement rules.
Mrs Merkel was a strong ally in David Cameron's unsuccessful bid to renegotiate the UK's membership as part of his goal of remaining in a "reformed Europe", although French support for the former PM's effort to secure a special status for the UK in the EU was more lukewarm.Mrs Merkel was a strong ally in David Cameron's unsuccessful bid to renegotiate the UK's membership as part of his goal of remaining in a "reformed Europe", although French support for the former PM's effort to secure a special status for the UK in the EU was more lukewarm.
The first time that Mrs May will face all 27 other EU leaders at the same time will be at October's European Council meeting, by which point the UK's strategy and the likely timeframe for talks should be much clearer. The first time that Mrs May will face all 27 other EU leaders at the same time will be at October's European Council meeting.