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May to set out Brexit plan 'in coming weeks' Theresa May: Government not muddled over Brexit
(35 minutes later)
UK Prime Minister Theresa May says she will lay out plan for Brexit 'in coming weeks' Prime Minister Theresa May has said the government's thinking on Brexit "isn't muddled at all".
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Her comments on Sky News come after the UK's former ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, criticised ministers' approach to negotiations.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. Brexit talks with the EU are expected to begin as early as April.
Mrs May said the government's priority was to get the "best possible deal in terms of our trading relationship with the European Union".
She added that it was not possible to keep "bits" of membership.
'Complexity of issues'
There has been much debate in recent weeks about the nature of Brexit, and whether controls on the movement of EU citizens will mean the UK leaves the European single market.
Sir Ivan stepped down from his ambassador role on Tuesday, criticising "muddled thinking" within government. He has been replaced by Sir Tim Barrow.
Mrs May told Sky News's Ridge on Sunday: "Our thinking on this isn't muddled at all."
It is "important to take some time" to look at the "complexity of the issues," she added.
Mr May said: "Often people talk in terms as if somehow we are leaving the EU but we still want to kind of keep bits of membership of the EU.
"We are leaving. We are coming out. We are not going to be a member of the EU any longer.
"So the question is what is the right relationship for the UK to have with the European Union when we are outside.
"We will be able to have control of our borders, control of our laws."
'Serious question'
In the referendum last summer, voters opted by 51.9% to 48.1% in favour of Brexit.
Mrs May said: "This is what people were voting for on 23 June.
"But of course we still want the best possible deal for us, companies to be able to trade, UK companies to be able to trade in and operate within the European Union and also European companies to be able to trade with the UK and operate within the UK."
The prime minister has promised to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - getting formal Brexit negotiations with the EU under way - by the end of March.
Mrs May told Sky she would provide more detail in a speech in the next few weeks.
Earlier, Europhile former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Theresa needs to address the more serious question, I think, of the muddle [Sir Ivan is] complaining about, see whether she agrees with him and decide whether she can improve the way in which she organises the government to get to a proper conclusion.
"To turn everything into personal abuse as soon as anybody seems to faintly disagree with out new zealot crusade to leave the continent of Europe is rather an unfortunate feature of our post-Brexit politics."