Rejecting arguments that Britain must make a "trade-off" between controlling immigration and enjoying single market access, she added: "Let me be clear, we are not leaving the EU today to give up control of immigration again and we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. As ever with international talks, it will be a negotiation. It will require some give and take...

"Make no mistake, this is going to be a deal that works for Britain."

Dismissing the arguments of some opponents of Brexit that the results of withdrawal negotiations under Article 50 of the EU treaties should be put to a second referendum, Mrs May said: "Come on! The referendum vote was clear, it was legitimate, it was the biggest vote for change this country has ever known. Brexit means Brexit and we are going to make a success of it."

Taking the unusual step for a Conservative leader of addressing conference on its opening day, Mrs May told the Birmingham gathering: "There will be no unnecessary delays in invoking Article 50, we will invoke it when we are ready and we will be ready soon.

"We will invoke Article 50 no later than the end of March next year."

May hits out at those who plot to stop Brexit

Theresa May has told Tory MPs and peers who are trying to stop Britain from leaving the European Union that they are "insulting the intelligence of the British people" and "subverting democracy".

The Prime Minister accused pro-Europe politicians of "trying to kill Brexit by delaying it" and said that the voters had given their answer on membership of the EU with "emphatic clarity".

It came as senior Conservative MPs threatened to try to block Brexit by voting against legislation with will formally take Britain out of the European Union.

David Davis hints at hard Brexit

David Davis has insisted Britain must have power to control its own borders and curb immigration in comments which indicate the UK will negotiate a hard Brexit.

The Brexit Secretary also pledged the Government will "bring the numbers down" as the UK negotiates its exit from the European Union and branded Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn out of touch for saying he does not want to cut immigration.

Speaking at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Davis also promised the rights of EU citizens living in the UK will be protected as long as those of Britons living in Europe are guaranteed.