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Ingrid Detter de Frankopan said Theresa May and her Brexit ministers were wasting time getting bogged down on Article 50 details - and claimed the UK could leave the 28-country bloc today if it wanted to. The veteran Swedish lawyer told MoneyWeek she was becoming increasingly frustrated at the unnecessary delays in formalising Britain’s European divorce. She said: “Despite my best attempts, everyone has been deaf to the painstakingly simple course for the United Kingdom to take: don’t trigger Article 50 at all.

GETTY Ingrid Detter de Frankopan has called for Britain to leave the EU without activating Article 50

“Second rate lawyers are misleading everyone in the country by insisting that, in order to leave the European Union it is essential to 'trigger' Article 50 in its entirety.

London Brexit Protest Continues Thu, February 2, 2017 Brexit protest: Thousands take to London's streets in pro-EU protest 'March for Europe'. Play slideshow PA 1 of 11 Remain supporters demonstrate during the March for Europe rally in Parliament Square, London

"This line has been swallowed whole by the Government, the media and commentators. “It is, however, absolute nonsense.”

GETTY The lawyer has urged Theresa May to quit the EU as soon as possible

She claimed Article 50 itself made no mention of the requirement to trigger it to leave, and said the technical aspects could be interpreted by the country’s own constitution. Ms de Frankopan said: “Since the United Kingdom is singularly fortunate in this situation that there is no written constitution, the UK is clearly free to act in any way it sees fit and proper. “It is important to stress that there is no need for any agreement at all with the EU.”

GETTY 52 per cent of British voters chose to leave the EU last summer

She said the UK held all the power in exit negotiations and claimed Brussels was attempting to bluff its way to a good deal. She said: “Immediately after the UK referendum on 23 June 2016, the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, insisted, the UK government should contact the EU by Tuesday 28 June to indicate its intention to leave.

GETTY Ms de Frankopan said Britain did not need to activate Article 50 to leave the EU