Theresa May will delight Brexiteers and dismay Remainers by pledging a clean break from the EU in her long-awaited speech spelling out her Brexit strategy.

Unveiling a 12-point plan for Brexit, she will propose a "new and equal partnership" between an "independent, self-governing Global Britain" and its friends and allies in the EU.

And in her clearest statement yet on Brexit, she will declare: "Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out.

"We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave.

"The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. My job is to get the right deal for Britain as we do."


The PM's speech comes after No 10 officials expressed delight at Donald Trump's pledge at the weekend to work to secure a rapid trade agreement with the UK after Brexit.

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The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, also suggested at the weekend that Britain could cut taxes to create a corporate tax haven if the EU fails to provide it with an agreement on market access after Brexit.

And Mrs May's "half-in, half-out" remarks appear to confirm that she will announce that the UK is prepared to leave the single market, the European Court of Justice, and probably the customs union as well.

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She will say leaving the EU presents the UK with an opportunity to build a stronger economy and a fairer society by embracing genuine economic and social reform – and an opportunity to build a brighter future for the country’s children and grandchildren.

"A little over six months ago the British people voted for change," she will say.

"They voted to shape a brighter future for our country. They voted to leave the European Union and embrace the world.

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"And they did so with their eyes open: accepting that the road ahead will be uncertain at times, but believing that it leads towards a brighter future for their children - and their grandchildren too.

"And it is the job of this Government to deliver it. That means more than negotiating our new relationship with the EU. It means taking the opportunity of this great moment of national change to step back and ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be.

"My answer is clear. I want this United Kingdom to emerge from this period of change stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before.

"I want us to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country - a magnet for international talent and a home to the pioneers and innovators who will shape the world ahead.

"I want us to be a truly Global Britain - the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too.

"A country that gets out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.

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"I want Britain to be what we have the potential and ambition to be: a great, global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home."

And in a message directed partly at a European audience, the Prime Minister will say that it remains overwhelmingly and compellingly in Britain’s national interest that the EU should succeed.

And she will repeat her message that although the UK is leaving the European Union, it is not leaving Europe.

"Our vote to leave the European Union was no rejection of the values we share," she will say.

"The decision to leave the EU represents no desire to become more distant to you, our friends and neighbours.

"We will continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends. We want to buy your goods, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship."

On her plan for Brexit, the Prime Minister will says she has 12 negotiating priorities driven by four key principles:

:: Certainty and clarity

:: A stronger Britain

:: A fairer Britain

:: A truly global Britain

"We have 12 objectives that amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union," she will say.

"And as we negotiate that partnership, we will be driven by some simple principles: we will provide as much certainty and clarity as we can at every stage.

"And we will take this opportunity to make Britain stronger, to make Britain fairer, and to build a more Global Britain too."