There was sorrow on the Grand Place in Brussels yesterday as Britain prepared to end its EU membership after 47 years

Boris Johnson will tell the country to prepare for a “new act” in its history as the United Kingdom leaves the EU today.

Almost half a century of membership formally ends at 11pm, three and a half years after a referendum in which voters chose to leave the bloc by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Although Britain will no longer be an EU member as the day closes, the clock will start ticking on a new deadline of December 31, the end of an agreed transition period.

Matt Chorley on the highs and lows of Britain in the EU

With the full consequences of Brexit uncertain, the prime minister will call next week for a basic trade deal based on that between the EU and Canada.

In a speech on Monday he will say