UK’s Johnson: Article 50 letter will be invoked probably in early part of 2017

Speaking to the BBC and Sky News earlier on the day, UK foreign minister Boris Johnson noted that he expects the Brexit process to begin in early 2017.

Key Quotes via BBC:

 "The government is working towards an Article 50 letter which as you know will be produced, probably, in the early part of next year.

"That's still subject for discussion but what is clear I think to our friends and partners in the EU is two broad principles: we are not leaving Europe;

"Although we are leaving the EU treaties, we do want to have the closest possible trading relationship and it's very much in their interests to achieve that... it's very much in their interest."

Key Quotes via Sky:

"We are talking to our European friends and partners in the expectation that by the early part of next year you will see an Article 50 letter. We will invoke that.

"In that letter I am sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward. I don't think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years but let's see how we go."

Asked about Mr Johnson's comments, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said the government position on when it would trigger Article 50 was "not before the end of this year".

"The decision is hers [Mrs May's] and she will do that at a time which is most likely to get the best deal for Britain."