What to expect as May starts untangling the UK from the EU
LONDON — Home Secretary Theresa May is set to become Britain’s new prime minister Wednesday when David Cameron steps down after six years at 10 Downing Street because of his defeat in the country’s referendum on European Union membership. May will be in charge of implementing the voters’ June 23 decision to leave the EU and strike an independent path. Here are answers to some questions about what happens next:
WHEN WILL THE NEW PRIME MINISTER START THE LEGAL PROCESS TO LEAVE THE 28-NATION EU?
To start the process of a British exit from the EU, or Brexit, a prime minister must invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty. May has said she will not start the process until next year, but she may face strong pressure to accelerate the plan. She is becoming prime minister earlier than anticipated because her opponent withdrew from the Conservative Party leadership contest, and some leaders of the campaign to leave the EU want the legal process to begin right away. EU leaders are also pressing for faster action. May has said there is no rush and that she wants Britain to establish its negotiating priorities before starting the Article 50 process, which imposes a two-year deadline on negotiations. May did not back the campaign to leave the EU, expressing a preference to remain part of the bloc, but she now emphasizes that “Brexit means Brexit” and says the voters’ wishes will be respected.
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