The United Kingdom prime minister on Sunday said that she would activate a mechanism to begin the process of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union before the end of March.
Theresa May told the BBC that she would activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty _ the mechanism to formally begin the withdrawal process _ before the end of March 2017.
Her comments constitute the first time the head of government has provided a deadline on future negotiations with the EU on the country's withdrawal from the bloc.
May said she would be discussing it at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, which began on Sunday.
The news comes following a referendum held June 23 in which the electorate marginally voted to leave the EU.
