The UK Prime Minister for the first time proposed that the UK would seek a transitional arrangement or in her words an “implementation period” of about two years in order to ensure a smooth and orderly Brexit after 29 March 2019. This means that the UK would continue to have access to the Single Market and free movement of people would continue for this period. This, according to the UK, would give business and individuals time to adjust.

She also promised that the UK would honour its existing commitments to the EU budget that it has made during the period of membership. While this isn’t viewed as an acceptance of the divorce bill, it is seen as a move to break the deadlock over the thorny issue of the financial settlement.

Specific to the island of Ireland, Ms. May said that the UK was committed to protecting the Good Friday Agreement as well as maintaining the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland. She also insisted that there were no plans to have physical infrastructure at the border but didn’t offer any further detail as to how the border would work.

The UK Prime Minister also pledged that she wanted EU citizens living in the UK to stay in the UK and continue enjoying the same rights as they have now.