Britain urged to begin EU exit proceedings from Tuesday

Martin Schulz told a German newspaper that a period of limbo over Brexit would “lead to even more insecurity and thus endanger jobs.” “Hesitating simply to accommodate the party tactics of the British conservatives hurt everyone,” he said.

“That is why we expect the British government to now deliver. The summit on Tuesday is the right time.” The four biggest groups in the European Parliament have also drawn up a draft resolution calling for Cameron to set the Brexit ball rolling on Tuesday, a German daily reported. This was crucial, the groups wrote, “to avoid damaging uncertainty for all and to preserve the integrity of the union.” 

They added that “no new relationship of whatever kind between the United Kingdom and the EU can be agreed before (Britain’s) exit accord has been completed.” 

The first step is to inform the European Council of member states which sets the clock ticking on a two-year timetable of negotiations. The EU will hold a summit Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the fallout from the British vote and the European Parliament will also hold a special session. 

Meanwhile, Britain’s Opposition Labour party was thrown into turmoil after Jeremy Corbyn sacked his foreign secretary Hilary Ben while other members of the shadow cabinet are set to step down as divisions within the party emerged over the veteran socialist leader’s handling of the EU referendum. Ben was sacked after he said he no longer had confidence in Corbyn’s leadership. Soon after, his colleague, shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander announced her resignation on Twitter.