Theresa May won’t trigger Article 50 this week
MPs and peers might approve the Article 50 Bill tonight, but Downing Street sources have revealed that Prime Minister Theresa May has no plans to launch negotiations this week.
Officials have long maintained that May would begin the process by the end of March, and speculation has been rife that May could seek to trigger Article 50 as soon as tomorrow, with the Prime Minister expected to give a statement in the House of Commons on last week's European Council summit.
However, Downing Street sources are now indicating that May could hold off until later in the month, side-stepping the elections in the Netherlands on Wednesday this week, and a further EU summit in Rome.
The development comes just hours after Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon committed to seeking a second independence referendum in Scotland.