British prime minister Theresa May signalled her government's intention to push for a so-called "hard Brexit" from the European Union on Tuesday, in a much anticipated speech in London.
In a bid to counter accusations that she and her ministers have no well-defined vision for Britain's departure from the EU, Mrs May said her government will negotiate a clean and complete break from the bloc "with certainty and clarity".
"Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out," she said.
"We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave."
Since the Brexit referendum last June, advocates for a "soft Brexit" have called for the UK to try to retain some form of economic access to the European single market. According to government estimates, a hard Brexit will cost the British economy £66 billion (Dh298.5bn) a year, and the country's gross domestic product could fall by as much as 9.5 per cent.
But Mrs May's comments on Tuesday dashed all hopes of continued access to the single market.
The prime minister did, however, say her negotiators will work to secure a free-trade agreement between Britain and the EU - something that exists between the bloc and several other countries.
The British government is now expected to trigger Article 50 - the clause of the Lisbon Treaty that initiates separation from the EU - by the end of March.
This will be followed by a two-year negotiating period during which Mrs May's government will hammer out a deal with the EU on the terms of Britain's departure. The UK parliament will then vote on whether to approve or reject the final deal.
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