Theresa May proposes two-year 'period of implementation' after UK leaves EU - as it happened

This is from the Press Association’s Arj Singh.

22 Sept 201709.22 EDT

Henry McDonald

The Irish leader, Leo Varadkar, is perhaps the only European head of government to be briefed about Theresa May’s speech ahead of her address in Florence.

The prime minister spoke to the taoiseach earlier today, with a government spokesperson in Dublin stating that May had been “keen to brief him” before her speech.

The prime minister’s “sneak preview” for Varadkar indicates the UK government’s cautious approach towards the Republic of Ireland and the desire not to destabilise relations between Dublin and London, which have been the key axis on which peace agreements and Anglo-Irish cooperation are based.

Nor is the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

ITV’s Carl Dinnen isn’t impressed by the backdrop.

This is from my colleague Anushka Asthana.

This is from the Telegraph’s Jack Maidment.

This is from the Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy.

Here is Theresa May in the back of her Maserati for the speech. She is with David Davis, the Brexit secretary.

View image in fullscreen

Downing Street released four paragraphs from Theresa May’s speech overnight.

The key one was about the UK and the EU having a joint responsibility to reach a deal.

While the UK’s departure from the EU is inevitably a difficult process, it is in all of our interests for our negotiations to succeed … so I believe we share a profound sense of responsibility to make this change work smoothly and sensibly, not just for people today but for the next generation who will inherit the world we leave them.

(This is a slightly risky argument; EU leaders could quite legitimately say that they did not ask the UK to leave.)

She will say that both sides should be “imaginative and creative” about finding a solution.

The eyes of the world are on us but if we can be imaginative and creative about the way we establish this new relationship … I believe we can be optimistic about the future we can build for the United Kingdom and for the European Union.

But both sides could create a positive new partnership, she will say.

If we can do that [get a successful final agreement], then when this chapter of our European history is written, it will be remembered not for the differences we faced, but for the vision we showed; not for the challenges we endured but for the creativity we used to overcome them; not for a relationship that ended but a new partnership that began.

And she will say Britain’s future “is bright”.

Our fundamental strengths are considerable; a legal system respected around the world; a keen openness to foreign investment; and enthusiasm for innovation; an ease of doing business; some of the best universities and researchers you can find anywhere; an exceptional national talent for creativity and an indomitable spirit.

Theresa May has arrived in Florence. This is from Sky’s Mark Stone.