Brexit could be delayed until late 2019: report

Britain's departure from the European Union could be delayed until late 2019 as civil servants struggle with the task and French and German elections may hold up the start of exit negotiations, a report said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Theresa May's government has indicated that it is planning to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which would start a two-year countdown to leaving the bloc, early in 2017.

But the Sunday Times said ministers had privately warned senior figures in the financial sector that this may not now happen until later in the year, delaying Brexit until late 2019.