PM to trigger Brexit by March

British Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger the divorce process from the European Union by the end of March, firing the starting gun on the country's biggest shift in policy since World War II.

May, appointed prime minister shortly after Britain voted in June to leave the bloc, has been under pressure from EU officials, investors and members of her Conservative Party to offer more on her plan for Britain's exit, beyond her catch phrase "Brexit means Brexit".

In an interview with the BBC, May for the first time confirmed what many expected - that she will trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty before the end of March next year.