Article 50 triggered: But is a Brexit deal really possible in two years?

UK govt will approach negotiations from a much more settled political and economic condition than EU

The phoney war phase of Brexit is brought to an end by the UK government’s decision to formally submit its request to leave the European Union. After a protracted period of speculation, now begins the two-year formal countdown for Britain to depart from the EU.

But the question of whether Brexit will be completed in an orderly fashion within that timeframe will be determined between now and the summer.

Three key objectives will need to be realised by then. First, the divorce settlement. This is the outline of the exit agreement on what the UK owes