Theresa May Florence speech live updates: PM pleas to stay in the Single Market for two years after Brexit

Theresa May has proposed remaining in the single market for a transition period of around two years after Brexit.

In a landmark Brexit speech in Florence, the Prime Minister said existing market arrangements should continue to apply during a two-year implementation period after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019.

She indicated freedom of movement would also continue during the transition but workers coming into the UK would go through a "registration system".

Ms May said: "Clearly people, businesses and public services should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship between the UK and the EU.

"So during the implementation period access to one another’s markets should continue on current terms and Britain also should continue to take part in existing security measures. And I know businesses, in particular, would welcome the certainty this would provide.

"The framework for this strictly time-limited period, which can be agreed under Article 50, would be the existing structure of EU rules and regulations."

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