Theresa May Brexit speech as it happened: PM warns European values will be crushed into tiny pieces if EU tries to punish Britain

Jeremy Corbyn responds:

"Theresa May has made clear that she is determined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven on the shores of Europe. She makes out this is a negotiating threat to the 27 EU countries but it's actually a threat to the British people's jobs, services and living standards. 

“We welcome that the Prime Minister has listened to the case we've been making about the need for full tariff free access to the single market but are deeply concerned about her reckless approach to achieving it. 

“This speech should have been given in Parliament where MPs could ask her questions on behalf of their constituents. She talks about Brexit restoring parliamentary sovereignty but, once again, she is determined to avoid real scrutiny of her plans."

Brexit Secretary David Davis is now speaking in the Commons. "We are leaving the EU but we are not leaving Europe," he says. 

Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit Secretary, says the place for May's speech should have been in the Commons - so that MPs can ask questions on her plans for Britain. 

"It is, in truth, a half-in, half-out Brexit," he adds. 

Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says:

"On the same day that the leader of the world’s largest communist party publicly lectures the world on the virtues of free trade, Theresa May has finally turned her back on Margaret Thatcher's greatest economic achievement, the world's largest borderless single market. It’s an astonishing mutation from Conservative into UKIP-light.

"By siding with Donald Trump and against Angela Merkel, Theresa May has made it inevitable that the rest of the EU will react by safeguarding the integrity of the EU itself. Throwing the gauntlet down against the rest of Europe, the PM is virtually guaranteeing that acrimony rather than compromise will prevail.

"The Prime Minister has pledged to act in the interests of the young and future generations. Yet she has now set herself on a course which emphatically rejects what the overwhelming majority of young voters said they wanted in the Brexit referendum. Claiming to represent the interests of the young whilst pursuing a hard Brexit which will damage their interests will only deepen the generational divide highlighted by the Brexit referendum. This speech is a kick in the teeth for the youth of Britain."

European Council president Donald Tusk said Mrs May's speech meant the EU had a "more realistic" view of Britain's hopes and said the remaining 27 states were "united and ready to negotiate".

In a message on Twitter, Mr Tusk said: "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on Brexit. EU27 united and ready to negotiate after Article 50."

Keir Starmer added that David Cameron had taken Britain to the gates of Brexit "without any forethought or planning", but responsibility for its implementation lies on the shoulders of Mrs May.

He said: "This Prime Minister has now chosen a risky implementation plan, she owns the consequences now, she owns them in 2019 and she owns them beyond that."

CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said:

"Today the Prime Minister changed the landscape.

"Ruling out membership of the single market has reduced options for maintaining a barrier-free trading relationship between the UK and the EU. But businesses will welcome the greater clarity and the ambition to create a more prosperous, open and global Britain, with the freest possible trade between the UK and the EU.

"The pressure is now on to deliver these objectives and achieve a smooth and orderly exit.

"Businesses want to make a success of Brexit but will be concerned about falling back on damaging WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules. They stand ready to support the negotiations to get the best possible deal for the UK by ensuring that the economic case is heard loud and clear."

Former chancellor Lord Lamont told the Press Association: "The Prime Minister has given a firm lead and a clear vision. She has given all the detail that could reasonably be expected.

"Carping or calling for yet more detail will merely undermine Britain's negotiating position. It is time for everyone to back the Prime Minister's efforts."

This from the Press Association gives further details on Theresa May's plan to give Parliament a vote on the final EU deal.

David Davis has said Brexit will still go ahead even if MPs voted against an EU withdrawal deal.

The Brexit Secretary said any vote would not change the fact the UK was leaving the bloc, as a result of last summer's referendum.

Mr Davis also told MPs some unskilled migration was likely to continue after Brexit, adding Parliament would now have the power to set the UK's policy.

 Mr Davis said: "The referendum last year set in motion a circumstance where the UK's going to leave the European Union. It won't change that.

"What we want to have is a vote so the House can be behind and support the policy, which we are quite sure they will approve of when we get there."

Downing Street said the vote in Parliament on the deal secured following exit negotiations would be binding.

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman added: "We are now seeking a new partnership with the EU. Either way, we will very clearly be leaving the EU."