THERESA May's Brexit letter has been delivered, formally triggering the UK's departure from the European Union. 

Giving official notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, it was handed to European Council president Donald Tusk this afternoon.

In a statement in the Commons, the prime minister told MPs this marks "the moment for the country to come together".

It follows June's referendum which resulted in a vote to leave the EU.

Mrs May's letter was delivered at 12.30pm by the British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, in Brussels.

The prime minister, who chaired a cabinet meeting this morning, made a statement to MPs confirming the countdown to the UK's departure from the EU is under way.

Liberal Democrat West Oxfordshire Councillor Liz Leffman said: “Theresa May has chosen the hardest and most divisive form of Brexit, choosing to take us out of the Single Market before she has even tried to negotiate.

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Liz Leffman West Oxfordshire Councillor

“This poses a huge threat to jobs Oxfordshire, from the car industry to the science sector and the many small businesses that rely on trade with Europe.

“But while the clock is now ticking on a Hard Brexit –the good news is it can still be stopped.

“The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to give people in Oxfordshire the final say over the Conservative Brexit deal.

“Someone will have the final say over our new deal with Europe, politicians or the people. We believe it should be the people in a referendum.“

Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder echoed concerns this afternoon, after the letter was delivered.

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East, has reiterated his promise to continue fighting against an extreme Brexit, as Theresa May signs the historic letter that will officially trigger Article 50.

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Keith Taylor MEP for the South East

He said: "Theresa May is marching Britain one step closer to an extreme Brexit cliff edge, but we don't have to accept our fate, there is still time to avert disaster. We must and we will fight on.

"The Government’s proposals will send the country hurtling towards an extreme Brexit that will see Britain as the ultimate loser in a global race to the bottom on everything from environmental regulations to workers’ rights.

"Almost 80 percent of Green Party supporters, the majority of voters in Surrey, and East and West Sussex, and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and 48% of my constituents across the South East voted to Remain in the EU. 

"That doesn’t mean I am blind to the fact that a slim majority of Brits voted to leave the EU. But it does mean that I won't allow the voices of those who didn't to be silenced."

As the formal process of leaving the EU is triggered, would you still vote to leave the EU?