Theresa May shunned by EU as bloc hardens stance against Britain
European leaders held a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, after the departure of Theresa May, in order to formalise their plans for Brexit negotiations.
The group of 27 leaders pledged that they would stick together during the process, which is expected to be initiated by the British government in March, despite a Supreme Court appeal gaining traction in recent weeks.
May respected that EU leaders needed time to discuss their strategy ahead of the beginning of negotiations.
"It's right that the other leaders prepare for those negotiations as we have been preparing," May said.
The government has been at loggerheads with the bloc as many ministers have said that they will support bargaining for complete free market access, while that idea has been roundly rejected by European leaders.
"Any agreement will have to be based on a balance of rights and obligations", they insisted, and British attempts to remain in the EU's single market will be rebuffed if it does not accept free immigration from the continent.
Pressure is mounting on May's government as accusations rain down of divisions and a lack of realism in the Conservative government.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said on Friday that access to the market via the World Trade Organisation would not be the most preferable option for the UK.
"In my view, the WTO option would not be the most favoured outcome," Hammond said at an event in Seoul.
"I hope that we would be able to agree with our European partners tariff-free access but on a reciprocal basis."