Brexit roadmap becomes clearer two months on

AS the two-month anniversary of June's landmark Brexit referendum approaches, key elements of the United Kingdom's negotiating plan to leave the European Union (EU) are now becoming clearer. Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated that her government is likely to play a long game by not seeking to trigger Article 50, which is the formal mechanism for bringing about the withdrawal process, until next year.

The UK's tactics are wise as the massive scale of the negotiation is becoming clearer. The reason why the challenge is so great is that, as recent analysis from LSE IDEAS (the Centre for International Affairs, Diplomacy and Strategy) at the London School of Economics has revealed, the Brexit referendum triggered not one, but some nine overlapping negotiations to contend with.

Collectively these comprise discussions centred within the UK, between the UK and the EU, within the EU, and also internationally, and could altogether be very protracted.