UK’s Theresa May says Brexit may bring difficult times

PanARMENIAN.Net - Britain needs to be prepared for some "difficult times" ahead as it leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May has said, according to BBC News.

Speaking to the Andrew Marr Show - in her first major interview since taking office - May warned Brexit would not be "plain sailing" for the UK.

She said formal EU talks will not begin until 2017, but vowed the process would not be "kicked into the long grass."

May also ruled out a snap election, saying the UK needs "stability."

The former home secretary became prime minister after David Cameron resigned in the wake of the EU referendum - with the Brexit process likely to dominate the first years of her premiership.

Speaking before travelling to China for the G20 summit, May said she would not pretend that leaving the union would be "plain sailing", despite positive economic figures in the UK since the referendum.

"We have had some good figures and better figures than some had predicted would be the case. I'm not going to pretend that it's all going to be plain sailing.

"I think we must be prepared for the fact that there may be some difficult times ahead. But what I am is optimistic."

She insisted the country would "make a success" of leaving the EU, saying she was also "optimistic" about new opportunities for Britain outside the EU.

The prime minister said she wanted "an independent Britain, forging our own way in the world."