May admits Brexit 'progress will not always be smooth' in Parliament
Theresa May called for a "unique and ambitious economic partnership" with the EU after Britain leaves the EU at the end of March 2019 as part of her first address to Parliament since the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on 4 October.
Coming just after the fifth round of Brexit negotiations began in Brussels on Monday, the Prime Minister admitted that "progress will not always be smooth" but said the UK could "prove the doomsayers wrong".
May, who gave assurances regarding payments to the EU and the rights of its citizens as a part of her speech in Florence back in September, said that "the ball is in their court" as the final set of talks before EU leaders meet on 19 October began.
Downing Street published two White Papers after May's statement, outlining the government's future trade and customs options.
Mrs May laid out the government's vision of a "new, deep and special partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and a strong and successful European Union."
"Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility, not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU," she said.
"And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded to the Prime Minister, saying it was "staggering that after eight months of triggering article 50 the government has made so little progress."
Pointing out that at a time the UK required a strong negotiating team the cabinet was "at each other's throats" as half the cabinet wanted Boris Johnson sacked and the other half calling for the replacement of Chancellor Philip Hammond.