LONDON-Britain's future outside the European Union became much clearer Tuesday: It's so long to the single market, goodbye to the European Court of Justice and farewell to the freedom of movement for workers.
In a long-awaited speech, Prime Minister Theresa May finally revealed the U.K's hand as it prepares to start EU exit talks. She said the U.K. wants to free itself from EU governance and stop paying millions into its coffers, but still remain friends, allies and tariff-free trading partners with the soon-to-be 27 nation bloc.
"We want to buy your goods and services, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship," May said in a speech to diplomats and dignitaries beneath the gilded paintwork and chandeliers of a Georgian London mansion.
"You will still be welcome in this country as we hope our citizens will be welcome in yours," she said.
Pro-Brexit British politicians praised the speech, and the pound rallied from recent lows as May provided more details of the path ahead for the split with the EU-and vowed that Britain would remain "a great global trading nation" open to business and talent from around the world.
Others called May's vision wildly ambitious, like a divorcing couple who hope to remain best friends, share the kids and keep each other's front door keys.
"This is rather like a divorce rather than 'friends.' And then the question is, divorces can be handled very well or very, very badly," said Tony Travers, director of British government studies at the London School of Economics
Travers said Britain was hoping its friends in the EU will say "let's make it gentle, let's not-as with a bad divorce-give all the money to the lawyers."
In her 40-minute address, May said Britain would leave the EU single market of some 500 million people, but "seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement."