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BREXSHIP
Michael Gove and Co helps us serve early notice to Brussels as we sail Article 50 to the EU
We are tired of long wait for Brexit so we are going gung ho to travel through choppy waters
BREXIT ahoy!
Britain’s EU departure notice has “sailed” to Brussels on a special Sun on Sunday boat.
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We sidestepped the dithering House of Lords to serve Eurocrats with Article 50, which triggers the Brexit process.
Cheering MPs boarded HMS Global Britain at Westminster before waving off our message on a 200-mile voyage to the heart of the EU.
We took a giant reproduction of Article 50, listing Britain’s intent to give notice of its departure from the EU.
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Our crew started the journey at Westminster Pier to drive home the clear message: “It’s full steam ahead for Brexit.”
Theresa May will hand in the real thing within the next 30 days once her Bill clears its final hurdle in the Lords.
But we beat the PM to it by taking a 6ft-high version right to the European Commission’s doorstep.
Vote Leave frontman Michael Gove launched our boat yards from the Houses of Parliament at Westminster Pier.
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He christened her with a bottle of Britain’s finest bubbly — £25 Leslie’s Reserve sparkling wine from Kent’s Hush Heath Estate.
As Mr Gove smashed the bottle on the ship’s bow, Tory and Labour MPs assembled on the deck roared: “Anchors aweigh! On to Brussels!”
Mr Gove said: “Full marks to The Sun on Sunday for leading the way yet again.
“Soon the whole country will be setting sail with our eyes fixed on a broad new horizon as Britain goes global.”
The House of Lords have spent the week debating the Article 50 Bill, at one stage on Monday watched on by the Prime Minister herself.
They vote on it this week and are expected to send it back to the Commons with some amendments.
These may include a demand to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in Britain to stay, or even one for a second referendum on the precise terms of Brexit.
But they have made clear they will eventually back down and are unlikely to offer further resistance if MPs bat the bill straight back without changes.
This will allow the PM to meet her March 31 deadline for invoking Article 50.
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HMS Global Britain was launched exactly a year after ex-PM David Cameron came back from Brussels with his dodgy deal and fired the referendum starting gun.
Our team braved the Thames despite Met Office predictions of high winds and choppy waters.
But just like the Project Fear warnings that a vote for Brexit would cause an economic storm, the grim forecast proved ill-founded.
Heavy rain stopped as MPs clambered on board, and the sun broke through the clouds as we set sail.
Former children’s minster Tim Loughton, complete with admiral’s hat and telescope, said: “Caps off to The Sun on Sunday — never afraid to navigate choppy waters when it comes to taking the Brexit message to Brussels.
“Let’s hope the Lords get the message that the tide has turned against outdated bloated bureaucracies like the EU and they don’t try to beach the Article 50 Bill.”
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Our all-party crew on board HMS Global Britain included three women MPs sporting patriotic red, white and blue.
Labour’s Kate Hoey wore a red jacket, while Tories Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Andrea Jenkyns were in white and blue respectively.
A group of sightseers cheered and waved as our pleasure cruiser sailed past the Houses of Parliament.
MPs raised a salute as they passed the spot where pro-EU millionaire Bob Geldof and his motley crew’s Remain campaign was sunk during the referendum battle last June.
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Our ship swept down the Thames on a wave of enthusiasm as our crew sang: “We are sailing! EU are failing.”
Ms Jenkyns, who is expecting her first baby in April, said: “I’m really proud to be on board. I’m sure my son will have a much better future because Britain voted to leave.”
Ex-defence minister Julian Brazer said: “Our bright future outside the EU was symbolised by the sun coming out the moment we held the Article 50 placard aloft.”
Former sports minister Ms Hoey said: “It was great to see Article 50 sent off to Brussels. Now the Lords should pass the Bill and speed up the start of the negotiations.”
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As our placard arrived outside the EU commission building in Brussels, locals expressed their amazement.
Student Nicolas Claes, 20, said: “Wow, that’s a big placard. I don’t think the people in that building will be happy.
"There’s a lot of fear in Brussels about Britain leaving the EU.
“Article 50 is a dirty word for some people but I understand why your country wants to break free.”
Nurse Oceane Lambert, 32, said: “You brought that from London? That’s incredible.
“I understand why you did it. The EU likes to tell people what to do but all across Europe people are rising up to say enough is enough.”
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