Commenting on the commencement of Brexit negotiations today, S&D Group president Gianni Pittella said:

"We are relieved that Brexit negotiations will start today. This is long overdue. Enough time has already been wasted on the electoral gamble of the Tories.

"The outcome of the elections shows that Mrs May strategy, based on the premise that ‘No deal is better than a bad deal’ can no long be pursued. It has been rejected, and is clearly the worst possible scenario both for the UK and the EU.

"What we need now is for the UK to come to the negotiation table with a solid, clear and trusted mandate, and with a much more constructive and reasonable tone.

"To this end a strengthened involvement of the UK Parliament and political forces represented in it is needed.

"The interests of citizens should finally prevail over the empty slogan of 'taking back control'."