The UK will not retain "partial" membership of the EU once it leaves, Theresa May is due to say in her much-anticipated Brexit speech.

The PM will tell other European countries the UK wants to trade with them "as freely as possible" but will not be "half-in, half-out" of the EU.

Her speech, currently taking place, is expected to include further hints the UK could leave the EU single market.

No 10 said the prime minister would set out 12 negotiating objectives. In her speech, Mrs May announced the final Brexit deal agreed between the EU and the UK would be voted on by both Houses of Parliament before it comes into force.

She also said the government would work to maintain the "common travel area" between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

The government has so far revealed few details about what it wants to secure from the Brexit talks, which it is promising to trigger by the end of March. Labour has urged Mrs May to push for a "deal that works for trade".

The prime minister's speech is being closely watched for signals about the UK's involvement in the single market (which allows the free movement of goods, services and workers between members) and the customs union (which means members do not impose tariffs on each other's goods and impose the same tariffs on goods from outside).

EU leaders have said the UK cannot "cherry pick" access to the single market while restricting the free movement of people, with Mrs May suggesting curbing migration will be her top priority.

Addressing an audience including foreign ambassadors in central London, Mrs May said the UK had "voted for a brighter future for our country" and would become "stronger, fairer, more united" after Brexit.

She said the UK's history was "profoundly internationalist" and would remain so.

The prime minister said the UK had often been seen as "an awkward member state", but the EU had not demonstrated "enough flexibility on many important matters for a majority of British voters".

She told the remaining 27 EU member states: "We will continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends.

"We want to buy your goods, 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."

(Source: BBC)