EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

It is becoming apparent everyone in Brussels is now fully ready for the mother of all negotiations to kick start almost immediately after the UK’s general election coming up in June.

According to sources in Brussels the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier has proposed June 19 as the beginning day of the Brexit talks that will formerly lead to Britain’s exit.

Once the proposed date is confirmed by the European Commission on Monday, the newly elected Prime Minister will be engaged in the Brexit hot seat to save the country’s future as demanded by the British people.

"The 19th (of June) is tentative, because Britain cannot confirm anything until after the elections," one official involved in the Brexit negotiation process said.

"The 19th is the earliest date they can envisage."

Information about the proposed date comes a day after EU Exit Secretary David Davis made it known to Daily Express that the PM had shown the Government "means business" and will not put up with "silly games" by Brussels if she returns to Downing Street after the general election. Where it was also warned that a "tense period" was ahead in the negotiations.

The Brexit Secretary also slammed the notion that Britain could be forced to pay up to £85billion to leave the EU.

In previously unpublished remarks from his Daily Express interview, the EU Exit Secretary said: "Picking numbers out the air doesn't work. I'm not going to do the negotiation in public anyway.

"What is plain is that the period of paying over vast sums of money into the EU is coming to an end - that is the most important thing."

He added: "We have said we will talk to them. We will meet our obligations. One of our great reputations globally is that we meet our obligations whatever they may be.

"We're going to have a very careful look. The numbers you see banded around, they are not legal obligations.

 "It is not in our interests to treat our allies badly, but on the other hand it's also not in our interests to hand over a load of taxpayers' money."

On the other hand, the EU chief negotiator told the Commission leaders at the beginning of this month that securing the rights of all EU nationals living and working in the UK and the divorce bill be given priority during the negotiations. Which he believes could be concluded between October and December.

All things being equal, if the proposed timetable is adhered to, both parties would begin talks on the future trade relationship.

Mr Barnier has proposed that his face-to-face talks with Mr Davis will be held in four-weekly cycles.

Week one would be all about preparations by the remaining 27 governments and the European Parliament and the second to an exchange of documents with Britain. While week three would be for negotiations, where EU officials would be expecting their UK counterparts to come over to Brussels for the week - and the fourth to report the results to the 27 governments and the European Parliament and prepare the next round of talks.