UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall said, “Today the Government will finally act on the historic decision of the people of this country to leave the European Union.

“Finally, nine months after our vote the UK will formally inform the EU that we are leaving.

“UKIP is delighted that this is eventually happening. 24 years ago this party was formed to make this a reality, so it would be churlish to complain. We have been ignored, dismissed insulted and abused, but through determination and with good humour we fought on and we have succeeded.

“The 9 months delay has, of course cost the taxpayer additional billions, and has allowed those who would block the democratic will of the people to do all they can to spread discord, but we are here now.

“While negotiations continue we will continue to be the ‘guard dogs of Brexit’, holding the Government’s feet to the fire at home and our MEPs will be working to ensure our friends on the continent do not pull any fast ones.

A consultation on whether to move Channel 4 out of London is being launched, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has announced. The broadcaster will remain publicly owned but how it spends money and where it is based is being reviewed to make sure it is “serving the country”.

Responding to the news UKIP’s Media Spokesman Patrick O’Flynn MEP said, “Looking at moving media outlets out of London can only be a good thing. The past year or two has shown us the dangers of a metropolitan bias developing and of London-based correspondents losing touch with wider currents in public opinion. To have Channel 4 based out of the capital would be exciting and brilliant for diversity in broadcast media.”

Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire MEP, Mike Hookem, has welcomed the prospective release of Royal Marine Sergeant, Alexander Blackman as a “victory for justice and great news for Alex and his family.”

Mr Hookem’s comments came after a panel of Court Martial Appeal Court judges reduced the sentence of the long-serving Royal Marine Sergeant – also known as ‘Marine A’ – to seven years following the downgrading of his conviction for murdering a wounded Taliban fighter to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Speaking of the Royal Marine’s prospective release in the next few weeks, Mr Hookem said, “I am very pleased that Alex will soon be at home with his wife and family, where he belongs. In my opinion, Sgt Blackman should never have been in prison in the first place, so today’s news is most welcome.”

Margot Parker MEP has said legislation is not the key which would unlock the gender pay gap when it came to paid parental leave for fathers.

Reacting to news that MPs are calling for a statutory entitlement to three months of non-transferable paid parental leave for fathers or second parents, at the same rate as maternity pay, UKIP’s Women’s and Equalities spokesperson said: “This is not the way forward.

“Figures show that only 3,000 couples took shared parental leave in the first three months of 2016, which equates to two per cent of families in which the mother took maternity leave during that same period.

“Statutory entitlement to three months of non-transferable paid parental leave for fathers or second parents, at the same rate as maternity pay is a sticking-plaster solution, an easy diversion from the structural and institutional causes of the gender-pay gap by blaming the gap solely on motherhood.

UKIP Defence spokesman Bill Etheridge has issued a strong rebuff to suggestions that the UK could still be involved in a European Army, even after Brexit.

As with all other committees, the Security and Defence Committee (SEDE), has submitted an initial assessment of implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. These reports will form the opening stance for European negotiators such as Guy Verhofstadt and Michel Barnier once Article 50 is invoked.

The UKIP MEP has picked up on a number of points in the report which he calls “scary”.