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UK PM faces immigration backlash in tough talk on Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May threw down the Brexit gauntlet to Brussels on Wednesday, demanding "maximum freedom" in Europe's single market despite a backlash against her hard line on immigration.

Following Britain's shock referendum vote on June 23 in favor of exiting the European Union, it was not immediately clear what form the separation would take.

The Sun newspaper said in an editorial that May's aim was "to reboot Britain" and praised her for huge ambition but cautioned that she should not build a more expensive state.

To loud applause, Mrs May said: "We have voted to leave the European Union and become a fully independent, sovereign country".

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, told reporters at the latest EU summit in Bratislava - the first summit of EU leaders without the UK: "There is a clear interlink as we made clear at the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market - namely the free movement of workers and we are sticking to that position".

The clearest reality check for May's ambitions this week came from the currency markets, where sterling has fallen more than 3-1/2 cents to a 31-year low against the dollar since her announcement on Sunday that she would trigger the formal European Union divorce process by the end of March.

These have provoked a furious reaction from the opposition, which accuses May of a lurch to the right.

"When it legislated to establish the referendum, Parliament put the decision to leave or remain inside the European Union in the hands of the people".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote on Twitter that the list plan sent a "deeply worrying message to the millions of people from around the world living and contributing in our country".

On Wednesday, the pound slumped to a new 31-year low against the dollar on concerns about how Brexit will take effect. It wasn't a an organized labor meeting or to students, she spoke at the Conservative Party conference; suggesting it's a real priority.

She said her vision was of a country "where everyone plays by the same rules and where every single person, regardless of their background or that of their parents, is given the chance to be all they want to be".

May stood up to speak with the anti-EU UK Independence Party in turmoil after the resignation of its leader Diane James on Tuesday just 18 days after being elected to replace Nigel Farage.

But he has insisted he will not return to the post.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said this week that investor confidence has taken a hit in the wake of the United Kingdom referendum, with the Washington-based institution predicting that the United Kingdom will see growth slow from 2.2 percent in 2015 to 1.8 percent in 2016 and 1.7 percent in 2017.

Analysts claimed the Conservatives were echoing UKIP in some announcements made at the four-day conference, although these have also been welcomed by many Tory activists.

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UK PM faces immigration backlash in tough talk on Brexit