A new chapter in our great island’s story has begun.

The triggering of Article 50 to leave the European Union is a deeply significant and historic moment, whichever side people voted on in last summer’s referendum.

If you think about it, Britain has been subjugated by the political ambit of “Rome” at least three times in the last 2,000 years of history.

On each occasion it ended in acrimony and failure. Emperor Claudius finally conquered the new province of Britannia in 43AD.

Yet, by the 5th century, the last Roman legions were seen departing these shores, exhausted by conflict with Anglo-Saxon tribes.

In 1534, Henry VIII split with papal authority in Rome over a failed divorce from Catherine of Aragon, only to appoint himself the supreme head of the Church of England.

Last weekend, the remaining 27 EU member states met in Italy to mark the Treaty of Rome.

In spring 2019 this treaty and scores of others will cease to apply to the UK, completing our third and final divorce with Rome.

Britain will become a self governing sovereign democracy once again.

Parliament will make our laws and it will be down to British legislators to decide co-operation with Europe and the rest of world based on a new partnership of equals.

Surely it’s time we learnt the lessons of our own history.

Every attempt to fully integrate Britain into the religious or socio-political structures of continental Europe has been doomed to fail.

In the end we appear to cherish our ancient liberties, open trade and own political institutions. Bring on the Great Repeal Bill.

Councillor Tom Bewick represents Westbourne ward, Hove