By Freddie Martyn and Maxime Sattonnay | Euractiv Est. 4min 29-03-2017 Prime Minister Theresa May signed her letter of notification to the President of the European Council setting out the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the European Union. [Jay Allen/ Flickr] Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: DeutschPrint Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Brexit has once again taken Twitter by storm as British Prime Minister Theresa May signed a letter last night (28 March) launching the process for the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU. #BrexitDay #Article50 #Brexit 115k mentions of these hashtags since last night, not bad! ???? pic.twitter.com/VBXZ7i2IYI — Maxime Sattonnay (@MaxSattonnay) March 29, 2017 Only a few hours later, British Ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow delivered May’s letter to European Council President Donald Tusk. The Article 50 letter. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/SO5R5BTvhw — Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) March 29, 2017 The reactions have been numerous, ranging from disgust to excitement. Whatever the case, there is still a clear online row between Remainers and Leavers. Twitter today between remainers & leavers.#Brexit #BrexitDay #Article50 #EU pic.twitter.com/xXczSNhzsn — Scott Wiles (@Scott_W88) March 29, 2017 On the remain side? Those in favour of retaining EU membership are not hiding their disdain for the act of pen to paper made by May, who indeed backed the Remain camp all the way up to the vote that decided Britain’s future as part of the block. I retweet this every time I see it. Apparently our Brexiteer PM doesn't like to be reminded. https://t.co/D1h4mFFbOi — Giles Merritt (@GilesMerritt) March 29, 2017 Some see the whole process as a giant step back into the past (1972 to be exact). Two clock changes in one week. One step forward, one giant step back… to 1972. Sad times indeed. #BrexitDay #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/ITeNHUKHFb — Marianne (@xNotPollyx) March 29, 2017 While others are not afraid to hide their anger towards the decision made by the British people over nine months ago. EU has done everything to keep the British. From now on, only the interests of the remaining 440 million Europeans count for us. #BrexitDay — Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) March 29, 2017 Researchers and professors, the majority of which supported remain ahead of the referendum, continue to voice their concerns that Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s research excellence. UK's research excellence is seriously jeopardised by #brexit https://t.co/yUGXUIX61E #blackwednesday #BrexitBritain pic.twitter.com/0vD6HDkbaJ — Phil Baty (@Phil_Baty) March 29, 2017 MEP Guy Verhofstadt, who is the European Parliament’s point man on Brexit, reminded his followers that the EU must fight back against right-wing populism, hoping to feed off the high from last week’s 60 years of EU celebration. The effect of #Trump & #Brexit? Europeans are rejecting right wing populist parties. #EUfightback https://t.co/mg8j26jHiG — Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) March 29, 2017 Last June’s Brexit vote saw a disproportionate spread in voter ages. Some criticised the outcome of the vote, saying that older generations had no right to vote because they wouldn’t live to see the consequences. The majority of millennials voted in favour of remain. I am old so I won't live to see the full disastrous consequences of #brexit but on #BrexitEve I fear for my grandchildren's generation. — Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) March 28, 2017 The preconception that Britain has already left the EU just because of the signing of this letter is of course wrong, as Louise Ridley rightly pointed out. Suggesting you bookmark our handy site for 2 years: https://t.co/EWgkPsOjge #BrexitDay pic.twitter.com/U2c2A4k8C3 — Louise Ridley (@LouiseRidley) March 29, 2017 The NHS has come out on top, their tweet getting the most engagements around the Brexit debate today. On the day that Article 50 is triggered, please RT to show support for our amazing staff from the EU and the rest of the world #brexitday pic.twitter.com/ZXlSmCqfGG — NHS Million (@NHSMillion) March 29, 2017 On the leave side? But Leave campaigners are celebrating this victory, as the process for Brexit begins. .@David_Cameron @eddieizzard @timfarron @HackneyAbbott @George_Osborne And how could we forget this lot? #ProjectFear, 'back of the queue' and biased coverage. You all helped to make #BrexitDay a reality! ? pic.twitter.com/uBDkdZWJti — LEAVE.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) March 29, 2017 Happy #BrexitDay! After decades of being trampled upon, we will stand tall today and take back our country! ??https://t.co/oGPYAelWPo — LEAVE.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) March 29, 2017 The most used emojis on Twitter today seem to reflect well on the leave camp. These are the most used emojis on Twitter to react to #BrexitDay so far: ?? ? ? ?? (Data: @visibrainEN) #Article50 #Brexit pic.twitter.com/xOZ1NqtEUD — Maxime Sattonnay (@MaxSattonnay) March 29, 2017 Nigel Farage, one of the lead leave campaigners during his time as head of UKIP, reacted very positively to the news. The impossible dream is happening. Today we pass the point of no return. #BrexitDay pic.twitter.com/pZMceYoZdG — Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) March 29, 2017 Brexiteers also reminded us, once again, of the troubles that lead to spending five hours in the Brussels town hall to register as a Belgian resident. Hey Liberals, just to clarify, we're leaving a dysfunctional bureaucracy, not the continent of Europe, you're welcome. ??#BrexitDay — andrew lawrence (@andrewlawrence) March 29, 2017 What consequences for Europe? Mainland Brits are pondering their continental futures… OK Brussels chums – quick poll. Will you miss us Brits when we've gone?#Brexit #Article50 #BrexitDay — James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) March 29, 2017 Scotland’s future as part of the UK or the EU has been the source of much humour, even from the French. Dessin du jour dans @OuestFrance : le #Divorce entre le #RoyaumeUni et UE #Brexit pic.twitter.com/dbV9w3nXH1 — CHAUNU (@ChaunuShow) March 29, 2017 Spain is already looking to claim back Gibraltar. Hoy se activa el #Brexit. #Andalucía ha intentado minimizar su impacto económico. Me preocupan los 7.000 trabajadores españoles en Gibraltar — Susana Díaz Pacheco (@susanadiaz) March 29, 2017 Looking to the 2019 European Parliament elections, some are already looking at what effect the UK’s departure will have on the vote. For example, as pointed out by VoteWatch Europe, the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) would lose its place as third largest party in the EP without British MEPs. #Brexit: How will the European Parliament look like after the 2019 election without the UK? Figures from @tpe_webzine simulation! #BrexitDay pic.twitter.com/znDfWUMbeN — VoteWatch Europe (@VoteWatchEurope) March 29, 2017 The World Economic Forum has pointed to the heavily intertwined economic relationship between the UK and the EU, stating that “they need each other”. Brexit: what’s at stake for the UK as it triggers Article 50? https://t.co/KYNuNiECtk #Brexit pic.twitter.com/39xUL35s9L — World Economic Forum (@wef) March 29, 2017 This is a “historic moment from which there can be no turning back”, May said upon triggering rticle 50. ??✂️?? ? #Brexit pic.twitter.com/9mbYFVLt00 — Politix EU (@PolitixEU) March 29, 2017 If you want to see all the best tweets since last night’s letter signing, go to our tailor-made Twitter moment. Read more with Euractiv Fillon, Macron and Le Pen attempt to win over business leadersFrance’s leading presidential candidates yesterday (28 March) aimed to rally business leaders behind their programmes for social reform, increased competitiveness, education and globalisation. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters