London, Oct 2 (IANS): British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that she would introduce a "Great Repeal Bill" that will overturn the act that took the UK into the European Union (EU).

The bill will remove the European Communities Act, 1972, from the statute book and end the supremacy in Britain of the EU law.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, May said the repeal bill would mark "the first stage in the UK becoming a sovereign and independent country once again".

"It will return power and authority to the elected institutions of our country," she said.

"It means that the authority of EU law in Britain will end."

However, the repeal of the act will not take effect until the UK leaves the EU under the process for quitting the bloc known as Article 50.

Her pledge comes as the Conservatives gather for their annual conference.

Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLaughlin told the BBC that the Prime Minister's decision proved the party was "very serious" about starting the process of leaving the EU, but added negotiations would not be conducted in the public eye.

The repeal bill will also end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK.