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Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU
(5 months later)
The UK stopped being a member of the European Union (EU) at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020. The UK stopped being a member of the European Union (EU) at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020, but that's the not end of the Brexit story. Over the summer, UK and EU officials will try to agree what the future relationship will eventually look like.
For those not following every twist and turn, this is what you need to know.For those not following every twist and turn, this is what you need to know.
What is Brexit?What is Brexit?
Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU.Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU.
A public vote (known as a referendum) was held in June 2016, when 17.4 million people opted for Brexit. This gave the Leave side 52%, compared with 48% for Remain.A public vote (known as a referendum) was held in June 2016, when 17.4 million people opted for Brexit. This gave the Leave side 52%, compared with 48% for Remain.
What is the European Union?What is the European Union?
The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade, which means goods can move between member countries without any checks or extra charges. The EU also allows free movement of people, to live and work in whichever country they choose. The EU is an economic and political union involving 27 European countries. It allows free trade, which means goods can move between member countries without any checks or extra charges. The EU also allows free movement of people, to live and work in whichever country they choose.
The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community) and it will be the first member state to withdraw. The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community) and became the first member state to leave.
What happens after Brexit day? What happened after Brexit day?
The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020, but there is still a lot to talk about and months of negotiation to come. The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020 and immediately entered into an 11-month transition period.
While the UK has agreed the terms of its EU departure, both sides still need to decide what their future relationship will look like. During this period, the UK will continue to follow all of the EU's rules and its trading relationship will remain the same. However, it is no longer part of the EU's political institutions - so there there are no longer any British MEPs in the European Parliament.
This will need to be worked out during the transition period (which some prefer to call the implementation period), which began immediately after Brexit day and is due to end on 31 December 2020. The transition will end on 31 December 2020.
During this 11-month period, the UK will continue to follow all of the EU's rules and its trading relationship will remain the same. What needs to be agreed during the transition?
What needs to be agreed? The transition gives both sides some time to decide the terms of the future UK-EU relationship. The broad aims were set out in a 27-page document called the political declaration.
The transition period is meant to give both sides some breathing space while a new free trade agreement is negotiated. Talks started in March and will intensify over the summer, with a new free trade agreement being the priority.
This is needed because the UK will leave the single market and customs union at the end of the transition. A free trade agreement will allow goods to move around the EU without checks or extra charges. This is needed because the UK will leave the single market and customs union at the end of the transition. A free trade agreement will allow UK goods to move around the EU without extra charges and keep other barriers (like checks) to a minimum.
If a new one cannot be agreed in time, then the UK faces the prospect of having to trade with no deal in place. That would mean tariffs (taxes) on UK goods travelling to the EU and other trade barriers. If an agreement cannot be reached by 31 December, then tariffs (taxes) and full border checks will be applied to UK goods travelling to the EU.
Aside from trade, many other aspects of the future UK-EU relationship will also need to be decided. For example: Aside from trade, many other aspects of the future UK-EU relationship will also need to be decided during the transition. For example:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the transition period will not be extended, but the European Commission has warned that the timetable will be extremely challenging.
What is the Brexit deal?What is the Brexit deal?
The transition period and other aspects of the UK's departure were agreed in a deal called the withdrawal agreement.The transition period and other aspects of the UK's departure were agreed in a deal called the withdrawal agreement.
Most of that was negotiated by Theresa May's government. But after Mr Johnson replaced her in July 2019, he negotiated some changes to it. Most of that was negotiated by Theresa May's government. But after Boris Johnson replaced her as prime minister in July 2019, he negotiated some changes to it.
The key change is that under Mr Johnson's deal, a customs border will effectively be created between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to checks and will have to pay EU import taxes (known as tariffs). Under Mr Johnson's deal, a customs border will effectively be created between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to checks and will have to pay EU import taxes (known as tariffs).
These would be refunded if goods remain in Northern Ireland (ie are not moved to the Republic of Ireland).These would be refunded if goods remain in Northern Ireland (ie are not moved to the Republic of Ireland).
The rest of the withdrawal agreement is largely unchanged from the one negotiated by Mrs May. This includes:The rest of the withdrawal agreement is largely unchanged from the one negotiated by Mrs May. This includes:
Why did Brexit take so long?Why did Brexit take so long?
Brexit was originally meant to happen on 29 March 2019, but the deadline was delayed twice after MPs rejected the deal negotiated by Mrs May, the prime minister at the time. Brexit was originally meant to happen on 29 March 2019, but the deadline was delayed twice after MPs rejected the deal negotiated by then prime minister Mrs May.
Her deal included an arrangement known as the Irish "backstop". If it had been needed, this would have kept the UK in a very close relationship with the EU in order to avoid checks along the Irish border.
However, the backstop proved unacceptable to many Conservative MPs who feared the UK would be trapped in it indefinitely.
After MPs voted down the deal for a third time, Mrs May resigned.After MPs voted down the deal for a third time, Mrs May resigned.
Mr Johnson needed a Brexit extension of his own after MPs failed to get the revised deal passed into law.Mr Johnson needed a Brexit extension of his own after MPs failed to get the revised deal passed into law.
This led to the new deadline of 31 January 2020.This led to the new deadline of 31 January 2020.
Mr Johnson then called an early general election, to which MPs agreed.Mr Johnson then called an early general election, to which MPs agreed.
The election, which happened on 12 December 2019, resulted in a Conservative majority of 80.The election, which happened on 12 December 2019, resulted in a Conservative majority of 80.
With a sizeable majority in Parliament, it proved straightforward to pass the Brexit legislation. With a sizeable majority in Parliament, it proved straightforward to pass the Brexit legislation, allowing the UK to leave the EU nearly four years after the referendum first took place.
What questions do you have about Brexit and the future?What questions do you have about Brexit and the future?
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Use this form to ask your question:Use this form to ask your question: