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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
(10 days later)
The UK is no longer a member of the European Union (EU), but that's not the end of Brexit.The UK is no longer a member of the European Union (EU), but that's not the end of Brexit.
UK and EU officials are trying to agree how their future relationship will work.UK and EU officials are trying to agree how their future relationship will work.
Why is Brexit still being talked about?Why is Brexit still being talked about?
Even though Brexit happened on 31 January 2020, both sides still need to work out the rules for their new relationship. This includes everything from trade, immigration, aviation, security and access to fishing waters.Even though Brexit happened on 31 January 2020, both sides still need to work out the rules for their new relationship. This includes everything from trade, immigration, aviation, security and access to fishing waters.
These rules have to be negotiated and signed off by the EU and UK Parliaments by the end of the year.These rules have to be negotiated and signed off by the EU and UK Parliaments by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says an agreement on trade must be done by 15 October - if the new relationship is going to be ready in time.Prime Minister Boris Johnson says an agreement on trade must be done by 15 October - if the new relationship is going to be ready in time.
But didn't the UK already leave the EU with a deal?But didn't the UK already leave the EU with a deal?
Yes, the UK did leave the EU on 31 January 2020 with a deal called the withdrawal agreement.Yes, the UK did leave the EU on 31 January 2020 with a deal called the withdrawal agreement.
However, this deal only set out the process of how the UK would leave the EU, not the future relationship. It covered areas like:However, this deal only set out the process of how the UK would leave the EU, not the future relationship. It covered areas like:
Negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship were always intended to be held after Brexit day and during the transition period.Negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship were always intended to be held after Brexit day and during the transition period.
The transition is an 11-month phase which started immediately after Brexit day. It was designed to give both sides breathing space to negotiate their future relationship.The transition is an 11-month phase which started immediately after Brexit day. It was designed to give both sides breathing space to negotiate their future relationship.
During this time, the UK still follows EU rules and trade between the two is the same as before.During this time, the UK still follows EU rules and trade between the two is the same as before.
The transition period ends on 31 December 2020 and the deadline for extending it has now passed.The transition period ends on 31 December 2020 and the deadline for extending it has now passed.
What happens if there's no trade deal by 31 December?What happens if there's no trade deal by 31 December?
When transition ends, the UK will automatically drop out of the EU's main trading arrangements (the single market and the customs union).When transition ends, the UK will automatically drop out of the EU's main trading arrangements (the single market and the customs union).
The single market means that countries share the same rules on product standards and access to services, whereas the customs union is an agreement between EU countries not to charge taxes (tariffs) on each other's goods.The single market means that countries share the same rules on product standards and access to services, whereas the customs union is an agreement between EU countries not to charge taxes (tariffs) on each other's goods.
If a new trade deal is not ready then tariffs and border checks would be applied to UK goods travelling to the EU. The UK could also do this to EU goods, if it chose to.If a new trade deal is not ready then tariffs and border checks would be applied to UK goods travelling to the EU. The UK could also do this to EU goods, if it chose to.
Tariffs would make UK goods more expensive and harder to sell in the EU, while full border checks could cause long delays at ports.Tariffs would make UK goods more expensive and harder to sell in the EU, while full border checks could cause long delays at ports.
Failure to reach a deal would also result in the UK service industry losing its guaranteed access to the EU. This would affect everyone from bankers and lawyers, to musicians and chefs.Failure to reach a deal would also result in the UK service industry losing its guaranteed access to the EU. This would affect everyone from bankers and lawyers, to musicians and chefs.
Even if a trade deal is reached, it would not eliminate all checks - so UK businesses will need to prepare.Even if a trade deal is reached, it would not eliminate all checks - so UK businesses will need to prepare.
If there was no agreement in place, then trade with the EU would automatically fall back on basic World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
As well as trade, other aspects of the future relationship - such as immigration rules, fishing access and security cooperation - also need to be signed off. If not, then no-deal plans will be required in these areas for 1 January 2021 onwards.As well as trade, other aspects of the future relationship - such as immigration rules, fishing access and security cooperation - also need to be signed off. If not, then no-deal plans will be required in these areas for 1 January 2021 onwards.
What about the Irish border?What about the Irish border?
Brexit was originally meant to happen on 29 March 2019. However, finding a way to avoid checks along the Irish border became one of the major sticking points. Following Brexit, the 310-mile border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is the only land border between the UK and the EU.
Theresa May, the prime minister at the time, came up with an arrangement known as the Irish "backstop". All sides wants to avoid border checks given the previous history of conflict. However, finding a solution proved very difficult during the negotiations.
However, it proved unacceptable to many Conservative MPs who feared it would keep the UK closely-tied to the EU. Theresa May, the previous UK prime minister, came up with a plan called the Irish "backstop". However, she was forced to resign after many of her MPs argued her deal would have kept the UK too closely tied to the EU.
After MPs rejected Mrs May's deal, the Brexit deadline had to be delayed twice. In October 2019, Boris Johnson, Mrs May's successor, scrapped the backstop and replaced it with the Northern Ireland (NI) protocol.
Mrs May then resigned as PM on 24 July 2019 after MPs voted down the deal for a third time. Under the NI protocol, which will start on 1 January 2021, Northern Ireland will continue to follow some EU rules - making border checks unnecessary.
Mr Johnson - who replaced Mrs May - scrapped the Irish backstop and replaced it with the Northern Ireland (NI) protocol. However, the arrangement will mean that certain goods arriving in Northern Ireland from other parts of the UK (England, Scotland and Wales) will need to be checked to ensure they comply with EU standards. If any taxes (tariffs) need to be paid, they will be refunded if the goods remain in Northern Ireland and there is no onward movement to the Republic of Ireland.
Under the NI protocol, Northern Ireland will continue to follow some EU rules in order to avoid checks along the Irish border after the transition period ends. In September 2020, the UK government said it was seeking to change parts of the NI protocol by introducing a new law in Parliament. The UK government says this is needed in order to clarify parts of the protocol in order to avoid disruption on 1 January.
However, the arrangement will mean that some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to checks instead. The precise nature of these checks is still being negotiated. The UK government has acknowledged that its proposal would break international law in a "very specific and limited way".
After securing these changes to the Brexit deal, Mr Johnson called an early general election, which MPs agreed to.
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, allowing the UK to leave the EU nearly four years after the referendum first took place.