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Brexit: countdown to the UK's departure from the EU – live news Brexit: countdown to the UK's departure from the EU – live news
(32 minutes later)
All the latest as Britain gears up to leave the European Union at 11pm local timeAll the latest as Britain gears up to leave the European Union at 11pm local time
The UK’s flag has also been taken down at the EU Council building:
The union flag flies alone at the UK’s permanent representation to the EU in Brussels after the European flag was taken down before Brexit. By midnight Brussels time (11pm GMT), the UK’s 47-year stay in the European club of nations will come to end.The union flag flies alone at the UK’s permanent representation to the EU in Brussels after the European flag was taken down before Brexit. By midnight Brussels time (11pm GMT), the UK’s 47-year stay in the European club of nations will come to end.
Crowds have started to gather at Parliament Square in London ahead of the planned Brexit celebration later this evening.Crowds have started to gather at Parliament Square in London ahead of the planned Brexit celebration later this evening.
Dozens of people gathered around the Sir Winston Churchill statue, while others rang bells and banged a drum attached to a modified cart called “Little Ben”.Dozens of people gathered around the Sir Winston Churchill statue, while others rang bells and banged a drum attached to a modified cart called “Little Ben”.
A music system has also been set up inside the back of a lorry on Parliament Street, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the street to music by Sir Tom Jones and Queen.A music system has also been set up inside the back of a lorry on Parliament Street, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the street to music by Sir Tom Jones and Queen.
As one man walked through the crowd with an EU flag draped over his shoulders, another man carrying the Union flag shouted at him: “Go away loser.”As one man walked through the crowd with an EU flag draped over his shoulders, another man carrying the Union flag shouted at him: “Go away loser.”
Among the crowds were dozens of television camera crews and journalists.Among the crowds were dozens of television camera crews and journalists.
British people living in Brussels have contacted the Guardian with their thoughts about today.British people living in Brussels have contacted the Guardian with their thoughts about today.
Emma Woodford, who has lived in the city for 11 years and works for a European membership association, says it feels like the referendum only happened yesterday.Emma Woodford, who has lived in the city for 11 years and works for a European membership association, says it feels like the referendum only happened yesterday.
Woodford is planning to attend one of a number of events taking place in central Brussels this evening.Woodford is planning to attend one of a number of events taking place in central Brussels this evening.
Gareth Lewis, a research scientist, will not be celebrating.Gareth Lewis, a research scientist, will not be celebrating.
One reader, who works as a civil servant for the EU and asked to remain anonymous, says:One reader, who works as a civil servant for the EU and asked to remain anonymous, says:
A Guardian reader sent in this picture of today’s front-page of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, a local paper in Cologne.A Guardian reader sent in this picture of today’s front-page of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, a local paper in Cologne.
It features what can only be described as a handwritten love letter from the paper’s editor-in-chief to Britain, pining for the days of European unity, praising cultural British contributions such as the Rolling Stones, Harry Potter, and Shaun the Sheep, and hoping that, one day, the UK will return into the arms of the EU.It features what can only be described as a handwritten love letter from the paper’s editor-in-chief to Britain, pining for the days of European unity, praising cultural British contributions such as the Rolling Stones, Harry Potter, and Shaun the Sheep, and hoping that, one day, the UK will return into the arms of the EU.
Today is a “grave day” in the view of the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier.Today is a “grave day” in the view of the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier.
His tweet reads:His tweet reads:
In his address to the French nation, Macron said the British people took a sovereign decision in the 2016 referendum and France has always respected it.In his address to the French nation, Macron said the British people took a sovereign decision in the 2016 referendum and France has always respected it.
But he restated his belief that much of the referendum campaign was “based on lies, exaggerations, simplifications, cheques that were promised and will never be delivered”.But he restated his belief that much of the referendum campaign was “based on lies, exaggerations, simplifications, cheques that were promised and will never be delivered”.
He said Europe was made a scapegoat, but that: “Europe can only advance if we reform in depth, to make it more sovereign, more democratic, closer to our citizens” so that “the desire to leave Europe will never again be the response to difficulties today”.He said Europe was made a scapegoat, but that: “Europe can only advance if we reform in depth, to make it more sovereign, more democratic, closer to our citizens” so that “the desire to leave Europe will never again be the response to difficulties today”.
Macron sought to reassure French citizens living in the UK that their rights will be “maintained, preserved, defended”. Of British people living in France, he said:Macron sought to reassure French citizens living in the UK that their rights will be “maintained, preserved, defended”. Of British people living in France, he said:
We’ve been speaking to readers about their reaction to the UK’s impending EU exit.We’ve been speaking to readers about their reaction to the UK’s impending EU exit.
John Stewart Young, 65, from East LothianJohn Stewart Young, 65, from East Lothian
Fiona McGregor, from ClackmannanshireFiona McGregor, from Clackmannanshire
Keith Wall, a software engineer from GlasgowKeith Wall, a software engineer from Glasgow
Scotland will hold Shine a Light for Europe rallies across the country tonight. The SNP has issued this photograph to underline its desire for continued membership of the bloc.Scotland will hold Shine a Light for Europe rallies across the country tonight. The SNP has issued this photograph to underline its desire for continued membership of the bloc.
The Brexit party has vowed to hold Boris Johnson to account if he doesn’t deliver on the hard Brexit he has promised, and makes concessions to the EU. Its chairman, Richard Tice, has emailed supporters to ask for donations, something the Conservative party did earlier this week.The Brexit party has vowed to hold Boris Johnson to account if he doesn’t deliver on the hard Brexit he has promised, and makes concessions to the EU. Its chairman, Richard Tice, has emailed supporters to ask for donations, something the Conservative party did earlier this week.
Emmanuel Macron has delivered his own address to the nation in France, describing Brexit as an “alarm signal” which should be heard across the EU. The French president said:Emmanuel Macron has delivered his own address to the nation in France, describing Brexit as an “alarm signal” which should be heard across the EU. The French president said:
It appears the party has started, to a degree, in Parliament SquareIt appears the party has started, to a degree, in Parliament Square
The next generation Mini car has been delayed because of Brexit, according to the parent company, BMW. The car’s development had been put on hold partly to cut costs and partly because uncertainty over Britain’s trade relations with the EU made long-term investment decisions harder, a spokesperson told Reuters.The next generation Mini car has been delayed because of Brexit, according to the parent company, BMW. The car’s development had been put on hold partly to cut costs and partly because uncertainty over Britain’s trade relations with the EU made long-term investment decisions harder, a spokesperson told Reuters.
The German carmaker has developed three generations of the Mini since buying the marque from Rover Group in 1994, keeping each vehicle in the market for about six years.The German carmaker has developed three generations of the Mini since buying the marque from Rover Group in 1994, keeping each vehicle in the market for about six years.
The current Mini hatch model, which has been on the market since 2014, is built on the company’s technological platform called UKL1.The current Mini hatch model, which has been on the market since 2014, is built on the company’s technological platform called UKL1.
“The lifespan of this platform has been extended,” the spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl told Reuters. “For cost reasons and because of Brexit.”“The lifespan of this platform has been extended,” the spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl told Reuters. “For cost reasons and because of Brexit.”
My colleague Jennifer Rankin in Brussels has tweeted images of the European flag being removed – rather unceremoniously – from the UK’s permanent representation to the European Union.My colleague Jennifer Rankin in Brussels has tweeted images of the European flag being removed – rather unceremoniously – from the UK’s permanent representation to the European Union.
She writes:She writes:
The European flag has been removed from the UK’s permanent representation to the European Union.The European flag has been removed from the UK’s permanent representation to the European Union.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has said he made every effort to suppress his emotions throughout the divorce talks and will endeavour to continue to do so, whatever he may be feeling inside.Talking to French journalists in Paris, Barnier said he got up every morning determined “to do my job without emotion. I have always stuck to facts and figures. I am not interested in polemics. I have simply been methodical.”That is not to say that had no feelings, he suggested. “I am passionately patriotic,” he said. “But it is possible to be passionately patriotic and European at the same time, and if we don’t see that, we are going to end up as bit players. So that is my emotion.”Barnier said things “would never be the same as before” between the EU and Britain, because “the British don’t want them to be”. He said the EU would be guided in the future talks by the principle that “we will not compromise to the detriment of the single market”.The EU “respects the UK’s choice”, he said. “But they must decide what they want. They want to diverge from the EU rulebook – the question is, will it be a reasonable divergence, or will it lead to a situation of social dumping, of unfair competition? ... So the more they diverge, the less access to the single market they will have.”Barnier said the risk of a new no-trade-deal cliff edge was real, but “the British have set the timetable. If Boris Johnson chooses not to extend the transition period, it will be he who has imposed a time constraint on the talks.”Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has said he made every effort to suppress his emotions throughout the divorce talks and will endeavour to continue to do so, whatever he may be feeling inside.Talking to French journalists in Paris, Barnier said he got up every morning determined “to do my job without emotion. I have always stuck to facts and figures. I am not interested in polemics. I have simply been methodical.”That is not to say that had no feelings, he suggested. “I am passionately patriotic,” he said. “But it is possible to be passionately patriotic and European at the same time, and if we don’t see that, we are going to end up as bit players. So that is my emotion.”Barnier said things “would never be the same as before” between the EU and Britain, because “the British don’t want them to be”. He said the EU would be guided in the future talks by the principle that “we will not compromise to the detriment of the single market”.The EU “respects the UK’s choice”, he said. “But they must decide what they want. They want to diverge from the EU rulebook – the question is, will it be a reasonable divergence, or will it lead to a situation of social dumping, of unfair competition? ... So the more they diverge, the less access to the single market they will have.”Barnier said the risk of a new no-trade-deal cliff edge was real, but “the British have set the timetable. If Boris Johnson chooses not to extend the transition period, it will be he who has imposed a time constraint on the talks.”
Arch Eurosceptic Steve Baker has urged colleagues to be “magnanimous” in a speech in Westminster.Arch Eurosceptic Steve Baker has urged colleagues to be “magnanimous” in a speech in Westminster.
This article by my colleagues David Pegg, Felicity Lawrence and Rob Evans gives a fascinating insight into Baker.This article by my colleagues David Pegg, Felicity Lawrence and Rob Evans gives a fascinating insight into Baker.
If Nigel Farage starts this early, he might miss his own party.If Nigel Farage starts this early, he might miss his own party.
The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has said Brexit is not an orange or green issue, reports PA Media:The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has said Brexit is not an orange or green issue, reports PA Media:
The Institute for Government has a really useful summary page about what is changing – and staying the same – during the transition period.The Institute for Government has a really useful summary page about what is changing – and staying the same – during the transition period.
For anyone going on holiday this year this is key:For anyone going on holiday this year this is key:
But speaking on BBC News, Georgina Knight from the Institute of Government said we do not yet know if UK citizens travelling to the EU from January 2020 will need a visa. That will have to be decided during the forthcoming negotiations.But speaking on BBC News, Georgina Knight from the Institute of Government said we do not yet know if UK citizens travelling to the EU from January 2020 will need a visa. That will have to be decided during the forthcoming negotiations.