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Brexit: sadness and celebrations as UK prepares to leave the EU – live news Brexit: sadness and celebrations as UK prepares to leave 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
Interested in how the Guardian reported the start of the UK’s near half a century foray into the EU? Here’s an insightful piece compiled by colleague Richard Nelsson who dusted down old stories in the archive from 1973. The topic of Brexit graces the front page of almost every German newspaper this morning. The Frankfurter Allgemeine says: ‘Finally it’s time’, and suggests the Monty Python song ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ for those who need cheering up.
Meanwhile, here’s a fascinating look at how the paper reported Britain’s entry into the EU compared to the country’s exit: The left-wing daily taz has a flash of health secretary Matt Hancock’s Union Jack socks, next to the red heel of a female colleague, beneath the banner headline: ‘Goodbye and good luck.’
More from Ann Widdecombe’s Brexit party leaving stunt bonanza, as she was joined by fellow MEPs staging a parade in Brussels as they left the European Parliament for the final time, led by a bagpiper. Among the commentaries, Christoph von Marschall in Der Tagesspiegel says it’s time to see Brexit as the chance for a new relationship, suggesting Britain’s departure is maybe just the type of impulse the EU needs to improve itself.
Ben Buckland headed the procession around the Place du Luxembourg, trailed by Widdecombe’s Union Jack decorated taxi. Fellow MEPs June Mummery and Belinda De Lucy, followed on foot. ‘Auf Wiedersehen’, says the front page of the Frankfurter Rundschau, above the Union Jack. It reports that Brexit opponents are already fighting for Britain’s return, and is running Brexit stories across pages 2, 3 and 4 and 13, but concludes: ‘Die Story ist nicht zu Ende’ - the story is not over yet.
It comes after Nigel Farage received a telling-off during his last EU Parliament speech for decorating his desk with miniature Union Jacks. In an interview, Heiko Maas, the foreign minister tells the paper: ‘This is no goodbye’. He says discussions between the British government and the EU to be concluded by the end of the year will be “intensive” and “high pressured”.
The Berliner Zeitung titles its main story ‘The Long Goodbye’, and says the question hanging over everything is “what’s next?”.The tabloid Bild says: ‘It’s Brexit for real today”, but its main commentator, Franz Josef Wagner insists while a political divorce is possible a spiritual divorce is not. He grew up, he explains, on Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood, and Rudyard Kipling. “As a boy I read Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984, when I was older, Shakespeare, accompanied by the music of David Bowie, the Beatles, The Who, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd. And of course there was also James Bond, how could I forget him. And also Harry Potter.” He concludes: “Everything that I feel is so English, so from a psychological point of view, we cannot let England (sic) go.”
Meanwhile across Germany, pro-EU campaigners, ex-pats, and groups of Britain fans are gathering to commemorate the end of an era. At Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate a flash mob is to draw singers from around the capital who are invited to join together at midnight in a rendition of the European anthem ‘Ode to Joy’ by Beethoven. Briton and director of the Embassy Singers choir, Andrew Sims, has said the gathering is an invitation to anyone who will “otherwise be sitting at home, sad and lonely,” he told Der Tagesspiegel.
The Labour leadership contender Keir Starmer has suggested he will continue to argue for freedom of movement after Brexit.
The shadow Brexit secretary, who was making his pitch for Labour’s top job in a speech in Westminster, highlighted the care given to his mother-in-law in the NHS by staff from around the world.
He said EU citizens should be offered “rights, not tolerance” and that “we have to make the argument for freedom of movement”.
Asked whether that meant he would argue as a future PM for free movement to be reintroduced after Brexit, he said: “Yes of course: bring back, argue for, challenge.”
Freedom of movement ends formally as the UK leaves the EU, though the relevant rights will be retained during the transition period, which is due to end on 31 December.
Starmer was speaking at Westminster Cathedral – striding the stage without notes. He said the leave/remain divide had to end when the UK left tonight – including for Labour.
Interested in how the Guardian reported the start of the UK’s near half-century foray into the EU? Here’s an insightful piece compiled by my colleague Richard Nelsson, who dusted down old stories in the archive from 1973.
Meanwhile, here’s a fascinating look at how the paper reported Britain’s entry into the EEC compared with the country’s EU exit:
More from Ann Widdecombe’s Brexit party leaving stunt bonanza, as she was joined by fellow MEPs staging a parade in Brussels as they left the European parliament for the final time, led by a bagpiper.
Ben Buckland headed the procession around the Place du Luxembourg, trailed by Widdecombe’s union jack-decorated taxi. Fellow MEPs June Mummery and Belinda De Lucy, followed on foot.
It comes after Nigel Farage received a telling-off during his last EU parliament speech for decorating his desk with miniature union jacks.
Spot the difference in tone when MEPs broke into song with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne after voting to approve the withdrawal agreement for Britain’s exit from the EU earlier this week.Spot the difference in tone when MEPs broke into song with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne after voting to approve the withdrawal agreement for Britain’s exit from the EU earlier this week.
EU leaders have said that the UK’s future relationship with Brussels will never be as good as membership, as they warned against “splendid isolation”.EU leaders have said that the UK’s future relationship with Brussels will never be as good as membership, as they warned against “splendid isolation”.
With less than 12 hours before the end of Britain’s EU membership, three EU presidents spoke of their ambitions for the future of the club, as they sought to turn the page on three and a half years of Brexit negotiations.With less than 12 hours before the end of Britain’s EU membership, three EU presidents spoke of their ambitions for the future of the club, as they sought to turn the page on three and a half years of Brexit negotiations.
“We know very well that as the sun rises tomorrow a new chapter for our union of 27 will start,” said European commission president Ursula von der Leyen, setting out the EU’s ambitions to confront the climate emergency and the adapt to increasingly rapid digitalisation of the economy. “We know very well that as the sun rises tomorrow a new chapter for our union of 27 will start,” said the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, setting out the EU’s ambitions to confront the climate emergency and adapt to increasingly rapid digitalisation of the economy.
She said the EU had become “a global economic powerhouse” over the last 47 years.She said the EU had become “a global economic powerhouse” over the last 47 years.
“Our experience has taught us that strength does not lie in splendid isolation, but in our unique union. Nowhere else in the world can you find 27 nations of 440m people speaking 24 different languages, relying on each other, working together, living together. This is not by accident or by chance; this is grounded in centuries of shared history, decades of shared experience,” she said. “Our experience has taught us that strength does not lie in splendid isolation, but in our unique union. Nowhere else in the world can you find 27 nations of 440 million people speaking 24 different languages, relying on each other, working together, living together. This is not by accident or by chance; this is grounded in centuries of shared history, decades of shared experience,” she said.
Reiterating the EU’s long-held stance, she added: “We want to have the best possible relationship with the United Kingdom but it will never be as good as membership.”Reiterating the EU’s long-held stance, she added: “We want to have the best possible relationship with the United Kingdom but it will never be as good as membership.”
David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, said no individual European country “will be able to cope on its own”, facing an array of challenges. “Just list all the issues faced by European countries….security, the environment, the economy, finance, migration - which of these problems could an individual country solve on its own? That is what makes Europe so useful.” David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, said no individual European country “will be able to cope on its own”, facing an array of challenges. “Just list all the issues faced by European countries … security, the environment, the economy, finance, migration – which of these problems could an individual country solve on its own? That is what makes Europe so useful.”
Meanwhile, here’s former European Council President Donald Tusk’s verdict: Meanwhile, here’s the former European council president, Donald Tusk’s verdict:
European Council president Charles Michel has labelled today “exceptional” as Britain enters its final hours as a member of the EU. The European council president, Charles Michel, has labelled today “exceptional” as Britain enters its final hours as a member of the EU.
But he highlighted that the UK’s access to EU markets would be more restricted once the country has left. But he highlighted that the UK’s access to EU markets would be more restricted once the country had left.
“Today is an exceptional day for the European Union and today probably we have mixed feelings,” he said. “It’s never a happy moment when someone leaves but we are opening a new chapter.“Today is an exceptional day for the European Union and today probably we have mixed feelings,” he said. “It’s never a happy moment when someone leaves but we are opening a new chapter.
“And we will devote all our energy to building a stronger and more ambitious European Union.”“And we will devote all our energy to building a stronger and more ambitious European Union.”
Addressing a news conference in Brussels he added: “The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have,” he told a news conference in Brussels. Addressing a news conference in Brussels, he added: “The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have.”
The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has said Britain’s departure from the EU today is “bittersweet” and that he is looking forward to a “new alliance, a bespoke relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom”.The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has said Britain’s departure from the EU today is “bittersweet” and that he is looking forward to a “new alliance, a bespoke relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom”.
The taoiseach acknowledged the UK would like to see a trade deal happen before the transition phase finishes in 2020 and said it would be “difficult” – although he was confident it could happen.The taoiseach acknowledged the UK would like to see a trade deal happen before the transition phase finishes in 2020 and said it would be “difficult” – although he was confident it could happen.
He said: “When I met with Michel Barnier on Monday we were united in our belief that we will begin this new phase determined to secure the best outcome for the European Union and our future.He said: “When I met with Michel Barnier on Monday we were united in our belief that we will begin this new phase determined to secure the best outcome for the European Union and our future.
“We’ll say goodbye to an old friend embarking on an adventure, their own tryst of destiny. We do hope it works out for them. But if it does not, there will always be a seat for the United Kingdom at the European table.”“We’ll say goodbye to an old friend embarking on an adventure, their own tryst of destiny. We do hope it works out for them. But if it does not, there will always be a seat for the United Kingdom at the European table.”
Varadkar added: “The next step is to negotiate future relationships, including a free trade agreement, between the EU including Ireland and the United Kingdom that protects jobs, businesses, rural and coastal communities, and our economies generally.Varadkar added: “The next step is to negotiate future relationships, including a free trade agreement, between the EU including Ireland and the United Kingdom that protects jobs, businesses, rural and coastal communities, and our economies generally.
“The UK would like to see a trade deal this year and it’s possible, particularly if the new trade deal is very similar to the current arrangements. It will be difficult though.”“The UK would like to see a trade deal this year and it’s possible, particularly if the new trade deal is very similar to the current arrangements. It will be difficult though.”
But he made clear he was confident a “good” deal could be reached.But he made clear he was confident a “good” deal could be reached.
“We want free trade with the UK with no tariffs, no quotas, as little bureaucracy and as few checks as possible,” he said.“We want free trade with the UK with no tariffs, no quotas, as little bureaucracy and as few checks as possible,” he said.
“I am adamant that our future partnership with the UK must go beyond trade. It needs to cover a broad range of issues, including fisheries, universities, co-operation on research and economics generally.”“I am adamant that our future partnership with the UK must go beyond trade. It needs to cover a broad range of issues, including fisheries, universities, co-operation on research and economics generally.”
Here are the thoughts of some young people who’ve contacted the Guardian to give their take on Britain’s departure from the EU.Here are the thoughts of some young people who’ve contacted the Guardian to give their take on Britain’s departure from the EU.
Sean Van Eynort, a 21-year-old student who lives between Worthing and Montesinho in Portugal, said the whole process had been very sad and that he was trying to obtain a Portuguese passport. He said:Sean Van Eynort, a 21-year-old student who lives between Worthing and Montesinho in Portugal, said the whole process had been very sad and that he was trying to obtain a Portuguese passport. He said:
Eighteen-year-old student Alexander Shirreff, from Newcastle, is mourning today’s loss. He said:Eighteen-year-old student Alexander Shirreff, from Newcastle, is mourning today’s loss. He said:
A 21-year-old Guardian reader from Newcastle, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was trying to be optimistic, adding:A 21-year-old Guardian reader from Newcastle, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was trying to be optimistic, adding:
Nicola Sturgeon has told SNP activists they must remain “focused and resolute”, as a new poll puts yes in the lead – by 51-49 – for the first time since 2015.Nicola Sturgeon has told SNP activists they must remain “focused and resolute”, as a new poll puts yes in the lead – by 51-49 – for the first time since 2015.
She insisted she was being practical, rather than cautious, and that she was not in the business of empty gestures. She said she would not pursue any legal action around holding a second referendum yet - though would not rule it out for the future. She insisted she was being practical, rather than cautious, and that she was not in the business of empty gestures. She said she would not pursue any legal action around holding a second referendum yet – though would not rule it out for the future.
The ‘next steps’ which she set out this morning are all focused on building greater support amongst the voting public for independence. She also threw out a challenge to her activists to concentrate on persuading those who were closer to changing their minds now, rather than letting the Tories turn the independence debate into “an arid and bitter argument about process and procedure”. The “next steps” which she set out this morning are all focused on building greater support among the voting public for independence. She also threw out a challenge to her activists to concentrate on convincing those who were closer to changing their minds now, rather than letting the Tories turn the independence debate into “an arid and bitter argument about process and procedure”.
She said that she would ask the Electoral Commission to test the question for another independence referendum - the next step in the process set down by the Scottish parliament for setting up a new poll - as well as setting up a new constitutional convention to marshal support from civic Scotland, and publishing an updated White Paper with more detail on the case for independence. She said that she would ask the Electoral Commission to test the question for another independence referendum – the next step in the process set down by the Scottish parliament for setting up a new poll – as well as setting up a new constitutional convention to marshal support from civic Scotland, and publishing an updated white paper with more detail on the case for independence.
The future of science and medical research in the UK hangs in the balance because of Brexit.The future of science and medical research in the UK hangs in the balance because of Brexit.
Most research is collaborative and international with significant reliance on the seven-year Horizon2020 programme, which runs out this year. As yet, there is no decision on what happens to UK research beyond this.Most research is collaborative and international with significant reliance on the seven-year Horizon2020 programme, which runs out this year. As yet, there is no decision on what happens to UK research beyond this.
Universities across the UK and the EU have today urged Boris Johnson and bloc’s leaders to make a swift agreement to secure continued research collaboration, student access to institutes across the EU and to the Erasmus programme. They said:Universities across the UK and the EU have today urged Boris Johnson and bloc’s leaders to make a swift agreement to secure continued research collaboration, student access to institutes across the EU and to the Erasmus programme. They said:
Among the signatories are Universities UK, European University Association (EUA), Flemish Inter university Council GuildHE, the Irish University Association, League of European Research Universities (LERU), The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), Swiss universities, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), Universities Finland (UNIFI), Universities Austria, Universities Denmark, Universities Estonia, Universities Lithuania, Universities Norway, University of Luxembourg and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).Among the signatories are Universities UK, European University Association (EUA), Flemish Inter university Council GuildHE, the Irish University Association, League of European Research Universities (LERU), The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), Swiss universities, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), Universities Finland (UNIFI), Universities Austria, Universities Denmark, Universities Estonia, Universities Lithuania, Universities Norway, University of Luxembourg and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).
The sadness of leaving the EU will be “tinged with anger” in Scotland, says first minister Nicola Sturgeon.The sadness of leaving the EU will be “tinged with anger” in Scotland, says first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Speaking in Edinburgh where she is outlining the “next steps for Scotland’s future”, Sturgeon said: “But that’s not what I want to do today. Instead I want to focus on something much, much more important: Hope.Speaking in Edinburgh where she is outlining the “next steps for Scotland’s future”, Sturgeon said: “But that’s not what I want to do today. Instead I want to focus on something much, much more important: Hope.
“Hope for a better future. A future in which our path as a country is determined by the people who live here.”“Hope for a better future. A future in which our path as a country is determined by the people who live here.”
My colleague, Libby Brooks, is following the action:My colleague, Libby Brooks, is following the action: