BREXIT News Briefing
Britain left the EU on 31st of January 2021 – But here is a look at all that happened in the run up to the Brexit Vote.
Now, we look at back it as history!
A daily rundown of the key developments as Britain started its journey to leave Europe. Out alone on the long road to leaving the European Union. None of the drama – all of the facts. WTX News Brexit Briefing brings you all the best articles from around the world. You get the UK perspective and the latest on the what the Europeans and Americans think.
We have it all in one place; We call it perspective!
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All the latest news updated 24 hours a day as it breaks.
What is the EU?
The EU is a political and economic union of 28 countries which trade with each other and allow citizens to move easily between the countries to live and work
When did the UK Join?
The UK joined the EU, then known as the EEC (European Economic Community), in 1973.
The Withdrawal Agreement
How much money the UK will have to pay the EU
what will happen to EU citizens living in the UK
How to avoid the return of a physical border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
What will happen to UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU
Once the withdrawal agreement gets the nod, the transition period will mean no huge changes between the date of Brexit and 31 December 2020.
What is the backstop?
The backstop is meant to be a last resort to keep an open border on the island of Ireland – whatever happens in the Brexit negotiations.
It would mean that Northern Ireland, but not the rest of the UK, would still follow some EU rules on things such as food products.
What is the ‘No Deal’ Scenario
“No deal” means the UK would have failed to agree a withdrawal agreement.
That would mean there would be no transition period after the UK leaves, and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately
So what happens next?
Keep following the Brexit Briefing and will we will tell you.
Friday 12th April
Bexit vote done - The UK will leave the EU on the 31st of Jan 2021
Boris Johnson is the British Prime Minister who will take the UK out of The EU
Chancellor Philip Hammond has said it is time to take Brexit off the table.
Suggesting Time for a second referendum.
The summit deal in Brussels in the early hours of Thursday meant Britain will not crash out on Friday without a treaty to smooth its passage.
Nigel Farage has launched his new party to take on the government – ‘The Brexit Party’ was launched today in Coventry
UKIP have dismissed this as a vehicle to get Farage re-elected.
Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council explained that the “course of action will be entirely in the UK’s hands”.
Tusk on Brexit extension: ‘Please do not waste this time’
Ipso found that Boris Johnson was wrong to claim there was polling evidence that a no-deal Brexit was the public’s preferred option, the press regulator has ruled.
A fact that he had made up to rally support for a no deal brexit, in his column for the Telegraph.
Ipso ordered the Daily Telegraph to print a correction.
The claim was made in a piece headlined “The British people won’t be scared into backing a woeful Brexit deal nobody voted for” in January.
#BrexitHysteria
Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th April
The summit deal in Brussels in the early hours of Thursday meant Britain will not crash out on Friday without a treaty to smooth its passage.
The European Council reiterates there can be no reopening of the withdrawal agreement negotiations
But it offers little clarity on when, how or even if Brexit will happen, as May struggles to build support in parliament for withdrawal terms agreed with the EU last year
The new deadline of 31 October means the UK will have to hold European Parliament elections in May if parliament accepts the new Brexit proposal
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the latest delay a “diplomatic failure”
The prime minister promised to pursue an “orderly” Brexit, adding that the “whole country” was “frustrated”
The EU has offered Theresa May an extension until 31st October with a review in June
Under EU rules, the UK will have to hold European Parliament elections in May, or face leaving on 1 June without a deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisting that Britain would not be forced out and that a chaotic no-deal departure must be avoided if at all possible, there was never any real doubt that May would get an extension
Breaking News
As midnight approaches, The EU members are locked in intense talks and reports are coming out that they are offering a delay until 31 October, with a review in June
French leader Macron is opposing this and wants the EU to take a tougher stance with the UK
A #Brexit extension until 31 October is sensible since it gives time to UK to finally choose its way. The review in June will allow #EUCO to take stock of the situation -JM
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) April 10, 2019
EU leaders are discussing Theresa May’s request for a Brexit delay
She addressed a summit in Brussels before the 27 EU leaders began to discuss her request
There are reports that the EU will offer the UK a delay until 31 October with a review in June
The PM said she had “been clear” she was only seeking a short extension
France and other nations reportedly disagreed over the length of any delay
FRIday 5th April
The latest on Brexit …..
Discussions between Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday
The British government said Monday it had taken the necessary steps required by law to participate in European parliament elections on May 23 but said it did not intend to hold them as Britain should have left the EU by then
Britain is due to leave the EU on Friday, April 12, but Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the EU for a further delay
As things stand, the UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 12 April.
The prime minister said a further extension to Article 50 was needed in order to leave the EU “in a timely and orderly way”
The UK cannot make a decision about extending Article 50 on its own – it needs the agreement of all 27 other EU countries (EU27).
Wednesday 3rd April
Another busy day of voting in the commons as MPs vote on the way forward with Brexit
MPs have voted by a majority of one to force the prime minister to ask for an extension to the Brexit process, in a bid to avoid a no-deal scenario.
Discussions between Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday
A No 10 spokesman said on Wednesday that both parties showed “flexibility” and “a commitment to bring the… uncertainty to a close”.
Mr Corbyn said the meeting was “useful, but inconclusive”, adding there had not been “as much change as [he] had expected” in the PM’s position.
The prime minister wants to agree a policy with the Labour leader for MPs to vote on before 10 April – when the EU will hold an emergency summit on Brexit.
The Prime Minister still believes that her Brexit deal has merit and has refused to scarp it. In fact she is adamant that it will make part of any negotiations with the Labour party.
Tuesday 2nd April
Theresa May will seek an extension to to the Brexit deadline beyond April 12th but aiming to be before the EU elections at the end of May.
The EU President Donald Tusk tweeted his frustration saying,
“Even if, after today, we don’t know what the end result will be, let us be patient”
The Prime Minister still believes that her Brexit deal has merit and has refused to scarp it. In fact she is adamant that it will make part of any negotiations with the Labour party.
After a marathon cabinet meeting which lasted longer than 8 hours, we have a Brexit stalemate.
The Prime Minister has however reached out to Jeremy Corbyn as a last resort, to find some common ground that the parties can push through parliament.
Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to honour the Prime Ministers invitation and try to find common ground to make Brexit happen.
Brexiteer ministers who have said they would quit if the PM pursued a customs union were yet to resign last night with the final Brexit outcome still unclear.
……………………………………
Today, the cabinet will be meeting again to decide how to proceed.
The EU’s chief negotiator has said a no-deal Brexit is now more likely but can still be avoided.
A cross-party group of MPs has put forward a bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit in law.
Michel Barnier said a long extension to the UK’s 12 April exit date had “significant risks for the EU” and a “strong justification would be needed”.
Theresa May’s cabinet has considered plans to “ramp up” no-deal Brexit preparations. A snap general election was also discussed.
MOnday 1st April
On Tuesday, the cabinet will be meeting again to decide how to proceed.
Conservative MP Nick Boles made a dramatic announcement – saying he was leaving the party because of frustration about its inability to compromise.
His motion, dubbed Common Market 2.0, gained the support of Labour and the SNP, but was still defeated by 21 votes.
Parliament remains divided on how to break the Brexit impasse, despite two rounds of voting on alternatives to the PM’s deal
MPs reject all four Brexit options
Voting Starts
At 20:00 Mp’s to vote on four options by indicative voting – the four options are:
- Customs union
- Common Market 2.0
- Confirmatory public vote
- Parliamentary supremacy
MP’s also voted on Brexit options last week, but no proposal was able to get a majority
MP’s will stage the next round of so-called indicative votes on alternative plans for Brexit by once again seizing control of parliamentary time from the government.
Four options were chosen by the Speaker to be voted on, and results will be announced later.
In a letter to MPs, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked them to support the motion, as well as one for a customs union, to “break the deadlock and find the consensus necessary to force a change to the red lines of the prime minister’s rejected deal”.
Weekend 30th & 31st March 2019
Four options will be chosen by the Speaker to be voted on Monday.
The PM is still considering a fourth attempt on her bill
Labour MPs were urged to back a plan to keep the UK in a Norway-style relationship with the EU.
Under the Common Market 2.0 proposal, the UK would leave the EU, but retain freedom of movement and make contributions to the EU budget.
In a letter to MPs, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked them to support the motion, as well as one for a customs union, to “break the deadlock and find the consensus necessary to force a change to the red lines of the prime minister’s rejected deal”.
The party have also been asked to support a motion calling for a confirmatory referendum on any deal agreed by Parliament – although some rebels may vote against it.
Friday 29th March 2019
MPs vote by 286 to 344 to reject the government’s withdrawal agreement – on the day the UK was due to leave the EU
MPs have rejected Theresa May’s EU withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.
It means the UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal.
The Commons has been debating a motion on the withdrawal agreement, covering terms of the UK’s exit
German chancellor Angela Merkel is to visit Dublin next Thursday amid high expectation that Theresa May will fail to win parliamentary support for the UK-EU Brexit deal
Theresa May confirms that she is “prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended” to “secure the right outcome for our country”.
Theresa May confirms that she is “prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended” to “secure the right outcome for our country”.
Thursday 28th March 2019
PM Theresa May has managed to gain some more support for her Brexit proposal, but we aren’t any clearer as to what will happen.
Her pledge has brought some MP’s on-side, such as ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson.
Boris Johnson has demonstrated that his loyalty is to the top job, not the deal itself. His support for the PM’s proposal is solely resting on the fact that she will resign, allowing him to mount a challenge for the leadership of the conservative party.
But challenges remain for the PM after Northern Ireland’s DUP, who she relies on for support, said it would not back the deal because of the Irish backstop.
Meanwhile, none of eight alternative Brexit proposals brought by MPs secured backing in a series of Commons votes.
The Prime Minister has been persistent in trying to push her deal through. She is convinced it is the best option we have.
Speaker of the House John Bercow warned the Prime Minister that she must present a significantly different version of her previous bill – in order to be put to the vote.
MP’s vote by 286 to 344 to reject the government’s withdrawal agreement – on the day the UK was due to leave the EU
The Commons has been debating a motion on the withdrawal agreement, covering terms of the UK’s exit
The political declaration, which sets out the future relationship, is not being voted on as part of the same deal. Instead MP’s will vote on part of the deal, with the rest to be negotiated later.
Get a daily rundown of the key developments as Britain starts out on the long road to leaving the European Union. Non of the drama – all of the facts. WTX News Brexit Briefing brings you all the best articles from the world. You get the UK perspective and the latest on the what the Europeans and Americans think. We have it all in place, giving you perspective.