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Version 11 Version 12
Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU
(about 1 hour later)
Feeling a little lost on Brexit? Never really got your head around it in the first place? Let us walk you through it.Feeling a little lost on Brexit? Never really got your head around it in the first place? Let us walk you through it.
What is Brexit?What is Brexit?
Brexit is short for "British exit" - and is the word people use to talk about the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU (European Union).Brexit is short for "British exit" - and is the word people use to talk about the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU (European Union).
What is the EU?What is the EU?
The EU is a group of 28 countries which trade with each other and allow anyone to move easily between the countries to live and work (click here if you want to see the full list).The EU is a group of 28 countries which trade with each other and allow anyone to move easily between the countries to live and work (click here if you want to see the full list).
The UK joined the EU, then known as the EEC (European Economic Community), in 1973.The UK joined the EU, then known as the EEC (European Economic Community), in 1973.
Why is the UK leaving?Why is the UK leaving?
A public vote - called a referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016 when voters were asked just one question - whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union.A public vote - called a referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016 when voters were asked just one question - whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union.
The Leave side won (by nearly 52% to 48%) but the exit didn't happen straight away - it's going to happen on 29 March 2019.The Leave side won (by nearly 52% to 48%) but the exit didn't happen straight away - it's going to happen on 29 March 2019.
What has happened so far?What has happened so far?
The vote was just the start. Since then, negotiations have been taking place between the UK and the other EU countries.The vote was just the start. Since then, negotiations have been taking place between the UK and the other EU countries.
The discussions have been mainly over the "divorce" deal, which sets out exactly how the UK leaves the EU - not what will happen after it leaves.The discussions have been mainly over the "divorce" deal, which sets out exactly how the UK leaves the EU - not what will happen after it leaves.
This deal is known as the withdrawal agreement.This deal is known as the withdrawal agreement.
What has been agreed?What has been agreed?
The UK and the EU have come up with this withdrawal agreement about how the UK leaves the EU.The UK and the EU have come up with this withdrawal agreement about how the UK leaves the EU.
It covers some of these key points:It covers some of these key points:
A length of time, called the transition period, has been agreed to allow the UK and EU to make a trade deal and to give businesses the time to adjust.A length of time, called the transition period, has been agreed to allow the UK and EU to make a trade deal and to give businesses the time to adjust.
That means that if the withdrawal agreement gets the green light, there will be no huge changes between 29 March 2019 and 31 December 2020.That means that if the withdrawal agreement gets the green light, there will be no huge changes between 29 March 2019 and 31 December 2020.
Another, much shorter, document has also been drawn up that gives an overview of what the UK and EU's future relationship will be in the longer term.Another, much shorter, document has also been drawn up that gives an overview of what the UK and EU's future relationship will be in the longer term.
This is the political declaration. However, neither side has to stick exactly to what it says - it is a set of ambitions for the future talks.This is the political declaration. However, neither side has to stick exactly to what it says - it is a set of ambitions for the future talks.
What happens next?What happens next?
Now that leaders of the other 27 EU countries have signed off the withdrawal agreement and political declaration, UK Prime Minister Theresa May needs to persuade MPs in her own Parliament to back it.Now that leaders of the other 27 EU countries have signed off the withdrawal agreement and political declaration, UK Prime Minister Theresa May needs to persuade MPs in her own Parliament to back it.
A vote was due to take place on 11 December.
The deal also needs to be approved by the European Parliament - one of the organisations which helps make EU laws.The deal also needs to be approved by the European Parliament - one of the organisations which helps make EU laws.
Its 751 members (known as MEPs) come from the EU and are elected in their own countries.Its 751 members (known as MEPs) come from the EU and are elected in their own countries.
The European Parliament will vote on the deal early next year and the members are expected to follow their leaders by backing the deal.The European Parliament will vote on the deal early next year and the members are expected to follow their leaders by backing the deal.
Will the deal get through the UK Parliament?Will the deal get through the UK Parliament?
Well, at the moment it looks like it... might not.Well, at the moment it looks like it... might not.
Mrs May doesn't have enough support from her own Conservative MPs or MPs from other parties. Mrs May postponed a vote scheduled for 11 December, admitting the deal would have been rejected "by a significant margin".
She didn't have enough support from her own Conservative MPs or MPs from other parties.
There are a broad range of complaints, many of which are about the deal failing to give the UK control back from the EU.There are a broad range of complaints, many of which are about the deal failing to give the UK control back from the EU.
Notably, the PM accepted there was "widespread and deep concern" over the Northern Ireland "backstop".
More on what's likely to happen when MPs finally have their say
What's the problem?
Both the EU and UK want to avoid the return of guard posts and checks on the Irish border (here's why).
The backstop was written into the Brexit agreement as a sort of safety net to stop that happening whatever happens to UK and EU relations in the future.
However, 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.
This has angered some MPs, in particular those from the Democratic Unionist Party, which has propped up Mrs May's government since last year. The backstop was meant to be a last resort - the prime minister insists that if all goes as planned it will never be used.
But, crucially, MPs are concerned the UK would not be able to end the backstop without the EU's permission and fear that EU rules could remain in place for good.
Q&A: The Irish border Brexit backstop
What happens if Parliament rejects the deal?What happens if Parliament rejects the deal?
It's not very clear.It's not very clear.
The default position in this case would be for the UK to leave without a deal.The default position in this case would be for the UK to leave without a deal.
But the government would have up to 21 days to suggest a way forward to Parliament.But the government would have up to 21 days to suggest a way forward to Parliament.
MPs would have the power to make changes to the new plans.MPs would have the power to make changes to the new plans.
This could mean MPs avert a no-deal Brexit or an unpopular plan B from the government.This could mean MPs avert a no-deal Brexit or an unpopular plan B from the government.
It could also allow them to express support for an alternative approach to Brexit.It could also allow them to express support for an alternative approach to Brexit.
Anything MPs vote for would still have to be put into law by the government.Anything MPs vote for would still have to be put into law by the government.
So we definitely leave on 29 March 2019?So we definitely leave on 29 March 2019?
It is written into law that the UK will be leaving on that date at 11pm UK time.It is written into law that the UK will be leaving on that date at 11pm UK time.
But if there is no deal, or Parliament rejects the deal, it is impossible to say with any certainty what will happen next.But if there is no deal, or Parliament rejects the deal, it is impossible to say with any certainty what will happen next.
The deadline of 29 March 2019 could be extended but the EU says all 28 EU members would have to agree for that to happen.The deadline of 29 March 2019 could be extended but the EU says all 28 EU members would have to agree for that to happen.
However, the European Court of Justice has said the UK could cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of others.However, the European Court of Justice has said the UK could cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of others.
Other possibilities (explained here in more detail) include the prime minister being allowed to have a second go at getting her deal accepted by Parliament.Other possibilities (explained here in more detail) include the prime minister being allowed to have a second go at getting her deal accepted by Parliament.
Or one other suggestion is a fresh referendum, possibly asking voters whether they approve of the deal, rather than re-running the original vote.Or one other suggestion is a fresh referendum, possibly asking voters whether they approve of the deal, rather than re-running the original vote.
What happens if we leave without a deal?What happens if we leave without a deal?
"No deal" means the UK would have failed to agree a withdrawal agreement."No deal" means the UK would have failed to agree a withdrawal agreement.
That would mean there would be no transition period after 29 March 2019, and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately (more on that here).That would mean there would be no transition period after 29 March 2019, and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately (more on that here).
The government has started planning for this potential situation.The government has started planning for this potential situation.
It has published a series of guides - which cover everything from pet passports to the impact on electricity supplies.It has published a series of guides - which cover everything from pet passports to the impact on electricity supplies.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says it will be a "national disaster" if the UK leaves without a deal.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says it will be a "national disaster" if the UK leaves without a deal.
But other MPs have played down the warnings of chaos and want a "clean break" from the EU.But other MPs have played down the warnings of chaos and want a "clean break" from the EU.
Anything else I should know?
Northern Ireland has featured heavily in discussions about Brexit.
Both the UK and the EU want to avoid a physical border - with guard posts and checks - between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (here's why).
But trying to find a way to avoid this if the UK leaves the EU without agreeing a trade deal has proved problematic.
So they've agreed to put in place a backstop - that's a sort of safety net to make sure a hard border never happens.
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.
The Northern Ireland "backstop" is meant to be a last resort - the prime minister insists that if all goes as planned it will never be used.