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Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU
(6 days later)
Feeling a little lost on Brexit? Never really got your head around it in the first place? Don't know what the "meaningful vote" was all about? 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 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 (click here if you want to see the full list).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 (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% - 17.4m votes to 16.1m - but the exit didn't happen straight away. It's due to take place on 29 March 2019.The Leave side won by nearly 52% to 48% - 17.4m votes to 16.1m - but the exit didn't happen straight away. It's due to take place on 29 March 2019.
What has happened so far?What has happened so far?
The 2016 vote was just the start. Since then, negotiations have been taking place between the UK and the other EU countries.The 2016 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 - not what will happen afterwards.The discussions have been mainly over the "divorce" deal, which sets out exactly how the UK leaves - not what will happen afterwards.
This deal is known as the withdrawal agreement.This deal is known as the withdrawal agreement.
What does the withdrawal agreement say?What does the withdrawal agreement say?
The withdrawal agreement covers some of these key points:The withdrawal agreement 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 agree 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.
The deal was agreed by the UK and the EU in November 2018, but it also has to be agreed by British MPs - and they have so far voted against it.
How did MPs vote on the deal?How did MPs vote on the deal?
They voted overwhelmingly against it - by 432 votes to 202 (a majority of 230), which was the biggest defeat for a government motion since 1918. They voted overwhelmingly to reject it on 15 January by 432 votes to 202 - a huge defeat.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn promptly tabled a "vote of no confidence", which the government won by 325 to 306 - a margin of 19. Why do people oppose the deal?
Why did people oppose the deal?
There are a broad range of complaints, many of which claim the deal fails to give back to the UK control of its own affairs from the EU.There are a broad range of complaints, many of which claim the deal fails to give back to the UK control of its own affairs from the EU.
One of the biggest sticking points has been over what happens at the Irish border.One of the biggest sticking points has been over what happens at the Irish border.
Both the EU and UK want to avoid the return of guard posts and checks (here's why), so something called the backstop - a sort of safety net - was included in the deal.Both the EU and UK want to avoid the return of guard posts and checks (here's why), so something called the backstop - a sort of safety net - was included in the deal.
However, that 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 backstop?
The backstop is meant to be a last resort and the prime minister insists that if all goes as planned it will never be used. 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.
The prime minister insists that if all goes as planned it will never be used.
But it has annoyed some MPs, who are angry that the UK would not be able to end it without the EU's permission and so EU rules could remain in place for good.But it has annoyed some MPs, who are angry that the UK would not be able to end it without the EU's permission and so EU rules could remain in place for good.
Other MPs would prefer to stay closer to the European Union - or even still in it. Other MPs would prefer to stay closer to the European Union - or even still in it. And others say Northern Ireland should not be treated separately from the rest of the UK.
Q&A: The Irish border Brexit backstop
What happens now Parliament has rejected the deal?What happens now Parliament has rejected the deal?
It's still not very clear. Mrs May was given up to three days to come up with alternative options - a Plan B - to put to MPs.
Now that Mrs May has won the no confidence vote, she has up to three days to come up with alternative options to put to MPs. Mrs May said she would do this on Monday 21 January. On 21 January she went back to the House of Commons and outlined plans she hopes will secure a Brexit deal that could win parliamentary support.
Possibilities include the prime minister being allowed to have a second go at getting her deal accepted by Parliament, a renegotiation or another referendum. There will be a vote on Mrs May's modified deal on 29 January.
Mrs May herself said she would hold meetings with the opposition parties and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to see "what would be required to secure the backing of the House". If nothing changes, the default position will be for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on 29 March.
If nothing changes, the default position will be for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on March 29.
More on what could happen with the confidence vote and the Brexit deal
So will the UK definitely leave on 29 March 2019?So will the UK 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 it is impossible to say with any certainty what will happen next.But it is impossible to say with any certainty what will happen next.
The deadline of 29 March could be extended - and the European Court of Justice has said the UK could even cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of other nations.The deadline of 29 March could be extended - and the European Court of Justice has said the UK could even cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of other nations.
What happens if the UK leaves without a deal?What happens if the UK leaves 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.