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Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU
(2 days 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 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 - but Theresa May has now formally requested a short delay. The Leave side won by nearly 52% to 48% - 17.4m votes to 16.1m - but the exit didn't happen straight away. It was due to take place on 29 March 2019 - but the EU has now agreed to postpone this date, after a request from Prime Minister Theresa May.
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 agree 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. Dates may change, however, depending what happens as a result of the prime minister asking the EU for Brexit to be delayed, until no later than 30 June. That means that if the withdrawal agreement gets the green light, there will be no huge changes between the date of Brexit 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 future talks.
The deal was agreed by the UK and the EU in November 2018, but it also has to be approved by British MPs.The deal was agreed by the UK and the EU in November 2018, but it also has to be approved by British MPs.
Have MPs voted for the withdrawal agreement?Have MPs voted for the withdrawal agreement?
Well, no. So far they have voted against it twice.Well, no. So far they have voted against it twice.
On 15 January they rejected the deal by 432 votes to 202 - the largest defeat for a sitting government in history.On 15 January they rejected the deal by 432 votes to 202 - the largest defeat for a sitting government in history.
Then on 12 March, after Theresa May had gone back to the EU to secure further legal assurances, they rejected it again.Then on 12 March, after Theresa May had gone back to the EU to secure further legal assurances, they rejected it again.
So what happens now?So what happens now?
Mrs May had been expected to try to get a third vote on the deal this week or next, hoping that enough MPs would change their minds to get it passed. Mrs May wants to get a third vote on her deal, hoping that enough MPs will change their minds to get it passed.
That plan, though, was thrown into doubt when the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said he would not allow a third vote on "substantially the same" motion.That plan, though, was thrown into doubt when the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said he would not allow a third vote on "substantially the same" motion.
The PM has now asked for a postponement to Brexit, but says it is her intention "to bring the deal back to the House". The PM then asked the EU to postpone Brexit, in the hope that it would give the UK more time to pass a deal or find a solution. The other EU countries agreed to delay Brexit past 29 March.
Any delay will have to be agreed by all 27 EU member states. What about the delay?
Mrs May is heading to Brussels on Thursday 21 March to talk through the options with fellow leaders. At a summit in Brussels, both sides agreed to push back the Brexit date - and two new possible dates have been agreed instead.
One is 22 May. If MPs approve Mrs May's deal, this will be the date when the UK leaves with the deal. It gives the UK enough time to ratify the deal (make it official using legislation).
The other date is 12 April. If MPs reject Mrs May's deal for a third time, this is the new day the UK will be due to leave the EU.
And if that happens, the UK will need to tell the EU what it wants to do next by the 12 April. For example, it could ask for another extension or leave without a deal. But if the UK wants a long extension, it faces having to take part in elections for the European Parliament.
Why do people oppose the deal?Why do 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.
What is the backstop?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.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.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.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 the UK to stay closer to the EU - or even still in it. Other MPs would prefer the UK to stay closer to the EU - or even still, in it.
And others say Northern Ireland should not be treated separately from the rest of the UK.And others say Northern Ireland should not be treated separately from the rest of the UK.
On 11 March, Mrs May and the EU released a statement, giving added legal reassurances that the backstop plan, if it ever needs to be used, would only be temporary.On 11 March, Mrs May and the EU released a statement, giving added legal reassurances that the backstop plan, if it ever needs to be used, would only be temporary.
Mrs May hoped the statement would persuade her MPs to vote for her deal, but it was still rejected.Mrs May hoped the statement would persuade her MPs to vote for her deal, but it was still rejected.
So could Brexit actually not happen at all?So could Brexit actually not happen at all?
It is written into law that the UK will be leaving on 29 March at 23:00. It is written into law that the UK will be leaving on 29 March at 23:00. But after the EU agreed to delay Brexit, it's understood that Mrs May now has to formally ask the Commons and Lords to remove that date from Brexit legislation.
The European Court of Justice has said the UK could cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of other nations, but politically, that's not likely to happen.The European Court of Justice has said the UK could cancel Brexit altogether without the agreement of other nations, but politically, that's not likely to happen.
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 the UK leaves, and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately (more on that here).That would mean there would be no transition period after the UK leaves, and EU laws would stop applying to the UK immediately (more on that here).
The government says it is preparing for this potential situation, but there is "little evidence" that businesses are.The government says it is preparing for this potential situation, but there is "little evidence" that businesses are.
It expects some food prices could rise and checks at customs could cost businesses billions of pounds. (read the government's report here) It expects some food prices could rise and checks at customs could cost businesses billions of pounds. (Read the government's report here)
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.
Here is a list of 10 ways you could be affected by a no-deal Brexit.Here is a list of 10 ways you could be affected by a no-deal Brexit.