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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Brexit: Farewell events as UK counts down to 23:00 GMT | Brexit: Farewell events as UK counts down to 23:00 GMT |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Britain is preparing to leave the European Union at 23:00 GMT with a mixture of celebration and regret. | Britain is preparing to leave the European Union at 23:00 GMT with a mixture of celebration and regret. |
| Pro and anti-Brexit protesters have been making their voices heard at events across the country. | Pro and anti-Brexit protesters have been making their voices heard at events across the country. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who led the 2016 Leave campaign - is calling for the nation to come together in a video message at 22:00 GMT. | |
| He will hail a "new dawn" for the UK, as European leaders warn of a tough battle ahead in trade talks. | He will hail a "new dawn" for the UK, as European leaders warn of a tough battle ahead in trade talks. |
| Anti-Brexit campaigners earlier staged a march past Downing Street, to "bid a fond farewell" to the union. | Anti-Brexit campaigners earlier staged a march past Downing Street, to "bid a fond farewell" to the union. |
| Hundreds of pro-Brexit campaigners are holding a celebration rally in nearby Parliament Square, which is lined with Union flags. | Hundreds of pro-Brexit campaigners are holding a celebration rally in nearby Parliament Square, which is lined with Union flags. |
| A music system was set up on the back of a lorry, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the road, while others gathered around the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. | A music system was set up on the back of a lorry, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the road, while others gathered around the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. |
| The event will see speeches by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who successfully campaigned for the 2016 referendum, among others. | The event will see speeches by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who successfully campaigned for the 2016 referendum, among others. |
| A clock counting down to the moment the UK leaves the EU will be projected on to Downing Street. | A clock counting down to the moment the UK leaves the EU will be projected on to Downing Street. |
| But Big Ben will not chime at 23:00 GMT due to ongoing renovation works, despite a campaign by Brexiteers for the famous "bongs" to be sounded. | But Big Ben will not chime at 23:00 GMT due to ongoing renovation works, despite a campaign by Brexiteers for the famous "bongs" to be sounded. |
| In Scotland, which voted to remain in the UK, rallies and candlelit vigils are taking place, with protesters outside the Scottish Parliament, in Edinburgh, chanting: "We don't want your Brexit". | In Scotland, which voted to remain in the UK, rallies and candlelit vigils are taking place, with protesters outside the Scottish Parliament, in Edinburgh, chanting: "We don't want your Brexit". |
| In a video message to be released on social media, an hour before Britain's official departure, Boris Johnson says: "For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come. | |
| "And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss. | |
| "And then of course there is a third group - perhaps the biggest - who had started to worry that the whole political wrangle would never come to an end. | |
| "I understand all those feelings and our job as the government - my job - is to bring this country together now and take us forward." | |
| He says that "for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country". | |
| And his government had "obeyed the people" and "taken back the tools of self-government". | |
| "The most important thing to say tonight is that this is not an end but a beginning. | |
| "This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act. It is a moment of real national renewal and change." | |
| UK citizens will notice few immediate changes as the country officially leaves the EU, after 47 years of membership. | UK citizens will notice few immediate changes as the country officially leaves the EU, after 47 years of membership. |
| Most EU laws will continue to be in force - including the free movement of people - until 31 December, when the transition period comes to an end. | Most EU laws will continue to be in force - including the free movement of people - until 31 December, when the transition period comes to an end. |
| The UK is aiming to sign a permanent free trade agreement with the EU - along the lines of the one the EU has with Canada - by that deadline. | The UK is aiming to sign a permanent free trade agreement with the EU - along the lines of the one the EU has with Canada - by that deadline. |
| Mr Johnson earlier held a Cabinet meeting in Sunderland, in north-east England - the city that was the first to back Brexit when results were announced after the referendum. | Mr Johnson earlier held a Cabinet meeting in Sunderland, in north-east England - the city that was the first to back Brexit when results were announced after the referendum. |
| In Brussels, the British flag has been removed from its pole outside the European Parliament and replaced with the flag of the European Union. | In Brussels, the British flag has been removed from its pole outside the European Parliament and replaced with the flag of the European Union. |
| Britain voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but wrangling over how to implement the result, or whether there should be another referendum, brought Parliament to a standstill. | Britain voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but wrangling over how to implement the result, or whether there should be another referendum, brought Parliament to a standstill. |
| Mr Johnson managed to secure an early general election in December last year, which he won with an 80 seat majority, on a promise to "get Brexit done". | Mr Johnson managed to secure an early general election in December last year, which he won with an 80 seat majority, on a promise to "get Brexit done". |
| But opinion polls suggest the UK public remains deeply divided over the issue. | But opinion polls suggest the UK public remains deeply divided over the issue. |
| Emmanuel Macron has delivered his own address to the nation in France, describing Brexit as an "alarm signal" which should be heard across the EU. | Emmanuel Macron has delivered his own address to the nation in France, describing Brexit as an "alarm signal" which should be heard across the EU. |
| The French president said: "At midnight, for the first time in 70 years, a country will leave the European Union. | The French president said: "At midnight, for the first time in 70 years, a country will leave the European Union. |
| "It is a historic alarm signal that must be heard in each of our countries." | "It is a historic alarm signal that must be heard in each of our countries." |
| European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to UK citizens who had "contributed to the European Union and made it stronger". | European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to UK citizens who had "contributed to the European Union and made it stronger". |
| Upcoming trade negotiations would be "fair" but each side would fight for its interests, she added. | Upcoming trade negotiations would be "fair" but each side would fight for its interests, she added. |
| But European Council President Charles Michel warned: "The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have." | But European Council President Charles Michel warned: "The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have." |
| Washington's ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, said Brexit had been "long supported" by President Donald Trump. | Washington's ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, said Brexit had been "long supported" by President Donald Trump. |
| America's "special relationship" with the UK "will endure, flourish and grow even stronger in this exciting new era which Britain is now beginning," said Mr Johnson in a statement. | America's "special relationship" with the UK "will endure, flourish and grow even stronger in this exciting new era which Britain is now beginning," said Mr Johnson in a statement. |
| He acknowledged there will be occasional "disagreements", but added: "Now that the UK is back in control of its own trade policy, we look forward to achieving a broad free trade agreement that will increase prosperity and create jobs in both our countries." | He acknowledged there will be occasional "disagreements", but added: "Now that the UK is back in control of its own trade policy, we look forward to achieving a broad free trade agreement that will increase prosperity and create jobs in both our countries." |
| Anti-Brexit campaigners have, meanwhile, demanded Northern Ireland - where a majority voted to remain in the EU - continues to have a voice in the EU after the UK leaves. at a series of protests at the border. | Anti-Brexit campaigners have, meanwhile, demanded Northern Ireland - where a majority voted to remain in the EU - continues to have a voice in the EU after the UK leaves. at a series of protests at the border. |
| In a speech in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was being "taken out of the European Union against the wishes of the overwhelming majority" of its people. | In a speech in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was being "taken out of the European Union against the wishes of the overwhelming majority" of its people. |
| Speaking in Cardiff, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said Wales, which voted to leave the EU, remained a "European nation". | Speaking in Cardiff, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said Wales, which voted to leave the EU, remained a "European nation". |
| Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey vowed his pro-EU party would "never stop fighting" to have the "closest possible relationship" with Europe and try to prevent a "hard Brexit hurting British people". | Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey vowed his pro-EU party would "never stop fighting" to have the "closest possible relationship" with Europe and try to prevent a "hard Brexit hurting British people". |
| Are you taking part in any farewell events? Share your pictures and video by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you taking part in any farewell events? Share your pictures and video by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |