BREXTRA TIME

Brexit timeline – from the referendum to the new deadline date

BREXIT is finally upon us after a three-year slog through multiple fruitless votes in Parliament and several changes of leadership.

Here’s the latest on the key dates before the clock ticked down to the final January 31 Brexit deadline.

Read our Brexit day live blog for all the latest news and updates

Reuters
Boris Johnson has insisted that Brexit will happen on January 31

What is the Brexit deadline date?

The UK is set to quit the EU at 11pm GMT tonight, January 31, 2020 – you can follow the Brexit timeline here.

This comes after Brexit day was delayed three times.

The United Kingdom and the EU have negotiated a transition period which could be extended until December 2022, should both sides agree. 

The plan to leave the EU on October 31 floundered when Boris Johnson’s three-day timetable to push the Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament was rejected by MPs.

The UK has now been granted a delay until the end of January after the EU accepted Britain’s request for a “flextension”.

When was the EU referendum?

Britain voted to leave the EU in a referendum held on June 23, 2016.

However, the result of the vote only became legally binding through a piece of legislation called Article 50.

The bill was signed by then PM Theresa May and delivered to the European Council President on March 29, 2017.

This triggered a two-year exit process, with Britain set to leave the EU by March 29, 2019.

May had a deal agreed with Europe – but MPs rejected May’s “meaningful vote” three times, leading to May requesting an extension and eventually resigning.

Fujifilm
A ‘leave’ campaigner pictured in his own full pro-Brexit garb

BREXIT TIMELINE

More than three years on, and Article 50 has been sealed, meaning that Brexit is happening whether you like it or not.

Here’s how we get to where we are – amendments, bills and all.

2020

January

  • Jan 31 – Brexit day
  • Jan 29 – European Parliament ratifies the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by 621 votes to 49. MEP’s mark the occasion by holding hands and singing Auld Lang Syne. The EP’s Brexit spokesman, Guy Verhofstadt, said it was “sad to see a country leaving that has twice given its blood to liberate Europe”.

2019

December

  • Dec 20Boris Johnson’s deal goes before parliament
  • Dec 12 – Snap general election, Boris wins landslide

October

  • Oct 31 – The promised Brexit deadline day
  • Oct 29 – MPs vote to hold to a general election on December 12
  • Oct 28 – Donald Tusk announces that the EU has granted another “flextension” until January 31, 2020
  • Oct 21-24 – The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg for the last time, marking the departure of UK MEPs
  • Oct 22 – Boris Johnson had a second chance to hold a vote on his deal. MPs backed the deal but wrecked it minutes later by rejecting his three-day timetable to push it through Parliament
  • Oct 21 – The Speaker John Bercow blocked Mr Johnson’s bid to hold a Brexit vote on his Withdrawal Agreement Bill
  • Oct 19 – On Super Saturday MPs backed Sir Oliver Letwin‘s amendment, meaning Mr Johnson had to write to the EU to request a three-month extension
  • Oct 17-18 – Negotiators from the UK and the EU agree a Brexit deal. EU leaders meet with Boris Johnson to address departure terms at a two-day summit.
  • Oct 4 – It emerged Johnson would sent a letter to the EU asking for a Brexit delay if no deal is agreed by Oct 19
  • Oct 2 – Boris Johnson sets out new five-point plan to leave the EU, which would create a second border between Ireland and NI

September

August

July

June

May

March

  • March 29 – On the date the UK was expected to leave the EU, the PM loses Meaningful Vote 3
  • March 21 – EU27 leaders agree to delay Brexit
  • March 14 – MPs approve motion to seek permission from the EU to extend Article 50
  • March 13 – MPs vote to to rule out a No Deal Brexit

February

  • Feb 26 – PM promises MPs a vote on ruling out a No Deal Brexit or delaying Brexit if she loses the second ‘meaningful vote’ next month

January

PA:Press Association
Brexit negotiations stretch back years

2018

Getty Images - Getty
The 2016 decision sparked years of political turmoil

2017

  • Nov 13 – The Gov announces new Bill to enshrine Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU in domestic law
  • Sept 23– PM delivers key Brexit speech in Florence
  • June 8 – General Election results in a hung Parliament, Tories win most seats
  • April 17PM calls for a General Election for June 8, 2017
  • March 29 – Article 50 is signed, setting a two-year exit from the EU in motion

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2016

  • July 13Theresa May becomes the new PM
  • June 24David Cameron PM resigns
  • June 23 – Britain votes to leave the EU (51.9 per cent of the vote versus 48.1 per cent voting to remain). The question asked was: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”
Boris Johnson could force Brexit through by end of year if he wins election majority

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