About Brexit — UK Leaves the EU
Brexit — the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union — was one of the most consequential and divisive political events in British history. The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 11pm GMT, ending 47 years of membership that had begun when Britain joined the European Economic Community on 1 January 1973. The withdrawal followed the 2016 referendum in which 51.9% of voters chose to leave, on a turnout of 72.2%.
The referendum result triggered four years of political upheaval. Three Prime Ministers — David Cameron (who resigned the morning after the result), Theresa May (who resigned after failing to pass her withdrawal agreement three times) and Boris Johnson (who finally passed a revised deal) — were consumed by Brexit. Parliament voted against May's withdrawal agreement three times, a constitutional crisis without modern precedent. The UK Parliament was prorogued by Johnson in an action later ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement governing the post-Brexit relationship was finalised on 24 December 2020, just days before the transition period ended. The UK left the EU single market and customs union, introducing new checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea — a source of ongoing political tension. British citizens lost automatic rights to live, work and study in EU member states. The Northern Ireland Protocol created a customs border in the Irish Sea, the most contentious element of the deal.
The economic impact of Brexit continues to be debated. The UK's trade with the EU declined as a share of total UK trade. London lost its position as the dominant European financial centre for some trading activities. Immigration from EU countries fell sharply while non-EU immigration increased substantially. The full long-term economic, social and political consequences of Britain's departure from its largest trading partner will take decades to fully assess.
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Brexit — UK Leaves the EU was on a Friday, 31 January 2020.