Brexit: 30 days to go

 | Updated: Oct 01, 2019, 03:17 PM IST

As the United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union on October 31, let's take a moment to reflect on the setbacks it has faced to achieve this goal.

Can the gaps be closed?

The British government has billed its proposals as a "final offer" but Johnson said on Wednesday it was a "broad landing zone" and signalled a readiness to have intensive discussions.

"Boris Johnson was clear ... there is scope for movement," said Eurasia's Rahman. "But the UK position will have to move very far for there to be an agreement."

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UK a member state since 1973

 

The UK joined the European Union in 1973 when it was known as the European Economic Community.

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17.4 million people voted in favour of Brexit

Public voting to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the Union was held on June 23, 2016. People demanding to leave won by 52 per cent against 48 per cent who were in favour of staying. The referendum turnout was 72 per cent, with more than 30 million people voting - 17.4 million people voted for the British Exit or ‘Brexit’. 
 

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A deal plagued by delays

Brexit, originally scheduled for March 29 of this year, two years after erstwhile Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, has been delayed twice. The deal struck between the United Kingdom and European Union in November 2018 was rejected by British Parliament thrice, prompting May’s resignation on June 7, 2019. 

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Johnson replaces May as PM

Boris Johnson was elected as the new Prime Minister on July 24, 2019, through the Conservative Party leadership elections. This was followed by him selecting loyal Brexiteers for his cabinet and appointing Vote Leave Director Dominic Cummings as his most senior advisor.

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Parliament suspension ruled unlawful by SC

The new PM asked the Queen to suspend the Parliament for five weeks on August 28 in the run-up to October 31. The Supreme Court of the country ruled this decision to be unparliamentary on September 24 saying that the suspension was unlawful and void. 
 

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Heading towards another delay?

The Parliament has designed a law to stop a no-deal Brexit on October 31. If there is no deal by October 19  between the UK and EU, and the Parliament does not vote in favour of leaving with no deal, then the Prime Minister will be legally obliged to ask the EU for a Brexit delay till January 31, 2020. 
 

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Get ready for Brexit

The default position is that UK’s membership with the EU expires on October 31. Even if the Prime Minister requests an extension there is no guarantee that other member countries would agree. Leaving without a deal means the UK would immediately exit the arrangements that are designed for free trade and movement of people. 
 

(Photograph:Reuters)