BREXIT TIMELINE
June 23, 2016
UK votes to leave EU The United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union in a referendum, with 51.9 per cent in favour and 48.1 per cent against. David Cameron, the prime minister who called the referendum and backed the Remain side, resigns. He is replaced by Theresa May, who takes office on July 13.
April 18, 2017
May calls an election Mrs May announces she wants to hold a snap election on June 8, claiming “it is the only way to guarantee certainty for the years ahead”. One month before, the prime minister triggered Article 50 with parliamentary consent, thereby setting the date the UK leaves the EU as March 29, 2019. Her election gamble fails and the ruling Conservative Party loses its parliamentary majority. Mrs May strikes a confidence and supply deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, meaning the Northern Irish party will support the government in passing legislation through Parliament.
December 4, 2017
Northern Ireland emerges as the sticking point in the negotiations Weakened by the election result, Mrs May negotiates with Brussels to reach the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU says the deal must settle the UK’s financial obligations, ensure EU citizens’ rights are protected and maintain an open border on the island of Ireland. Mrs May says the UK must leave the EU customs union and the single market. The sides were about to agree a deal that Northern Ireland would effectively remain in the EU customs union and single market, while the rest of the UK would leave. But Mrs May is forced to leave a meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker to meet the DUP, which says it cannot support such an arrangement.
March 29, 2019
May’s deal rejected for the third time Mrs May’s deal is rejected by MPs in three “meaningful” votes. At issue is the “backstop” element of the agreement, an insurance policy for keeping an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is opposed by the DUP and Conservative Brexiteers. The UK is granted two extensions to Article 50, the second of which delays the deadline for leaving to October 31.
July 24, 2019
Boris Johnson becomes prime minister After the Conservatives’ dismal performance in European
Parliament elections, Mrs May steps down, triggering a leadership contest. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson wins, promising to take the UK out of the EU with or without a deal by October 31. Fearful of crashing out without a deal, MPs pass a bill to prevent such an outcome. The bill, which becomes known as the Benn Act, forces the government to seek an extension of Article 50 if a deal has not been agreed by Parliament by October 19. Mr Johnson ousts 21 MPs from the Conservatives for supporting it.
October 17, 2019
Johnson agrees to new Brexit deal with EU Brussels agrees to a new withdrawal agreement with the UK leader as European leaders convene an EU summit. Within an hour of the announcement, the DUP says it cannot support the deal. Ruling with a majority of minus-45 MPs, Mr Johnson will need the support of opposition legislators if the deal is to be passed by Parliament.