UK will have to ‘rejoin’ EU after exit day

BRITAIN would have to effectively “rejoin” the European Union after Brexit day in March under the terms of Theresa May’s deal, according to official papers.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Act formally repeals the European Communities Act 1972, on March 29 2019 – Britain’s exit day.

However, experts at the House of Commons library say that in order for the UK to continue to be in a transition period until finally leaving at the end of 2020, the EC Act will still apply.

They say the Withdrawal Act “does not take account of any transition/implementation period in which … the UK will continue to apply most EU legislation until Dec 31 2020”.

This means that the Withdrawal Agreement will “amend the EU Withdrawal Act” to provide for the continued effect of the EC Act 1972 until the end of the transition period, allowing EU law to continue to apply.