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Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Brexit Timeline
Current and Future Consequences of Brexit
What are the Brexit next steps? To help keep businesses informed about the latest Brexit developments, we have created this simple Brexit timeline tracking major events and upcoming Brexit key dates.
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End of Transition Period
31st December 2020The Brexit transition period ended on the 31st December (11pm GMT) and the new trading arrangements agreed between the UK and the EU have now come into force.
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UK Parliament Approves EU Trade Deal
30th December 2020The UK parliament has ratified the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. The deal was approved in the House of Commons by 521 votes in favour and 73 against.
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UK and EU agree Free Trade Agreement
24th December 2020The prime minister has announced that the UK has reached a free trade agreement with the EU securing tariff-free access to the EU market.
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Legal deadline for signing off an extension
1st July 2020July 1st is the legal deadline for signing off an extension to the post-Brexit transition period. Under the terms of the withdrawal agreement, the transition period is allowed to be extended by 12 or 24 months.
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UK rules out transition period extension
12th June 2020The UK government formally notifies the EU that it will not be requesting an extension to the transition period beyond the 31st December 2020 deadline.
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UK Releases Negotiating Objectives
27th February 2020The UK government has published its negotiating objectives for post-Brexit trade talks with formal negotiations set to begin on the 2nd March.
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EU Agrees Negotiating Mandate
25th February 2020The EU has agreed its negotiating mandate for the next stage of the Brexit negotiations. The document is 46 pages long and sets out their main objectives for the next stage of the talks which covers the future trading relationship.
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UK Leaves EU
31st January 2020The UK formally exited the European Union and has entered the Transition Period which lasts until the 31st December 2020. The current rules on trade, travel, and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply during the transition period, with new rules set to take effect from 1st January 2021.
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EU Parliament Ratifies Withdrawal Deal
29th January 2020The EU parliament ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by 621 votes in favour to 49 against paving the way for the UK to leave the European Union at 11pm (UK time) on the 31st January
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UK Parliament Ratifies Withdrawal Agreement Bill
23rd January 2020The Withdrawal Agreement Bill is passed by the UK parliament and receives royal assent, allowing the UK government to formally ratify the Withdrawal Agreement.
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Brexit Extension Granted
19th October 2019Parliament has passed the Letwin amendment which withholds support for the prime minister’s Brexit deal until the legislation to implement the deal (Withdrawal Agreement Bill) has been passed. As the prime minister was unable to pass a Brexit deal through parliament by the midnight deadline on the 19th October, UK law required him to send a letter to the EU requesting a three-month extension to Article 50. The prime minister has requested an extension which the EU has now granted. The UK is now scheduled to leave the EU on the 31st January (or earlier if it agrees to the Prime Minister’s withdrawal deal).
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EU Summit
17th & 18th October 2019This was the last major EU summit scheduled ahead of the Brexit deadline on October 31st. At the meeting, the European Council endorsed the new Withdrawal Agreement which had been renegotiated between the EU and the UK. The prime minister will now return to Westminster to try and secure parliament’s support for his Brexit deal through a meaningful vote.
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No-Deal Extension Legislation Confirmed
9th September 2019A law requiring the Prime Minister to request an extension to Brexit negotiations received Royal Assent. The law states that if a Brexit deal has not been agreed by the 19th October the Prime Minister will have to request an extension to negotiations to the 31st January (it will then be up to the EU on whether they accept, decline or propose a different date). As it stands, the UK is still scheduled to leave the EU at 11pm on the 31st October.
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New Prime Minister Selected
23rd July 2019Boris Johnson confirmed as the winner of the Conservative Party Leadership contest and the next UK Prime Minister. This date also marked 100 days to go before the current Brexit deadline: 31st October.
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Brexit Extension Granted
10th April 2019EU and UK leaders agree to a “flexible extension” to negotiations. The UK is now scheduled to leave the EU on the 31st October (or earlier if it agrees to the Prime Minister’s withdrawal deal) if it takes part in European Parliament elections in May. If the UK does not take part in EU Parliament Elections it will leave the EU on the 1st June.
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Cross Party Talks & Brexit Extension Request
2nd April 2019The Prime Minister announced a change of Brexit strategy, inviting the Labour Party in for cross-party talks on compromise Brexit strategy. If a new proposal can be agreed, it will be put to a vote next week ahead of the EU Leaders’ emergency summit. On Friday (5th April) the Prime Minister formally requested that the EU extend Article 50 negotiations to the 30th June 2019.
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No Majority on Next Steps…Again
1st April 2019MPs failed to find a majority for any alternative plans for Brexit. The two most popular options were a “customs union” style proposal (defeated by 3 votes) and a “public vote” or second referendum proposal (defeated by 12 votes).
Image source - BBC -
Prime Minister’s Deal Rejected...again
29th March 2019The Prime Minister Deal was rejected by MPs by 334 votes to 286.
Copyright - 2017 Getty Images -
No Majority on Next Steps
27th March 2019MPs voted on a range of alternative Brexit options. None were backed by a majority. The two options that received the most support were exploring a “Customs Union” with the EU (defeated by 8 votes) and a “confirmatory referendum” or “people’s vote” on the final deal (defeated by 27 votes).
Source - Sky News - link -
UK to Approve Brexit Extension
25th March 2019The Prime Minister is expected to bring the EU’s extension proposal to Parliament w/c 25th March. It will need to be passed by the House of Commons and the House of Lords before next Friday in order to change the Brexit date currently set in legislation: 11pm on the 29th March
Source - Sky News - link -
EU Leaders Offer Brexit Delay
21st March 2019The leaders and heads of state of the EU 27 offered the UK an extension to Article 50 negotiations. If the UK agrees to the Withdrawal Deal by the 12th April they will extend negotiations to the 22nd May in order for the UK to pass the necessary legislation. If the UK fails to agree to the Deal by the 12th April they will have to agree next steps with the EU. The two main options are: 1) a significantly longer extension to pursue a new Brexit strategy, involving taking part in European Elections 2) a no-deal Brexit.
Source - BBC News - link -
MPs vote on Brexit Delay
14th March 2019MPs voted in favour of requesting an extension to Article 50 negotiations (delaying Brexit day).
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MPs say No to a No-Deal Brexit
13th March 2019Parliament voted in favour of an amended motion which aimed to rule out leaving the EU without a deal under any circumstances. The result of this vote is not legally binding. The Prime Minister also announced that MPs will be voting on whether or not to accept her deal for a third time in the week of the 18th March.
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Deal Rejected Again
12th March 2019Parliament held a second “meaningful vote” on whether to accept the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Deal & Political Declaration. It was rejected by 391 votes to 242.
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Deal Rejected
15th January 2019The UK Parliament held a “meaningful vote” on whether they accept the Withdrawal Deal. It was rejected by a record margin: 202 votes for & 432 votes against.
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Draft Deal Revealed
14th November 2018Prime Minister Theresa May revealed the draft Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration on the future relationship between the UK and EU to her Cabinet.
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Article 50 Activated
29th March 2017The UK activated Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty giving the UK two years to negotiate the terms of its exit from the EU.
Source - BBC - link -
UK Votes Leave
23rd June 2016The UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum. 72.2% of eligible voters took part. 51.9% voted Leave, 48.1% voted Remain.
Source - BBC - link