Brexit: All you
need to know about the UK leaving the EU, 10/3/19, BBC.
What is Brexit? Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU.
What is Brexit? Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU.
What is the European Union? The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade and free movement of people to live and work in whichever country they choose.
Why is the UK leaving? A public vote - or referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain. Leave won by 52% to 48%. The referendum turnout was very high at 72%, with more than 30 million people voting - 17.4 million people opting for Brexit.
Why hasn't Brexit happened yet? Brexit was originally due to happen on 29 March 2019. That was two years after then Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 - the formal process to leave - and kicked off negotiations. But the Brexit date has been delayed twice. A deal was agreed in November 2018, but MPs rejected it three times.
What is the Brexit deal? The deal consisted of a withdrawal agreement - which set out the terms for the "divorce" process. There was also a political declaration - which outlined the future relationship between the UK and EU.
Why did Parliament reject the Brexit deal? The main sticking point for many Conservative and DUP MPs was the backstop. Currently, there are no border posts or physical barriers between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The backstop is designed to ensure that continues after the UK leaves the EU.
What deal does Boris Johnson want? Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who took over from Mrs. May, says the EU must remove the backstop from the deal.
What happens next with Brexit? The UK government says it
is focused on getting a new deal agreed at an EU summit on 17 October. If the
sides fail to reach a deal, Mr. Johnson could be forced to seek a third Brexit
extension. That's because MPs have passed a law - known as the Benn Act - that
requires Mr Johnson to ask for a Brexit delay by 19 October. This will push the
deadline back from 31 October, to 31 January 2020. MPs say the law is necessary
in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
What about an early election? After MPs voted in favor of extending the Brexit deadline, Mr Johnson tried to call an early election. But not enough MPs supported the PM. To trigger an early election at least two-thirds must back the idea. Opposition MPs say won't back an election - or call for a vote of no confidence in the PM - until the law aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit is implemented.
What about an early election? After MPs voted in favor of extending the Brexit deadline, Mr Johnson tried to call an early election. But not enough MPs supported the PM. To trigger an early election at least two-thirds must back the idea. Opposition MPs say won't back an election - or call for a vote of no confidence in the PM - until the law aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit is implemented.
The UK
joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community). If the
UK leaves, it would be the first member state to withdraw from the EU.
The
withdrawal agreement covered a range of things including: the rights of EU
citizens in the UK and British citizens in the EU, how much money the UK was to
pay the EU (widely thought to be £39bn), the backstop for the Irish border.
The backstop would only be needed if a permanent solution to
avoid border checks could not be found. If it was needed, the backstop would
keep the UK in a close trading relationship with the EU to avoid checks
altogether.
But many MPs were critical. They said if the backstop was used,
the UK could be trapped in it for years. This would leave the UK stuck in the
EU's customs union, preventing the country from striking trade deals with other
countries.
Their opposition eventually led to Theresa May's resignation.
Under his
plan, Northern Ireland would stay in the European single market for goods but
leave the customs union. This would mean new customs checks, most of which, Mr.
Johnson insists, could be done electronically and away from the border.
The EU is
considering the plan, but has previously rejected a technology-led approach to
custom declarations. If the
plan is rejected, Mr Johnson says the UK will leave on 31 October anyway.
What are the customs union and the single market? The
customs union ensures that all EU countries charge the same taxes on goods
coming in from outside. They do not charge taxes on each other's goods. But
members cannot strike their own trade deals.
The single
market enables goods, services, people and money to move freely between all EU
member states. Most rules and standards are the same - that means goods don't
need to be checked when they move around. It also means EU citizens can live
and work in different EU countries.
The PM
will not have to write a letter if MPs approve a Brexit deal, or vote in favor
of leaving with no deal. Mr. Johnson still insists the UK will leave at the end
of October. It is unclear how this will happen if the law does require him to
ask for an extension.
Related articles:
Queen
Elizabeth II addressed the UK Parliament and stressed the need for the UK to
exit the EU on 10/31/19.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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