By Jack Pearson, Past Writer
Nearly three years ago the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Now three years later, the question remains, will Britain still leave the EU?
Nearly three years ago the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Now three years later, the question remains, will Britain still leave the EU?
During recent months Brexit has been on the forefront of most British citizens’ minds. For the first two and a half years after the vote was announced to leave Theresa May spent countless hours negotiating what she insists is the best deal for Britain.
Currently the UK will pay an estimated £39 billion divorce bill. In the deal, British and EU citizens’ rights are protected meaning British people living abroad won’t be forced out of the country and the same for European citizens living in the UK. The Prime Minister’s deal also sets out to prevent a hard border between on the island of Ireland. During recent months it was announced that any British person wanting to travel to the EU would require a visa, ending free movement of people and making traveling across Europe harder and more expensive. The current trade deal states that the UK is locked into trading with the EU and limits trading with other countries. In a statement the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated it is “the best deal possible for Britain”.
During December Theresa May was almost ousted from her role as Conservative party leader and PM. Mrs May faced losing her job as the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers received enough letters to trigger a vote of no confidence in the her leadership. At the end of the voting she had enough support to continue.
The pound suffered a decrease in value and it looked as if Brexit may not occur at all. The Prime Minister cancelled the original date for the meaningful vote on the Brexit deal as she expected to be defeated. This sparked several protests outside parliament, but despite increasing calls for a second referendum, Brexit will continue as it is stated in UK and EU law that the country will leave the European Union on the 29th of March.
If MPs voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit and extend article 50 and give the UK a simple transition, after March 29th the UK will remain under EU rules until the process of Article 50 is complete.
After the Prime Ministers defeat in the House of Commons with the biggest defeat in parliamentary history as the deal was rejected by 432 to 202 votes, Jeremy Corbyn tabled a vote of no confidence in Her Majesty's Government. If the House of Commons felt they had lost their confidence in the Prime Minister’s government, under the rules of a vote of no confidence then parliament would have been given fourteen days to form a new government or if the Prime Minister failed, an early General Election would have been enforced.
However, announced at 19:20 on the Wednesday evening the government survived the crucial vote and will remain in place. MPs will vote on the new withdrawal terms and only then will Britain leave with or without a deal.
READ MORE LIKE THIS...
READ MORE BY...