LONDON, Jan 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – From the shock Brexit referendum result to
Tuesday’s momentous vote on Theresa May’s unpopular divorce deal with the
European Union, here are the milestones on Britain’s rocky road out of the
bloc after 46 years.
– Britons vote to leave –
In a referendum on June 23, 2016, Britons choose to end their membership of
the 28-nation EU by 52 percent to 48 percent.
It prompts the resignation the next day of Conservative prime minister
David Cameron, who had called the referendum and led the campaign to remain
in the EU.
– May becomes prime minister –
In a race to replace Cameron, key Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson does not
put himself forward as expected and May, the interior minister who had backed
remaining in the bloc, becomes prime minister on July 13.
On January 17, 2017, May gives a speech setting out her Brexit strategy,
saying Britain will also leave Europe’s single market in order to control
immigration.
She warns she would be willing to walk away from negotiations with the EU,
saying: “No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.”
– Exit process triggered –
On March 13, Britain’s parliament gives final approval to a bill empowering
May to trigger Article 50 of the EU treaty which lays out the process for
leaving the union.
With a letter to EU President Donald Tusk on March 29 formally announcing
the intention to leave, the government sets Article 50 in motion.
Its two-year timetable for withdrawal puts Britain on course to exit on
March 29, 2019.
– Lost majority –
To capitalise on the perceived weakness of the opposition Labour party and
strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations, May calls a snap election for
June 8, 2017.
Her gamble backfires as the Conservatives lose their parliamentary
majority. They are forced to strike a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP) to govern.
The issue of British guarantees to keep an open border between Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit becomes a key sticking point
in negotiations.
– First terms agreed –
Britain and the EU reach an outline agreement on December 8 on three key
areas of the divorce: Britain’s financial settlement to the union, citizens’
rights and the Irish border.
EU leaders give the go-ahead for the next stage of Brexit talks, including
on how Britain will continue to trade with the bloc after the split.
A bill enacting the decision to leave the EU becomes law on June 26, 2018.
– Top ministers quit –
On July 6, 2018, May wins agreement from her warring cabinet to pursue “a
UK-EU free trade area” that would retain a strong alignment with the EU after
Brexit.
But two days later David Davis, the eurosceptic Brexit minister, quits
saying May is giving “too much away too easily”.
Johnson, now foreign secretary, resigns on July 9, becoming a leading
critic of May’s plans.
EU leaders meeting in Salzburg on September 19 and 20 tell May that her
Brexit proposals are unacceptable and need to be reworked.
– Draft deal agreed –
The European Union on November 13 publishes contingency plans for a “no-
deal” Brexit.
But a few hours later, May’s office says negotiating teams have reached a
draft agreement for the divorce.
On November 14, her cabinet backs the agreement.
However the following day four ministers, including new Brexit secretary
Dominic Raab, quit in protest.
EU leaders approve the accord on November 25. “This is the only deal
possible,” says European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
– Confidence vote –
May’s deal faces intense criticism in parliament over the “backstop”
provision designed to prevent border checks in Ireland.
On December 10, May postpones a House of Commons vote on the deal due the
following day, acknowledging she faced a heavy defeat.
She heads off to Europe for further talks, but EU leaders reject any
substantive renegotiation.
On December 12, May’s Conservative party announces that enough MPs are
unhappy with her leadership to trigger a confidence vote.
But the embattled leader survives the challenge, securing the backing of
200 Tory colleagues, while 117 voted against her.
The result meant May is immune from further internal party challenges for a
year.
– Parliament vote –
The House of Commons, Britain’s lower house, finally gets its chance
Tuesday to vote on the draft withdrawal agreement that May struck with EU
leaders in December.
With opposition parties and dozens of Conservative MPs all rejecting it for
their own reason, it appears to be heading for certain defeat.
May has warned that Britain would then be entering “unchartered territory”,
with the fate of Brexit itself up in the air.
Tuesday’s vote is expected from 1900 GMT.