124-827: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union Labour Leave is a Eurosceptic campaign group in the United Kingdom . The group is unofficially affiliated with the Labour Party , and campaigned for the United Kingdom to vote to withdraw from the European Union , in the June 2016 EU Referendum . The group was led by eurosceptic Labour MPs: Graham Stringer , Kelvin Hopkins , and Roger Godsiff . Kate Hoey
248-557: A European Federation , a proposal which was not being considered at European level. Until 2018, the far-right National Rally advocated for France to leave the EU. However, shortly after the party's renaming (from Front National ), the party leader Marine Le Pen ruled out that policy, proposing instead to focus on changing the European Union's institutions. The Popular Republican Union and The Patriots party support France leaving
372-419: A no-deal Brexit . The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 after a withdrawal deal was passed by Parliament, but continued to participate in many EU institutions (including the single market and customs union) during an eleven-month transition period in order to ensure frictionless trade until all details of the post-Brexit relationship were agreed and implemented. Trade deal negotiations continued within days of
496-515: A portmanteau of "British exit") was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Following a referendum held in the UK on 23 June 2016, Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (00:00 1 February 2020 CET ). The UK, which joined the EU's precursors the European Communities (EC) on 1 January 1973, is the only member state to have withdrawn from
620-615: A referendum on the issue in 2016 ; the electorate decided by a 3.8% majority to favour leaving the European Union. On 29 March 2017, arising from a decision by the Parliament of the United Kingdom , Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 in a letter to the president of the European Council , Donald Tusk . The UK ceased to be an EU member state as from 00:00, 1 February 2020 Central European Time ( UTC+1 ) (23:00, 31 January 2020 Western European Time ( GMT , UTC+0 ). Following
744-453: A report which accused the UK government of actively avoiding investigating whether Russia interfered with public opinion. The report did not pass judgement over whether Russian information operations had an impact on the result. Withdrawal from the European Union is governed by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union . It was originally drafted by Lord Kerr of Kinlochard , and introduced by
868-515: A Boris Johnson government, with government control remaining with the Conservative Party during this period. The negotiation process was both politically challenging and deeply divisive within the UK, leading to two snap elections in 2017 and 2019. One deal was overwhelmingly rejected by the British parliament , causing great uncertainty and leading to postponement of the withdrawal date to avoid
992-498: A Eurosceptic political party, was formed in response to Maastricht in 1993. In 1997, Nigel Farage took over the leadership of the party as a right-of-centre, populist movement in England . Prior to 2013, the issue of EU membership never scored higher than 5% on surveys of voter priorities, polling just 6% in 2013 and 11% in 2014. However, an increasing proportion of voters viewed immigration and asylum as of key importance. By adopting
1116-434: A Leave vote and of the "two-year time period to negotiate the arrangements for exit." After the original wording for the referendum question was challenged, the government agreed to change the official referendum question to "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" In the referendum 51.89% voted in favour of leaving the EU (Leave), and 48.11% voted in favour of remaining
1240-566: A bilateral treaty was agreed to between Algeria and the EEC which formalized the EEC's relationship with Algeria as a neighbouring state in association with the Community, and not a part of the Community. Greenland chose to leave the EU predecessor without separating from Denmark. It initially voted against joining the EEC when Denmark joined in 1973, but because Denmark as a whole voted to join, Greenland, as
1364-513: A county of Denmark , joined too. When home rule for Greenland began in 1979, it held a new referendum and voted to leave the EEC. After wrangling over fishing rights, the territory left the EEC in 1985, but remains subject to the EU treaties through association of Overseas Countries and Territories with the EU. This was permitted by the Greenland Treaty , a special treaty signed in 1984 to allow its withdrawal. Saint Pierre and Miquelon ,
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#17330848000821488-684: A desire by the Conservatives to split the vote, on the Labour EU Referendum, as it was alleged that Labour members were unsure, of their party's position on Brexit . Labour Leave continue to raise money, from crowd sourcing campaigns, and from direct donations from their supporters and members. Labour Leave was fined £9,000 in March 2019, by the Electoral Commission , for an inaccurate campaign spending return, and inaccurate donation reports, at
1612-464: A desire to "obtain a European status which would be better suited to its status under domestic law, particularly given its remoteness from the mainland , its small insular economy largely devoted to tourism and subject to difficulties in obtaining supplies which hamper the application of some European Union standards ." France, reflecting this desire, requested at the European Council to change
1736-471: A full treaty revision. Thus, once a member state has notified the European Council of its intention to leave, a period begins during which a withdrawal agreement is negotiated, setting out the arrangements for the withdrawal and outlining the country's future relationship with the Union. Commencing the process is up to the member state that intends to leave. The article allows for a negotiated withdrawal, due to
1860-414: A hardline anti-immigration platform and conflating the issue with EU membership, UKIP was able to achieve electoral success, reaching third place in the UK during the 2004 European elections , second place in the 2009 European elections and first place in the 2014 European elections , with 27.5% of the total vote. This was the first time since the 1910 general election that any party other than Labour or
1984-477: A main goal to withdraw Italy from the European Union. In the Netherlands, the main party advocating for a withdrawal is Forum for Democracy , additionally Party for Freedom also supports a withdrawal from the European Union. In Poland, the far-right party Confederation Liberty and Independence is against the membership of the country in the European Union. Following the 2023 Polish parliamentary election ,
2108-457: A member and 30% backed withdrawal. In 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron initially rejected calls for a referendum on the UK's EU membership, but then suggested the possibility of a future referendum to endorse his proposed renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU. According to the BBC , "The prime minister acknowledged the need to ensure the UK's [renegotiated] position within
2232-514: A member of the EU (Remain). After this result, Cameron resigned on 13 July 2016, with Theresa May becoming Prime Minister after a leadership contest . A petition calling for a second referendum attracted more than four million signatures, but was rejected by the government on 9 July. A 2017 study published in the journal Economic Policy showed that the Leave vote tended to be greater in areas which had lower incomes and high unemployment ,
2356-554: A member state from leaving. If negotiations do not result in a ratified agreement, the withdrawing country leaves without an agreement, and the EU Treaties shall cease to apply to the withdrawing country, without any substitute or transitional arrangements being put in place. As regards trade, the parties would likely follow World Trade Organization rules on tariffs . Article 50 does not spell out whether member states can rescind their notification of their intention to withdraw during
2480-596: A member state such as the UK would have to get permission from the European Commission and then from the European Council , which is composed of the heads of government of every member state. In a speech to the House of Commons on 22 February 2016, Cameron announced a referendum date of 23 June 2016, and commented on the renegotiation settlement. He spoke of an intention to trigger the Article 50 process immediately following
2604-641: A member state to withdraw, was originally drafted by British cross-bench peer and former diplomat Lord Kerr of Kinlochard , the secretary-general of the European Convention , which drafted the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union . Following the failure of the ratification process for the European Constitution, the clause was incorporated into the Treaty of Lisbon which entered into force in 2009. Prior to this, no provision in
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#17330848000822728-482: A previous promise to hold a referendum on ratifying the abandoned European Constitution , which was never held. After promising to hold a second membership referendum if his government was elected, Conservative prime minister David Cameron held this referendum in 2016. Cameron, who had campaigned to remain, resigned after the result and was succeeded by Theresa May . On 29 March 2017, the British government formally began
2852-461: A proposed second referendum . On 14 March 2019, the British parliament voted for May to ask the EU to delay Brexit until June, and then later October. Having failed to get her agreement approved, May resigned as Prime Minister in July and was succeeded by Boris Johnson . He sought to replace parts of the agreement and vowed to leave the EU by the new deadline. On 17 October 2019, the British government and
2976-542: A referendum on Scottish independence . The result produced an unexpected hung parliament , the governing Conservatives gained votes and remained the largest party but nevertheless lost seats and their majority in the House of Commons. Labour gained significantly on votes and seats, retaining its position as the second-largest party. The Liberal Democrats gained six seats despite a slight decrease in vote share compared with 2015. The Green Party kept its single MP while also losing national vote share. Losing votes and seats were
3100-641: A relatively small impact on the overall result as England has a much larger population. There were also significant regional differences within England, with most of London returning a majority remain vote, alongside urban centres in northern England such as Manchester and Liverpool , which returned remain majorities of 60% and 58% respectively. Opposite trends appeared in industrial and post-industrial areas of Northern England , with areas such as North Lincolnshire and South Tyneside both heavily supporting leave. Opinion polls found that Leave voters believed leaving
3224-496: A small but unexpected overall majority for the governing Conservative Party, the promised referendum on continued EU membership was held on 23 June 2016. Notable supporters of the Remain campaign included Cameron, the future prime ministers Theresa May and Liz Truss , and the ex–prime ministers John Major , Tony Blair , and Gordon Brown ; notable supporters of the Leave campaign included
3348-427: A strong tradition of manufacturing employment, and in which the population had fewer qualifications . It also tended to be greater where there was a large flow of Eastern European migrants (mainly low-skilled workers) into areas with a large share of native low-skilled workers. Those in lower social grades (especially the working class ) were more likely to vote Leave, while those in higher social grades (especially
3472-454: A territory of France, used to be part of the EU but left on 11 June 1985. Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy in 2007 separated from Guadeloupe ( overseas department of France and outermost region (OMR) of the EU) and became overseas collectivities of France, but at the same time remained OMRs of the European Union. Later, the elected representatives of the island of Saint-Barthélemy expressed
3596-475: Is getting worse." Polling conducted by YouGov supported these conclusions, showing that factors such as age, political party affiliation, education, and household income were the primary factors indicating how people would vote. For example, Conservative Party voters were 61% likely to vote leave, compared to Labour Party voters, who were 35% likely to vote leave. Age was one of the biggest factors affecting whether someone would vote leave, with 64% of people over
3720-485: Is incompatible with a unilateral withdrawal. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties states where a party wants to withdraw unilaterally from a treaty that is silent on such procedure, there are only two cases where withdrawal is allowed: where all parties recognise an informal right to do so and where the situation has changed so drastically, that the obligations of a signatory have been radically transformed. Article 50 of
3844-600: Is not yet a deed and intentions can change before the deed is done. Until the Scottish Government did so in late 2018, the issue had been untested in court. On 10 December 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that it would be “inconsistent with the EU treaties’ purpose of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe to force the withdrawal of a member state” against its wishes, and that consequently an Article 50 notification may be revoked unilaterally by
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3968-527: The 1983 general election on a commitment to withdraw from the EC without a referendum. Following their heavy defeat in that election, Labour changed its policy. In 1985, the second Margaret Thatcher government ratified the Single European Act —the first major revision to the Treaty of Rome —without a referendum. In October 1990, under pressure from senior ministers and despite Thatcher's deep reservations,
4092-405: The EU's budgets , voting allocations and policies brought about by the withdrawal of any member state. This system provides for a negotiated withdrawal, rather than an abrupt exit from the Union. This preference for a negotiated withdrawal is based on the expected complexities of leaving the EU (including concerning the euro ) when so much European law is codified in member states' laws. However,
4216-462: The Electoral Commission , which subsequently issued a large number of fines. In February 2017, the main campaign group for the "Leave" vote, Leave.EU , was fined £50,000 for sending marketing messages without permission. In December 2017, the Electoral Commission fined two pro-EU groups, the Liberal Democrats (£18,000) and Open Britain (£1,250), for breaches of campaign finance rules during
4340-485: The European Communities (EC) – principally the European Economic Community (EEC) – and its continued membership was endorsed in the 1975 membership referendum . In the 1970s and 1980s, withdrawal from the EC was advocated mainly by the political left, e.g. in the Labour Party 's 1983 election manifesto. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty , which founded the EU, was ratified by the British parliament in 1993 but
4464-673: The June 2017 general election , which resulted in a hung parliament in which the Conservatives lost their majority but remained the largest party. This deadlock led to three extensions of the UK's Article 50 process . The deadlock was resolved after a subsequent general election was held in December 2019 . In that election, Conservatives who campaigned in support of a "revised" withdrawal agreement led by Boris Johnson won an overall majority of 80 seats. After
4588-578: The London School of Economics , "Older and less-educated voters were more likely to vote 'leave' [...] A majority of white voters wanted to leave, but only 33% of Asian voters and 27% of black voters chose leave. [...] Leaving the European Union received support from across the political spectrum [...] Voting to leave the European Union was strongly associated with holding socially conservative political beliefs, opposing cosmopolitanism, and thinking life in Britain
4712-594: The President of France , Charles de Gaulle , who feared the UK would be a Trojan horse for US influence. Some time after de Gaulle resigned in 1969, the UK successfully applied for European Communities (EC) membership. Membership of the then EEC was thoroughly discussed at the long debate in the House of Commons in October 1971. It led to the decisive vote in favour of membership by 356 to 244. As historian Piers Ludlow observed,
4836-547: The Referendum Party in 1994 to contest the 1997 general election on a platform of providing a referendum on the nature of the UK's relationship with the rest of the EU. The party fielded candidates in 547 constituencies at that election, and won 810,860 votes—2.6% of the total votes cast —but failed to win a parliamentary seat because the vote was spread across the country. The Referendum Party disbanded following Goldsmith's death in 1997. . The UK Independence Party (UKIP),
4960-586: The Social Liberal Party (15%) and The Alternative (20%). Occasionally, polls about a choice between the EU and a Nordic cooperation have shown equally divided support; a 2020 poll showed 39% support for each alternative. In a 2019 poll, the same question showed 42.7% support for the Nordic option and 40.5% for the EU option. In Finland, the Finns Party says the country should leave the EU should it become
5084-440: The Treaty of Lisbon which entered into force in 2009. The article states that any member state can withdraw "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements" by notifying the European Council of its intention to do so. The notification triggers a two-year negotiation period, in which the EU must "negotiate and conclude an agreement with [the leaving] State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of
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5208-739: The Treaty of Paris in 1951, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The 1955 Messina Conference deemed that the ECSC was a success, and resolved to extend the concept further, thereby leading to the 1957 Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). In 1967 , these became known as the European Communities (EC). The UK attempted to join in 1963 and 1967, but these applications were vetoed by
5332-552: The Treaty on European Union , enacted by the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, introduced for the first time a procedure for a member state to withdraw voluntarily from the EU. The article states that: A qualified majority shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This provision does not cover certain overseas territories which under TFEU Article 355 do not require
5456-471: The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union . The agreement is to be approved by the council, acting by qualified majority , after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament . Should a former member state seek to rejoin the European Union, it would be subject to the same conditions as any other applicant country. Remaining members of the EU would need to manage consequential changes over
5580-562: The UK Parliament's decisions not to ratify the Brexit withdrawal agreement negotiated between the European Council and the UK government, several extensions of the deadline were agreed. Following a decisive election victory for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party in December 2019, the UK Parliament ratified the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 , approving
5704-550: The common market and opt-in/opt-out solutions was reflected in the slogan Mere Danmark, mindre EU ("More Denmark, less EU"). In 2020, the party proclaimed a strengthening of its anti-EU stance. The left-wing Red Green Alliance which is the 3rd largest party in the country, still officially opposes EU membership, but its members are divided on the issue. In the European Parliament, the Danish People's Movement against
5828-524: The treaties or law of the EU outlined the ability of a state to voluntarily withdraw from the EU. The absence of such a provision made withdrawal technically difficult but not impossible. Legally there were two interpretations of whether a state could leave. The first, that sovereign states have a right to withdraw from their international commitments; and the second, the treaties are for an unlimited period, with no provision for withdrawal and calling for an "ever closer union" – such commitment to unification
5952-405: The upper middle class ) more likely to vote Remain. Studies found that the Leave vote tended to be higher in areas affected by economic decline, high rates of suicides and drug-related deaths, and austerity reforms introduced in 2010. Studies suggest that older people were more likely to vote Leave, and younger people more likely to vote Remain. According to Thomas Sampson, an economist at
6076-490: The 1971 parliamentary debate was of high quality and considered all issues. The British were not "misled and persuaded to accept membership in a narrow commercial entity without being aware that the EEC was a political project liable to develop in the future". The Conservative prime minister Edward Heath signed the Treaty of Accession in 1972. Parliament passed the European Communities Act later that year and
6200-521: The 1980s to 2000s, no further referendums on the issue were held. By the 2010s, the growing popularity of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), as well as pressure from Eurosceptics in his own party, persuaded the Conservative prime minister David Cameron to promise a referendum on British membership of the EU if his government were re-elected. Following the 2015 general election , which produced
6324-479: The 2016 EU Referendum. Withdrawal from the European Union Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) provides for the possibility of an EU member state leaving the European Union "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements". Currently, the United Kingdom is the only state to have withdrawn from membership of the European Union. The process to do so began when
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#17330848000826448-516: The British Government "does not know for sure" whether Article 50 is revocable; the British prime minister [then Theresa May ] "does not intend" to reverse it. Extension of the two years time from notification to exit from the union, still requires unanimous support from all member countries, that is clearly stated in Article 50(3). Should a former member state seek to rejoin the European Union after having actually left, it would be subject to
6572-414: The British ambassador to the EU, delivered the invocation letter to European Council President Donald Tusk . This made 29 March 2019 the expected date that UK would leave EU. In April 2017, Theresa May called a snap general election, held on 8 June , in an attempt to "strengthen [her] hand" in the negotiations; The Conservative Party, Labour and UKIP made manifesto pledges to implement the referendum,
6696-401: The Conservatives had taken the largest share of the vote in a nationwide election. This electoral success and internal pressure, including from many of the remaining Maastricht Rebels within the ruling Conservative party, put pressure on leader and Prime Minister David Cameron , as potential voter defections to UKIP threatened defeat in the 2015 United Kingdom general election . This threat
6820-650: The Conservatives, Jeremy Hosking , who had given the Conservatives almost £570,000, by June 2016. Hosking donated £100,000 to the Conservative Party in April 2015, and donated £50,000 in March 2016 (the same month he gave £50,000 to Labour Leave). Labour Leave took a further £150,000 in May from Richard Smith, believed to be the owner of 55 Tufton Street in Westminster (home of several right wing groups). Barnett attributed this collaboration, between opposing political organisations, to
6944-406: The December 2019 election, the British parliament finally ratified the withdrawal agreement with the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 . The UK left the EU at the end of 31 January 2020 CET (11 p.m. GMT ). This began a transition period that ended on 31 December 2020 CET (11 p.m. GMT), during which the UK and EU negotiated their future relationship. During the transition,
7068-445: The EC, believing them to be unfavourable, and then hold a referendum on whether to remain in the EC on the new terms. Labour again won the election (this time with a small majority), and in 1975 the UK held its first ever national referendum , asking whether the UK should remain in the EC. Despite significant division within the ruling Labour Party, all major political parties and the mainstream press supported continuing membership of
7192-495: The EC. On 5 June 1975, 67.2% of the electorate and all but two British counties and regions voted to stay in; support for the UK to leave the EC in 1975 appears unrelated to the support for Leave in the 2016 referendum. In 1979, the UK secured its first opt-out , although the expression was not contemporary; it was the only EEC country not to take part in the European Monetary System . The Labour Party campaigned in
7316-598: The EU was represented from the first direct elections in 1979 until 2019. The Unity List is a collective member of The People's Movement and used to only participate in European Elections as candidates for The People's Movement. At the 2019 EP Election the Unity List participated independently and gained a seat, in an electoral alliance with The People's Movement who lost their seat. Former MEP for The People's Movement Rina Ronja Kari resigned her personal membership of
7440-444: The EU agreed on a revised withdrawal agreement, with new arrangements for Northern Ireland. Parliament approved the agreement for further scrutiny, but rejected passing it into law before the 31 October deadline, and forced the government (through the " Benn Act ") to ask for a third Brexit delay. An early general election was then held on 12 December. The Conservatives won a large majority in that election, with Johnson declaring that
7564-400: The EU and 48.11 per cent voted to remain a member state, David Cameron resigned as Prime Minister. On 29 March 2017, the new British government led by Theresa May formally notified the EU of the country's intention to withdraw, beginning the process of Brexit negotiations . The withdrawal, originally scheduled for 29 March 2019, was delayed by the deadlock in the British parliament after
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#17330848000827688-528: The EU by October 2018. Negotiations commenced on 19 June 2017. Negotiating groups were established for three topics: the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and vice versa; Britain's outstanding financial obligations to the EU; and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In December 2017, a partial agreement was reached. It ensured that there would be no hard border in Ireland, protected
7812-512: The EU institution competent to this purpose, namely the CJEU . In addition the European Commission considers that Article 50 does not provide for the unilateral withdrawal of the notification. Lord Kerr, the British author of Article 50, also considers the process is reversible as does Jens Dammann. Professor Stephen Weatherill disagrees. Former Brexit Secretary David Davis has stated that
7936-419: The EU was "more likely to bring about a better immigration system, improved border controls, a fairer welfare system, better quality of life, and the ability to control our own laws", while Remain voters believed EU membership "would be better for the economy, international investment, and the UK's influence in the world." Polls found that the main reasons people voted Leave were "the principle that decisions about
8060-516: The EU, shows that the UK was a clear outlier and no other state is likely to leave the EU in the foreseeable future. In Bulgaria, the far-right Revival party, and third largest party in the National Assembly as of 2023, supports either "renegotiation" for special status within the EU, or withdrawal. Additionally, other smaller non-parliamentary parties, mostly from the coalition Neutral Bulgaria support withdrawal, such as Attack who called
8184-429: The EU. As of 2024, no country other than the United Kingdom has voted on whether to withdraw from the EU. Political parties criticizing the federative trend of the European Union and advocating withdrawal have gained prominence in several member states since the European Parliament election in 2014 , similarly to the rise of UKIP in the United Kingdom. The EU Exit Index, which measures the risk of member states leaving
8308-422: The EU. In Greece, Greek Solution is campaigning for a withdrawal, as was Golden Dawn . As a result of the approval of an anti-LGBT law , it has been suggested that Hungary should leave the EU. Currently, Our Homeland Movement is the only party that has proposed doing so through a referendum. In July 2020, Italian journalist and senator Gianluigi Paragone formed Italexit , a new political party with
8432-452: The EU. Following Brexit, EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have primacy over British laws . The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 retains relevant EU law as domestic law , which the UK can amend or repeal. The EU and its institutions developed gradually after their establishment. Throughout the period of British membership, Eurosceptic groups had existed in
8556-596: The Electoral Commission launched a probe into claims that Russia had attempted to sway public opinion over the referendum using social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. In February 2019, the parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee called for an inquiry into "foreign influence, disinformation, funding, voter manipulation, and the sharing of data" in the Brexit vote. In July 2020, Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament published
8680-423: The European Parliament. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership. Four territories of EU member states have withdrawn: French Algeria (in 1962, upon independence ), Greenland (in 1985, following a referendum ), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (also in 1985, unilaterally) and Saint Barthélemy (in 2012), the latter three becoming Overseas Countries and Territories of
8804-555: The European Union) states, "a revocation of notification needs to be subject to conditions set by all EU-27, so that it cannot be used as a procedural device or abused in an attempt to improve on the current terms of the United Kingdom’s membership." The European Union Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs has stated that a hypothetical right of revocation can only be examined and confirmed or infirmed by
8928-407: The European Union. The states who were set to accede to the EU in 2004 pushed for an exit right during the 2002–2003 European Convention. The acceding states wanted the option to exit the EU in the event that EU membership would adversely affect them. During negotiations, eurosceptics in states such as the UK and Denmark subsequently pushed for the creation of Article 50. Article 50, which allows
9052-661: The Good Friday Agreement, and indicated that policies such as the state pension triple lock and Winter Fuel Payments would be maintained. Prior to the negotiations, May said that the British government would not seek permanent single market membership , would end ECJ jurisdiction, seek a new trade agreement, end free movement of people and maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland . The EU had adopted its negotiating directives in May, and appointed Michel Barnier as Chief Negotiator. The EU wished to perform
9176-507: The Labour manifesto differing in its approach to Brexit negotiations, such as unilaterally offering permanent residence to EU immigrants. The Liberal Democrat Party and the Green Party manifestos proposed a policy of remaining in the EU via a second referendum . The Scottish National Party (SNP) manifesto proposed a policy of waiting for the outcome of the Brexit negotiations and then holding
9300-652: The Labour whip). Chilton is also the general secretary , and the only director of Labour Leave Limited . The organisation's position within the Vote Leave campaign has been seen as precarious, a source close to the campaign told the Morning Star , due to a perceived domination of the Vote Leave campaign by Conservative and UKIP officials. Of Vote Leave's seventeen strong governing board, only two members (Mills and Stringer) are members of Labour Leave. In response to this,
9424-546: The New Right wanted withdrawal and other 50 % were eurosceptic ("remain in the EU, but the EU should have less influence on Danish conditions"). Among voters of the Danish People's party, the numbers were 18% and 57%, and of the Unity List, 11% and 42%, respectively. In all other parties, withdrawal was supported by 5% of voters or less, but there was substantial euroscepticism (between 26 and 32%), although less among voters of
9548-581: The November 2018 withdrawal agreement , but the British parliament voted against ratifying it three times. The Labour Party wanted any agreement to maintain a customs union, while many Conservatives opposed the agreement's financial settlement , as well as the " Irish backstop " designed to prevent border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . The Liberal Democrats , Scottish National Party (SNP), and others sought to reverse Brexit through
9672-637: The Oxford Campaign for Independent Britain; "With hindsight, some see this as the start of the campaign for Brexit", the Financial Times later wrote. The vote to approve the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 triggered a strong Eurosceptic response, splitting the Conservative Party and leading to many past supporters forming alternative Eurosceptic parties. This included Sir James Goldsmith forming
9796-515: The Republic of Ireland held referendums to ratify the Maastricht Treaty. In accordance with Constitution of the United Kingdom , specifically that of parliamentary sovereignty , ratification in the UK was not subject to approval by referendum. Despite this, British constitutional historian Vernon Bogdanor wrote that there was "a clear constitutional rationale for requiring a referendum" because although MPs are entrusted with legislative power by
9920-646: The SNP, which lost 21 MPs, and UKIP, which suffered a −10.8% swing and lost its only MP. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin also made gains in votes and seats. On 26 June 2017, Conservatives and the DUP reached a confidence and supply agreement whereby the DUP would back the Conservatives in key votes in the House of Commons over the course of the parliament. The agreement included additional funding of £1 billion for Northern Ireland, highlighted mutual support for Brexit and national security, expressed commitment to
10044-492: The UK Government triggered Article 50 to begin the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2017 following a June 2016 referendum , and the withdrawal was scheduled in law to occur on 29 March 2019. Subsequently, the UK sought, and was granted, a number of Article 50 extensions until 31 January 2020. On 23 January 2020, the withdrawal agreement was ratified by the Parliament of the United Kingdom , and on 29 January 2020 by
10168-507: The UK joined Denmark and the Republic of Ireland in becoming a member on 1 January 1973, without referendum. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Labour Party was the more Eurosceptic of the two major parties, and the Conservatives the more Europhile. Labour won the February 1974 general election without a majority and then contested the subsequent October 1974 general election with a commitment to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership of
10292-602: The UK joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), with the pound sterling pegged to the deutschmark . Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister the following month, amid Conservative Party divisions arising partly from her increasingly Eurosceptic views. The UK was forced to withdraw from the ERM on Black Wednesday in September 1992, after the pound sterling came under pressure from currency speculation . Italy left
10416-531: The UK remained subject to EU law and remained part of the European Union Customs Union and the European single market . However, it was no longer part of the EU's political bodies or institutions. The withdrawal had been advocated by hard Eurosceptics and opposed by pro-Europeanists and soft Eurosceptics , with both sides of the argument spanning the political spectrum. In 1973, the UK joined
10540-408: The UK should be taken in the UK", and that leaving "offered the best chance for the UK to regain control over immigration and its own borders." The main reason people voted Remain was that "the risks of voting to leave the EU looked too great when it came to things like the economy, jobs and prices." Following the referendum, a series of irregularities related to campaign spending were investigated by
10664-466: The UK would leave the EU in early 2020. The withdrawal agreement was ratified by the UK on 23 January and by the EU on 30 January; it came into force on 31 January 2020. Following the referendum of 23 June 2016, many new pieces of Brexit-related jargon entered popular use. The word Brexit is a portmanteau of the phrase "British exit". According to the Oxford English Dictionary ,
10788-484: The UK, opposing aspects of the EU and its predecessors. The Labour prime minister Harold Wilson 's pro-EC government held a referendum on continued EC membership in 1975 , in which 67.2 per cent of those voting chose to stay within the bloc. Despite growing political opposition to further European integration aimed at " ever closer union " between 1975 and 2016, notably from factions of the Conservative Party in
10912-505: The Unity List. Opinion polls have mostly shown that Danes are pro EU membership, but eurosceptic . A 2018 opinion poll suggested that while a minority of Danes wanted withdrawal (12% "to a high degree" and 16% "to some degree"), a large majority were against abolishing the opt-outs (57 % against and 22 % for the euro; 42 % against and 30 % for defense cooperation; 47 % against and 22 % for judicial cooperation). A 2019 opinion poll showed that 37 % of voters of
11036-437: The [EU] had 'the full-hearted support of the British people' but they needed to show 'tactical and strategic patience'." On 23 January 2013, under pressure from many of his MPs and from the rise of UKIP, Cameron promised in his Bloomberg speech that a Conservative government would hold an in-or-out referendum on EU membership before the end of 2017, on a renegotiated package, if elected in the 7 May 2015 general election . This
11160-658: The age of 65 likely to vote leave, whereas 18–24-year-olds were only 29% likely to vote leave. Education was another factor indicating voting likelihood: people with a GCSE or lower level of education were 70% likely to vote leave, whereas university graduates were only 32% likely to vote leave. Household income was another important factor, with households earning less than £20,000 62% likely to vote leave, compared to households earning £60,000 or more, which were only 35% likely to vote leave. There were major variations in geographic support for each side. Scotland and Northern Ireland both returned majorities for remain, although these had
11284-516: The agreement to pass the Council of the EU it needs to be approved by at least 72 percent of the continuing member states representing at least 65 percent of their population. The agreement is concluded on behalf of the Union by the council and must set out the arrangements for withdrawal, including a framework for the State's future relationship with the Union, negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of
11408-458: The complexities of leaving the EU. However, it does include in it a strong implication of a unilateral right to withdraw. This is through the fact that a state would decide to withdraw "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements" and that the end of the treaties' application in a member state that intends to withdraw is not dependent on any agreement being reached (it would occur after two years regardless). The treaties cease to apply to
11532-453: The electorate, they are not given authority to transfer that power (the UK's previous three referendums all concerned this). Further, as the ratification of the treaty was in the manifestos of the three major political parties, voters opposed to ratification had limited options for expressing this. For Bogdanor, while the ratification by the House of Commons might be legal, it would not be legitimate—which requires popular consent. The way in which
11656-483: The framework for its future relationship with the [European] Union". If no agreement is reached within the two years, the membership ends without an agreement, unless an extension is unanimously agreed among all EU states, including the withdrawing state. On the EU side, the agreement needs to be ratified by qualified majority in the European Council , and by the European Parliament. The 2015 Referendum Act did not expressly require Article 50 to be invoked, but prior to
11780-460: The future prime ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak . The electorate voted to leave the EU with a 51.9% share of the vote, with all regions of England and Wales except London voting in favour of Brexit, and Scotland and Northern Ireland voting against. The result led to Cameron's sudden resignation, his replacement by Theresa May, and four years of negotiations with the EU on the terms of departure and on future relations, completed under
11904-604: The idea of a campaign wholly independent of both Vote Leave and Leave.EU had been suggested by Hoey and Hopkins, among others. Adam Barnett, on the left wing political blog, Left Foot Forward , wrote that Labour Leave's two biggest funders were Conservative Party donors, and its third biggest funder was the official campaign group for Brexit, Vote Leave , an organisation which is (mostly) Conservative. The Electoral Commission shows Labour Leave received £15,000 from Vote Leave in February. It also received £50,000, from donor of
12028-474: The left and right of British politics. According to a statistical analysis published in April 2016 by Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University , surveys showed an increase in Euroscepticism (a wish to leave the EU or stay in the EU and try to reduce the EU's powers) from 38% in 1993 to 65% in 2015. The BSA survey for the period of July–November 2015 showed that 60% backed the option to continue as
12152-417: The member state concerned on the entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, in the absence of such an agreement, two years after the member state notified the European Council of its intention to leave, although this period can be extended by unanimous agreement of the European Council. The leaving agreement is negotiated on behalf of the EU by the European Commission on the basis of a mandate given by
12276-407: The negotiation period while their country is still a member of the European Union. However, the president of the European Council said to the European Parliament on 24 October 2017 that “deal, no deal or no Brexit” is up to Britain. Indeed, the prevailing legal opinion among EU law experts and the EU institutions themselves is that a member state intending to leave may change its mind, as an “intention”
12400-407: The negotiations in two phases: first the UK would agree to a financial commitment and to lifelong benefits for EU citizens in Britain, and then negotiations on a future relationship could begin. In the first phase, the member states would demand that the UK pay a " divorce bill ", initially estimated as amounting to £52 billion. EU negotiators said that an agreement must be reached between UK and
12524-402: The notifying member without the permission of the other EU members, provided the state has not already left the EU, and provided the revocation is decided “following a democratic process in accordance with national constitutional requirements”. The European Parliament resolution of 5 April 2017 (on negotiations with the United Kingdom following its notification that it intends to withdraw from
12648-676: The party has eighteen (out of 460) members of the Sejm , zero members of the Senate, zero members of the European Parliament and one member of a Regional Assembly - this being an increase of seven members in the Sejm and one in regional assemblies since the previous election . Brexit Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union Related: Women Brexit ( / ˈ b r ɛ k s ɪ t , ˈ b r ɛ ɡ z ɪ t / ,
12772-527: The politicians who signed the treaty to join the EU "traitors." In Czechia, the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy opposes Czech membership of the European Union. In the Danish Parliament , the national conservative New Right party opposes Denmark's membership in the EU. The ideologically similar Danish People's Party in principle opposes EU membership, but has since 2001 in practice supported pro-EU right-wing coalitions. The party's support of
12896-402: The process of Article 50 also includes a strong implication of unilateral right to withdraw. This is through the fact the state would decide "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements" and that the end of the treaties' application in said state is not dependent on any agreement being reached (it would occur after two years regardless). In other words, the European Union can not block
13020-485: The process of changing their status so that, instead of EU law applying fully or with limited exceptions, EU law mostly will not apply. The process also occurs in the opposite direction, as formal enlargements of the union occur. The procedure for implementing such changes was made easier by the Treaty of Lisbon . Algeria joined the European Communities as an integral part of the French Republic , since legally it
13144-501: The referendum campaign. In May 2018, the Electoral Commission fined Leave.EU £70,000 for unlawfully overspending and inaccurately reporting loans from Arron Banks totalling £6 million. Smaller fines were levelled against the pro-EU campaign group Best for Our Future and two trade union donors for inaccurate reporting. In July 2018 Vote Leave was fined £61,000 for overspending, not declaring finances shared with BeLeave , and failing to comply with investigators. In November 2017,
13268-440: The referendum, the British government said it would respect the result. When Cameron resigned following the referendum, he said that it would be for the incoming prime minister to invoke Article 50. The new prime minister, Theresa May , said she would wait until 2017 to invoke the article, in order to prepare for the negotiations. In October 2016, she said Britain would trigger Article 50 in March 2017, and in December she gained
13392-476: The remaining Member States, meeting in the Council of the European Union . It must set out the arrangements for withdrawal, taking account of the framework for the member state's future relationship with the EU, though without itself settling that framework. The agreement is to be approved on the EU side by the Council of the EU, acting by qualified majority , after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament . For
13516-452: The rest of the EU. In December 2015, opinion polls showed a clear majority in favour of remaining in the EU; they also showed support would drop if Cameron did not negotiate adequate safeguards for non-eurozone member states, and restrictions on benefits for non-UK EU citizens. The outcome of the renegotiations was revealed in February 2016. Some limits to in-work benefits for new EU immigrants were agreed, but before they could be applied,
13640-420: The same conditions as any other applicant country and need to negotiate a Treaty of Accession, ratified by every member state. TFEU Article 355 (6), introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon allows the status of French, Dutch and Danish overseas territories to be changed more easily, by no longer requiring a full treaty revision. Instead, the European Council may, on the initiative of the member state concerned, change
13764-431: The same month, but would soon rejoin on a different band. The UK did not seek re-entry and remained outside the ERM. On 1 November 1993, after the UK and the other eleven member states had ratified, the EC became the EU under the Maastricht Treaty compromise between member states seeking deeper integration and those wishing to retain greater national control in the economic and political union . Denmark , France , and
13888-455: The scheduled end of the transition period, and the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was signed on 30 December 2020. The effects of Brexit are in part determined by the cooperation agreement, which provisionally applied from 1 January 2021, until it formally came into force on 1 May 2021. Following a UK-wide referendum on 23 June 2016 , in which 51.89 per cent voted in favour of leaving
14012-442: The status of Saint Barthélemy to an overseas country or territory (OCT) associated with the European Union. The status change came into effect from 1 January 2012. The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020, following on a public vote held in June 2016. However, the country benefited from a transition period to give time to negotiate a trade deal between the UK and the EU . The British government led by David Cameron held
14136-505: The status of an overseas country or territory (OCT) to an outermost region (OMR) or vice versa. Some former territories of European Union members broke formal links with the EU when they gained independence from their ruling country or were transferred to an EU non-member state. Most of these territories were not classed as part of the EU, but were at most associated with OCT status, and EC laws were generally not in force in these countries. Some current territories changed or are in
14260-559: The support of MP's for her timetable. In January 2017, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled in the Miller case that government could only invoke Article 50 if authorised by an act of parliament to do so. The government subsequently introduced a bill for that purpose, and it was passed into law on 16 March as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 . On 29 March, Theresa May triggered Article 50 when Tim Barrow ,
14384-501: The term was coined in a blog post on the website Euractiv by Peter Wilding, director of European policy at BSkyB , on 15 May 2012. Wilding coined Brexit to refer to the end of the UK's membership of the EU; by 2016, usage of the word had increased by 3,400% in one year. On 2 November 2016, the Collins English Dictionary selected Brexit as the word of the year for 2016. The " Inner Six " European countries signed
14508-491: The terms of withdrawal as formally agreed between the UK government and the EU Commission. After the European Parliament ratified the agreement on 29 January, the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union at 23:00 London time (GMT) on 31 January 2020, with a withdrawal agreement in place. Several states have political parties represented in national assemblies or the European Parliament that advocate withdrawal from
14632-518: The treaty was ratified, he judged, was "likely to have fundamental consequences both for British politics and for Britain's relationship with the [EC]." Thatcher, who had previously supported the common market and the Single European Act, in the Bruges speech of 1988 warned against "a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels". She influenced Daniel Hannan , who in 1990 founded
14756-477: The withdrawal process by invoking Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union with permission from Parliament . May called a snap general election in June 2017, which resulted in a Conservative minority government supported by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). UK–EU withdrawal negotiations began later that month. The UK negotiated to leave the EU customs union and single market. This resulted in
14880-495: Was another co chair in the group, until she reportedly resigned in February 2016. Labour MP Gisela Stuart did not participate in the group, instead chairing the official leave campaign, Vote Leave . John Mills officially resigned as chairman of Labour Leave, in July 2018. The supporters page of the website, in January 2019, listed only Brendan Chilton (chair) and MPs, Kate Hoey and Frank Field (on 30 August 2018, Field had resigned
15004-498: Was emphasised by UKIP winning two by-elections (in Clacton and Rochester and Strood , triggered by defecting Conservative MPs) in 2014. Both pro- and anti-EU views had majority support at different times from 1977 to 2015. In the EC membership referendum of 1975 , two-thirds of British voters favoured continued EC membership. Over the decades of UK-EU membership, Euroscepticism existed on both
15128-570: Was included in the Conservative Party manifesto for the election. The Conservative Party won the election with a majority. Soon afterwards, the European Union Referendum Act 2015 was introduced into Parliament to enable the referendum. Cameron favoured remaining in a reformed EU, and sought to renegotiate on four key points: protection of the single market for non-eurozone countries, reduction of "red tape", exempting Britain from "ever-closer union", and restricting immigration from
15252-463: Was not an overseas territory of France but rather one of its overseas departments . Upon its independence in 1962, Algeria ceased to be part of France. However, the implications of Algeria's independence on its relationship with the EEC was legally unresolved, since the Treaty of Rome , which explicitly referred to Algeria by name as subject to the treaty's provisions, was not immediately amended. In 1976
15376-403: Was not put to a referendum. The Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative Party led a rebellion over the ratification of the treaty and, with the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the cross-party People's Pledge campaign, then led a collective campaign, particularly after the Treaty of Lisbon was also ratified by the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 without being put to a referendum following
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