Brexit

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on its membership in the European Union. The referendum, commonly known as the Brexit referendum, resulted in 52% of voters choosing to leave the EU, while 48% voted to remain. The result shocked many observers and led to significant political and economic ramifications both in the UK and the EU. The Leave campaign was led by figures such as Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, who argued that leaving the EU would allow the UK to regain control over its borders, laws, and trade policies.

On March 29, 2017, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, officially triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This action began the formal process for the UK to leave the EU, giving both parties two years to negotiate the terms of departure. The triggering of Article 50 followed the EU referendum result, where a majority of voters opted to leave the EU. The notification was delivered to European Council President Donald Tusk, marking the start of complex negotiations over the UK's exit terms and future relationship with the EU.

On July 6, 2018, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her Cabinet agreed on the Chequers Plan, a proposal outlining the UK's approach to future relations with the EU. The plan suggested a free trade area for goods, a common rulebook, and further close alignment with the EU, which led to controversy and several key resignations from the Cabinet, such as Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. The plan faced criticism from both pro-Brexit and pro-Remain factions, raising doubts about achieving a consensus within the UK Parliament.

On November 25, 2018, EU leaders formally approved the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, a treaty outlining the terms of the UK's departure from the European Union. The agreement, reached after long and complex negotiations led by then-Prime Minister Theresa May, covered key issues such as the financial settlement, citizens' rights, and the controversial backstop for Northern Ireland to prevent a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. The endorsement by all 27 EU leaders set the stage for a crucial vote in the UK Parliament to ratify the deal.

On January 15, 2019, the UK House of Commons voted against Theresa May's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by a historic margin of 230 votes, the largest defeat for a sitting government in UK history. This crucial vote left the UK political landscape in turmoil as the country faced uncertainty over its path to exiting the EU. The defeat emphasized the divisions within Parliament and the UK public regarding the terms of Brexit and raised questions about whether an agreement could be reached in time for the UK's planned departure on March 29, 2019.

On July 24, 2019, Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest. Succeeding Theresa May, Johnson promised to 'get Brexit done' and pledged to lead the UK out of the EU by the revised deadline of October 31, 2019, with or without a deal. His premiership marked a new phase in the Brexit saga, notably characterized by his staunch pro-Brexit stance, the suspension of Parliament, and attempts to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.

On October 17, 2019, Boris Johnson and the European Union reached a revised Brexit deal, altering critical elements of the Northern Ireland backstop devised during Theresa May's tenure. This new agreement established a customs arrangement for Northern Ireland, which remains aligned with the EU's single market for goods. The deal faced immediate challenges in garnering support from UK Parliament, particularly from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), whose support was critical for Johnson to secure parliamentary approval for the agreement.

January 31, 2020, marks the day when the United Kingdom officially left the European Union after 47 years of membership. The day represented a significant turning point in British history, bringing an end to years of debate and division following the 2016 referendum. Brexit Day triggered an 11-month transition period during which the UK and EU sought to negotiate the terms of their future relationship. On this day, celebratory and protest events took place across the UK, reflecting the ongoing divide over Brexit.

On December 24, 2020, the United Kingdom and the European Union reached a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, outlining their future relationship post-Brexit. The agreement covered various crucial areas such as trade, security, and governance, and avoided tariffs and quotas on goods. It signaled an end to the Brexit transition period on December 31, 2020. Despite addressing immediate concerns about no-deal chaos, the agreement left several important future aspects unresolved, particularly concerning services and regulatory standards.

Since the UK's departure from the EU, the Northern Ireland Protocol, an integral part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, has been a focal point of contention. On December 28, 2021, tensions heightened as UK and EU officials struggled to resolve issues concerning trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The protocol's aim to prevent a hard border with Ireland led to checks on goods entering Northern Ireland, causing political and economic frictions. This ongoing dispute remains a sensitive issue in UK-EU relations.