Today is BREXIT Day or the day the United Kingdom leaves the European Union… well… kind of. We effectively leave as a member and can no longer participate in its institutions such as the EU Parliament and Council once the clock strikes 11pm.
Featured Photo: By Colin from Wikimedia. License.
But… the Withdrawal Agreement includes a transition period that will start from today after 11pm GMT which is when we leave as a member, this period lasts 11 months unless it is extended and means during that time we will still be subject to EU laws and regulations, ending on December 31st at midnight as we move into 2021. This period allows the UK to remain in limbo while it negotiates a trade deal with the European Union, like a safety mechanism, it is meant to allow us more security if negotiations go south.
So although today we leave as a member, not much really changes until those 11 months have passed and of course the transition period can be extended, although the deadline to extend further will end in June of this year, if the government doesn’t extend by then, that means we will be locked in to fully leave in December. Boris Johnson has stated that he has no intention of extending this period, and with such a large majority behind him, it will be pretty easy for him to stick to this promise, without opposition introducing a possible amendment that forces an extension if Boris Johnson and his government fails to negotiate a trade deal with the EU.
Some will be celebrating today, others will be holding vigils such as in Scotland, some will be marching in solidarity with the EU, bidding them farewell, others will simply just be going with today as if it was a normal day. Make of it what you will. The next 11 months will determine the UKs future relations with the European Union, so keeping up with what’s going on is fairly important.
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