BREXIT: The Definitive Timeline

• January 17, 2017: In her Lancaster House speech, Theresa May lays out the government’s plans for Brexit. Her speech outlines the PM’s view on the future of the UK-EU relationship and their negotiating terms.

• June 8, 2017: Theresa May calls a snap election to seek a more significant majority in Parliament. The gamble fails, and May loses her majority, forcing her to strike a deal with the Northern Ireland DUP for their support in parliament.

• June 26, 2017: Brexit negotiations between the UK and The EU begin in Brussels.

• December 13, 2017: Conservative MPs rebel against Theresa May to join the Opposition in requiring a vote on the final Brexit deal.

• December 15, 2017: The UK Divorce Bill is settled between both parties, and the negotiations move onto the EU Citizens’ rights and the Irish border.

• March 19, 2018: EU citizens’ rights and a transitional period are agreed upon, among other issues. The Irish border is still to be resolved.

• July 6, 2018: Theresa May unveils her controversial Chequers Plan to her cabinet. Hard Brexiters are incensed by the deal.  Boris Johnson resigned from his post as Foreign Minister, and David Davis resigned as Brexit Secretary in the following days. May replaced David Davis with Dominic Raab.

• November 14, 2018: UK and EU negotiating teams successfully conclude the Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out the terms of the final Brexit date on March 29, 2019. Theresa May presented the deal with her cabinet and published the deal to widespread rejection.

• November 15, 2018: Dominic Raab resigns as Brexit Secretary in opposition to the deal and various other ministers. Stephen Barclay replaces Raab.

• November 25, 2018: The European Council approved the Political Declaration and endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement.

• December 10, 2018: Theresa May postpones a Meaningful Vote in Parliament to garner more support for her deal.

• December 12, 2018: Theresa May survives a vote of confidence from Tory rebels, winning 200 to 117.

• March 12, 2019: After minor revisions to the previous version, May’s deal is submitted to the House of Commons for a second Meaningful Vote. Again, the deal is voted down by Parliament 391-242.

• March 21, 2019: With the Brexit deadline looming, May and EU leaders agree to extend the deadline to April 12, 2019.

• March 29, 2019: May’s deal is voted on and defeated for the third time in the UK Parliament – this time 344-289.

• April 10, 2019: The European Council agrees to extend the Brexit deadline to October 31, 2019, but will accept the result if the UK Parliament approves the deal before the deadline. As Brexit did not occur, the UK must now participate in the EU parliamentary elections.

• May 26, 2019: The Brexit Party wins the UK’s EU parliamentary elections with 31.6% of the vote.

• June 7, 2019: Theresa May steps down as UK Prime Minister in a tearful speech. She regards her inability to deliver Brexit as her “biggest failure.” Her resignation kicks off a leadership race within the Conservative party.

• September 4, 2019: Parliament defeats Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election while simultaneously passing the Benn Act. The Benn act requires Johnson to seek a Brexit deadline extension if no deal has been reached by October 19.

• September 9, 2019: The Benn Act becomes law, now binding Johnson to seek the extension if his deal fails. Johnson, in response, chooses to prorogue, or suspend, parliament for five weeks amid a flurry of legal challenges.

• September 24, 2019: The UK Supreme Court ruled that the suspension of parliament was unlawful, and parliament returned to session the following day.

• October 02, 2019: Boris Johnson unveils his new Brexit deal with the contentious new Irish Border solution. While it receives some support from Hardline Brexiters and the DUP, the Labour-led Opposition and EU leaders largely dismiss the deal as unworkable.

• October 04, 2019: In a document submitted to a Scottish Court, the Prime Minister commits to requesting a Brexit deadline extension from the EU.

• October 17, 2019: After much speculation about the deal’s viability, Boris Johnson secures a deal with EU leaders. Soft support for the deal materializes, but crucial Northern Ireland support is lost when the DUP comes out against the deal.

• October 19, 2019: Parliament hosts its first Saturday sitting since 1982 to debate the deal on the deadline for an extension request. Rather than vote on the deal, MPs voted to force Johnson to request an extension. The Prime Minister complied with the legislation by having a senior diplomat submit the written extension request. EU leaders began debating the extension and their required conditions.

• October 22, 2019: MPs vote to pass Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill 329-299 but rejected the bill to accelerate his timeline by 322-308 as it would give them little time to scrutinize the deal. Johnson threatens to pull the deal and call for an early election.

• October 28, 2019: EU leaders agree to a January 31st, 2020 “flextension” date unless UK Parliament approves the deal ahead of the deadline. Boris Johnson’s third attempt to call a snap election fails again in Parliament. Though the motion for December 12, 2019, election date won a majority of votes (299-70), it failed to reach the two-thirds supermajority required for an early election.

• October 29, 2019: Parliament votes in favour of a December 12, 2019 snap election by 438-20 after Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, supports the motion.

• October 29, 2019: The Prime Minister proposes an early general election. The motion has been defeated. [Although a majority voted in favor (299 votes to 70), the number of votes required (434) under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 was not met.]

• October 30, 2019: Ministers approve the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (Exit Day) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2019, which officially moves the “exit day” to January 31, 2020. The government introduced the Early Parliamentary General Election Bill, which calls for a General Election on December 12. The Bill passes through the Commons and is sent to the Lords.

• December 12-13, 2019: The European Council meets. EU27 leaders discuss Brexit and call for the withdrawal agreement to be ratified and implemented as soon as possible. They also reiterate their desire to maintain the closest possible future relationship with the United Kingdom.

• December 13, 2019: Prime Minister Boris Johnson commits in a statement outside 10 Downing Street to “complete Brexit by January 31 2020.”

• December 20, 2019: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill received 358 favor votes to 234 against in the House of Commons on December 20, 2019.

• January 7, 2020: The first day of the Committee Stage in the House of Commons for the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.

• January 9, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill advances to the House of Lords after passing the Third Reading stage. Michel Barnier speaks in Sweden, stating that the EU will continue to prepare for a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020.

• January 13, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill receives its Second Reading in the House of Lords.

• January 14, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill enters the Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

• January 15, 2020: The House of Lords debates the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill on day two of its committee stage.

• January 16, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is in its third day of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords, after which it will proceed to the Third Reading.

• January 20, 2020: Peers discuss the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill on the first day of the Report Stage. Boris Johnson suffered his first loss on the Bill when Lord Oates’ amendment passed by 269 votes to 229, requiring EU nationals living in the UK to obtain a physical document proving their right to be in the country.

• January 21, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is in the Report Stage in the House of Lords for the second time. The Bill is then read a third time and returned to the Commons with changes.

• January 22, 2020: MPs discuss and vote on the Lords’ changes to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. These improvements are then debated and accepted by peers. EU27 ambassadors support transparency norms for post-Brexit talks.

• January 23, 2020: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill obtains Royal Assent and becomes the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020. This law will implement the divorce agreement between the UK and the EU.

• January 29, 2020: The European Parliament approves the Brexit deal.

• January 30, 2020: The EU ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement.

• January 31, 2020: At 11 pm, the United Kingdom exits the European Union and enters a transition period that will last until the end of the year.

The transition period (1 Feb – 31 Dec 2020)

• February 1, 2020: The transition period starts.

• February 25, 2020: The European Council decides to start negotiations on a new partnership with the United Kingdom.

• February 27, 2020: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove delivers a statement in the House of Commons on the Government’s approach to the UK’s future relationship with the European Union. The government issued a paper titled “The Future Relationship with the EU. The Negotiation Strategy of the United Kingdom.”

• March 18, 2020: A draft legal agreement covering the future EU-UK partnership is published by the European Commission.

• March 30, 2020: The Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee convenes via teleconference for the first time, co-chaired by Michael Gove and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič.

• April 20-24, 2020: The second round of UK–EU future relationship talks begins.

• April 28, 2020: Michael Gove outlines the discussion points from the second round of UK-EU future relationship negotiations in a Written Statement. Michael Gove outlines the discussion points from the second round of UK-EU future relationship negotiations in a Written Statement.

• May 11-15, 2020: The third round of UK–EU future relationship talks begins.

• May 19, 2020: In response to an Urgent Question, Michael Gove updates the House of Commons on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. In a written statement, Michael Gove presents the discussion points from the third round of UK-EU future relationship negotiations. The UK government publishes the ten draft treaty texts it has tabled in future relationship talks. The government also released a letter sent on the same day by David Frost to Michel Barnier. Mr Barnier will respond the next day.

• May 20, 2020: The Government publishes its approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol, outlining how the UK will meet its obligations under the Protocol, which include maintaining Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Michael Gove also makes a statement to the House of Commons on the Northern Ireland Protocol: UK Approach.

• June 2-5, 2020: The fourth round of UK–EU future relationship talks begins.

• June 4, 2020: MPs debate the EU’s mandate to negotiate a new partnership with the United Kingdom.

• June 9, 2020: Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt updates the House of Commons on the fourth round of negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU in response to an Urgent Question.

• June 12, 2020: The Joint Committee on the Withdrawal Agreement holds its second meeting.

• June 16, 2020: Michael Gove delivers a statement to the House of Commons on UK-EU relations, updating members on the previous day’s high-level meeting.

• June 25, 2020: Conclusions on EU-UK relations are adopted by the European Council.

• June 29 – July 3, 2020: The fifth round of UK-EU future relationship negotiations takes place.

• June 30, 2020: The deadline for requesting a transition period extension, which was set to end at the end of December, passes.

• July 12, 2020: The UK Government announces a £705 million investment to fund new infrastructure, jobs, and technology to ensure that British border systems are fully operational after the transition ends.

• July 13, 2020: Michael Gove gives the House of Commons a statement on UK preparations for the end of the transition period.

• July 16, 2020: The Government issues a White Paper on the UK Internal Market, outlining policy options for ensuring the free flow of goods and services across the UK after the transition period ends. In the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy leads a debate on the White Paper.

• July 20-23, 2020: The sixth round of UK–EU future relationship negotiations begins.

• August 18-21, 2020: The seventh round of UK–EU future relationship negotiations begins.

• September 8-10, 2020: The eighth round of UK–EU future relationship negotiations begins.

• September 11, 2020: Leaders of the European Parliament have stated that they will not consent to a future deal between the EU and the UK if London violates the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. A statement by the UK Coordination Group and the leaders of the political groups of the EP states: Should the UK authorities breach – or threaten to breach – the Withdrawal Agreement through the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill in its current form or any other way, the European Parliament will, under no circumstances, ratify any agreement between the EU and the UK.

• September 14, 2020: The UK Internal Market Bill is now in its second reading.

• September 15, 2020: The first day of the UK Internal Market Bill’s Committee Stage.

• September 21, 2020: The third day of the UK Internal Market Bill’s Committee Stage.

• September 22, 2020: The fourth day of the UK Internal Market Bill’s Committee Stage.

• September 23, 2020: Michael Gove makes an oral statement about transition period preparations in the Commons.

• September 28, 2020: The Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee holds its next meeting. Following the meeting, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič reiterated the EU’s opposition to the UK Internal Market Bill, stating: We maintain that the bill, if adopted in its current form, would constitute an extremely serious violation of the [Northern Ireland] protocol as an essential part of the withdrawal agreement and international law. The withdrawal agreement is to be implemented, not renegotiated, let alone unilaterally changed, disregarded or disapplied.

• September 29, 2020: The UK Internal Market Bill is in its report stage. The Bill is passed on the Third Reading by a vote of 340-256 and is sent to the House of Lords.

• September 29 – October 2, 2020: The ninth round of UK–EU future relationship negotiations begins.

• October 2, 2020: The Port Infrastructure Fund, a £200 million fund for ports to build new border facilities, is established by the government.

• October 8, 2020: The Government releases an updated GB-EU Border Operating Model, which provides additional detail for businesses and passengers on how the GB-EU border will operate after the transition period ends.

• October 15, 2020: The European Council brings together EU heads of state and government. The Council’s conclusions reaffirm the EU’s original negotiating mandate.

• October 19, 2020: The Joint Committee on the Withdrawal Agreement meets. Michael Gove addresses the House of Commons, updating members on the UK Government’s negotiations with the EU, the future trading relationship, and the work of the UK/EU Joint Committee established by the withdrawal agreement. The Lords begin debate on the UK Internal Market Bill’s Second Reading.

• October 20, 2020: Michael Gove outlines the main discussion points from the previous meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in a Written Statement. The UK Internal Market Bill receives its Second Reading in the House of Lords before being referred to a Committee of the Whole House.

• October 21, 2020: The Prime Minister makes a statement on future UK-EU talks, inviting the EU team to London to resume talks later that week. Michel Barnier addresses the European Parliament’s Plenary Session, updating MEPs on the status of Brexit negotiations.

• October 26, 2020: First Day of the Committee Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• October 28, 2020: Second Day of the Committee Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• November 2, 2020: Third Day of the Committee Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• November 4, 2020: Fourth Day of the Committee Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• November 9, 2020: Fifth Day of the Committee Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• November 11, 2020: The Immigration Act is given Royal Assent, meaning free movement will end at 11 p.m. on December 31, 2020.

• November 18, 2020: In response to an Urgent Question, the Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office updates the House of Commons on the Northern Ireland Protocol’s implementation preparations. On the first day of the Report Stage debate in the House of Lords on the UK Internal Market Bill, peers back an amendment to the bill, resulting in a defeat for the government (by 367 votes to 209) intended to prevent Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from being sidelined when internal market rules for the UK are drawn up.

• November 23, 2020: The second day of the Report Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• November 25, 2020: The third day of the Report Stage debate on the UK Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords.

• December 2, 2020: The UK Internal Market Bill receives the Third Reading in the House of Lords and is sent back to the Commons with amendments.

• December 7, 2020: The Paymaster General updates the House of Commons on the UK’s negotiations with the European Union in response to an Urgent Question. MPs debate Lords’ amendments to the UK Internal Market Bill.

• December 9, 2020: Michael Gove makes an oral statement in the Commons on implementing the Northern Ireland protocol as part of the EU withdrawal agreement. The House of Lords considers the Commons Reasons and Amendments to the UK Internal Market Bill. Boris Johnson and Van der Leyen dine at the European Commission, and their conversation lasts about three hours.

• December 10, 2020: The Paymaster General updates the House of Commons on the UK’s negotiations with the EU in response to an Urgent Question.

• December 14, 2020: Further Commons Reasons and Amendments to the UK Internal Market Bill are being considered by the House of Lords.

• December 15, 2020: Further Commons Reasons and Amendments to the UK Internal Market Bill are being considered by the House of Lords.

• December 17, 2020: The United Kingdom Internal Market Act was enacted after the UK Internal Market Bill received Royal Assent. The Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee convenes via video conference to approve all formal decisions and practical solutions related to the Withdrawal Agreement’s implementation on January 1st, 2021. Parliament adjourns for the Christmas break, warning that members will be summoned if a Brexit deal is not passed into law by January 1st.

• December 20, 2020: The UK-EU talks have gone beyond the deadline set by the European Parliament to hold a consent vote on an agreement before the end of the year.

• December 29, 2020: The EU Council adopts a decision on the signing and provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (pending a consent vote by the European Parliament in early 2021).

• December 30, 2020: The European Union (Future Relationship) Bill receives 521 votes to 73 in the House of Commons on its Second Reading. The Bill goes through the Report Stage and is passed on the Third Reading by a vote of 521 to 73. The Bill passes its Second Reading and the remaining stages in the House of Lords before receiving Royal Assent and becoming an Act of Parliament: the European Union (Future Relationship) Act. MSPs in Scotland voted against the UK-EU trade deal. Although the bill is not a matter for the Scottish Parliament, its members vote to support a Scottish Government motion stating that the agreement would cause “severe damage to Scotland’s environmental, economic, and social interests.” European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sign the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on behalf of the European Union. The Agreement is then sent to London and signed on behalf of the United Kingdom by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.