BREXIT RE FERENDUM
2015: Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron promised a referendum on EU
membership if he won the election
-separation in a “Remain” and “Leave” campaign divided the country
23 June 2016: leave won by 52% to 48%
-record turnout of 73%: over 30 million people voted
the result was unexpected; sent shockwaves through the UK and Europe
-England and Wales voted mostly for leaving the EU, while Scotland, Northern
Ireland and the city of London backed staying in the EU
-older generation decided for Brexit, while the younger generation voted to stay
-rural areas voted mostly for Brexit, while urban areas voted to stay
-the day after the referendum, David Cameron announced that he would resign
-although the referendum was not legally binding, the new Conservative Prime
Minister Theresa May promised to uphold the decision
she stated “Brexit means Brexit”
TRIGGERING OF ARTICLE 50
March 29 2017: triggering of Article 50
marked the official start of Brexit negotiations between UK and EU
-Article 50 is part of the Lisbon Treaty
says that any EU member state may decide to quit the EU: it must notify the
European council and negotiate its withdrawal with the EU; there are two years to
reach an agreement
-during the two-year frame, EU law will continue to apply in the UK
-if no agreement is reached within two years and no extension is agreed, the UK
automatically leaves the EU and all existing agreements would cease to apply
