Brexit: What you need to know so far

Gulf News

Confused about Brexit? We simplify it for you. Our World Editor Alex Abraham tells you the developments so far. Visit gulfnews.com to keep up with news surrounding Brexit. #Brexit #gulfnews #EU

Transcript

00:00Hello, my name is Alex Abraham and I'm the World Editor at Gulf News.

00:12Over the last few months and even years, we've been hearing so much about Brexit and I'm

00:17here to give you a lowdown about what the whole deal is all about.

00:21What is Brexit?

00:22Brexit simply means British exit and refers to the UK leaving the EU.

00:27The European Union is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries.

00:33It allows the free trade and the free movement of people living and working in the European

00:38countries.

00:40So why is the UK leaving the EU?

00:42A public vote or referendum was held on 23rd June 2016 to decide whether the UK should

00:48leave or remain.

00:51Leave won by 52% to 48% for remain.

00:55The referendum turnout was very high at 72% with more than 30 million people voting.

01:01So why hasn't the UK left the European Union yet?

01:05Brexit was due to happen on 29th March 2019.

01:09That was two years after then Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, the formal

01:14process to leave, and kicked off negotiations.

01:18But the Brexit date has been delayed twice.

01:21The UK and the EU agreed on a deal in November 2018 but MPs rejected it three times.

01:29So what's the status at the moment?

01:31Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the UK will leave the European Union by 31st October

01:39of this year.

01:41But MPs want an agreement with the EU before leaving and that's the whole deal at the moment

01:48in Parliament.

01:49Currently, the MPs in Parliament are putting forward a bill to extend the date of the exit

01:55to January.

01:56Boris Johnson says that he and the country is ready to leave the EU even before that.

02:03He has even threatened to call an election if the MPs block a deal at the moment.

02:09To read more about our news on Brexit, log on to gulfnews.com.

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