Main moments of the UK's withdrawal plan from the European Union
Chronology
The main events of Brexit
31st January 2020 - Brexit came into force. The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union.
28th October 2019 - Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, announced the European Union's acceptance of a further postponement of Brexit to 31st January 2020.
21st-24th October 2019 - The European Parliament met in Strasbourg for the last time before Brexit signalling the departure of UK representatives.
19th October 2019 - The House of Commons met to debate and vote on the Brexit agreement that Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated with Brussels. Johnson asked the EU to extend the withdrawal period until 31/01/2020 so that it could consider the text of the agreement.
17th-18th October 2019 - Government leaders from European Union countries met with Boris Johnson to discuss the terms of withdrawal from the UK. European leaders supported the agreement reached by the British Government and European Commission teams and encouraged that all steps should be taken so that it could take effect on 1st November.
17th-18th October 2019 - Government leaders from European Union countries met with Boris Johnson to discuss the terms of withdrawal from the UK. European leaders supported the agreement reached by the British Government and European Commission teams and encouraged that all steps should be taken so that it could take effect on 1st November.
15th October 2019 - Foreign Ministers from European Union member countries met in Luxembourg to discuss Brexit.
14th October 2019 - End of Parliament's suspension
10th September 2019 - The Parliament was suspended after Boris Johnson's request to the Queen.
28th August 2019 - Boris Johnson requested the Queen to suspend the British Parliament to prevent MPs from being able to approve measures that prevented a European Union withdrawal without an agreement. The following day, the Queen approved the suspension of the Parliament until 14th October.
27th August 2019 - Boris Johnson opposition party leaders met to discuss ways to stop Brexit without an agreement.
24th July 2019 - After new internal elections in the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson took office as Prime Minister. The new Prime Minister guaranteed that on 31st October the UK would leave the EU with or without an agreement.
24th May 2019 - On 24th May, Theresa May resigned from the leadership of the Conservative Party. Days before, the Prime Minister had suffered a new defeat in Parliament when a new referendum was rejected.
10th April 2019 - For the third time, Theresa May saw her exit deal fail. The British Prime Minister asked EU members for a longer postponement. Brexit was postponed for the second time to 31st October 2019.
21st March 2019 - Just a few days before the UK withdrawal from the EU, the 27 member states accepted the extension of Brexit. 22nd May was the new date scheduled for withdrawal.
12th March 2019 - British MPs rejected Theresa May's proposal for Brexit for the second time. There were 16 days left to leave the EU.
18th January 2019 - Several deputies resigned from their parties citing reasons including Brexit.
16th January 2019 - Theresa May faced a new censure motion after MPs rejected the Brexit agreement. The Prime Minister won again, yet with a smaller number of supporters: 325 against 306.
12th December 2018 - Theresa May faced a motion of censure triggered by Conservative deputies, unhappy with the work of the Prime Minister. Theresa May won 200 to 117, but without confidence.
14th November 2018 - Theresa May accepted the UK's withdrawal agreement proposed by the EU, with effect from 29th March 2019. However, the document was not accepted unanimously in the UK and there was a new wave of resignations, including that of Brexit secretary Dominic Raab.
9th July 2018 - David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, resigned and was replaced by Dominic Raab. Theresa May gave a speech at the House of Commons about leaving the EU and highlighted the "Chequers Plan", a proposal that would form the foundation for negotiations with the EU for a withdrawal agreement after the UK leaves the EU on 29th March 2019. The resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson, Foreign Minister, were related to this plan.
8th December 2017 - The first agreement was reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The first document established that there would be no "rigid borders" between the United Kingdom and Ireland, the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in the EU would be protected and the so-called "divorce bill" would cost around 39 billion pounds.
8th June 2017 - The Conservative Party lost a majority in the House of Commons, making it much more difficult for Theresa May to pass future laws.
18th April 2017 - Theresa May unexpectedly called for a general election for June. The polls predicted a victory for the Conservative Party.
29th March 2017 - The United Kingdom informed the European Council of its intention to leave the EU, thus officially triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The two-year countdown to Brexit began.
2nd October 2016 - The Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK would leave the EU on 29th March 2019.
13th July 2016 - Theresa May was elected the new British Prime Minister. David Davis was selected as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.
23rd June 2016 - A referendum was held in the UK on the country's permanence in the European Union (also known as a Brexit referendum). 52% of voters were in favour of leaving the UK. David Cameron presented his resignation as Prime Minister.
20th February 2016 - After negotiations, David Cameron announced that the promised referendum would be held on 23rd June 2016.
8th May 2015 - Conservatives won the general election.
14th April 2015 - Conservatives published their manifesto for the 2015 general elections and announced a "Real change in our relationship with the European Union" and commit to holding a referendum in late 2017.
23rd January 2013 - In an interview with Bloomberg, Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the future of the European Union and declared himself in favour of a referendum so that the British could say whether they wanted to stay or leave the European Union.
Sources:
Nigel Walker, Commons Briefing papers CBP-7960, UK Parliament https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7960#fullreport