Law in the United Kingdom: Brexit

On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom decided by a slim majority to withdraw from the European Union. No other Member State had left the European Union (or its predecessor organizations) in its 65 year history. While Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union briefly outlines how such a withdrawal would work, the practical details were developed through extended negotiations between the UK and the EU. The formal withdrawal date for the UK was set as January 31, 2020, followed by a transition period until the end of 2020, while details and agreements between the UK and the EU were settled for the final separation on January 1, 2021.

A significant part of British law either implements or was directly overwritten by EU law. The long-term role of these EU laws in Britain is yet to be determined.

Regional differences within the United Kingdom were highlighted in the referendum vote, where the majority of voters from Northern Ireland and Scotland preferred to remain in the EU rather than leave. For the official views of the constitute governments that make up the UK, see the following links, or for more about the nations within the UK see the UK Regions section of our Foreign Law guide.

Recent news stories from the BBC on the decision to leave the EU.

Recent news and opinions on the relationship between the UK and the EU.