- Initially, the UK intended to leave the European Union by the end of March 2019 – two years after formally invoking Article 50.
- However, the British Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal despite the approaching deadline. After the EU bloc passed it, the UK was asked to approve the agreement before 12 April, or leave without a deal by 30 June in the case that MPs failed to adopt the bill.
- After another round of negotiations, Brussels granted another extension until 31 October. The delay, however, didn't help May, as MPs blocked her bill three times, forcing her to announce her resignation on 24 May.
British Prime Minister Theresa May and British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson look toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, as they participate in a working dinner meeting at the NATO headquarters during a NATO summit of heads of state and government in Brussels on Thursday, May 25, 2017
© AP Photo / Matt Dunham, Pool
- New Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised that he would lead the country out of the EU by the deadline – with or without an agreement.
- Parliament, however, opposed the no-deal scenario, with the Labour party and several Tory rebels seeking to make that option impossible.
- After lengthy negotiations, the EU and Great Britain struck a deal on 17 October 2019.
- UK Parliament, however, stated that London needs more time, forcing Johnson to send the EU a request for another delay.
- Johnson, however, sent a separate letter to Brussels, explaining that the request was coming from the House of Commons, and not from the government.
- The MPs voted to request a delay until 31 January 2020, and Brussels approved the deadline. However, the UK can leave the bloc before the date by ratifying Johnson's deal – in that case, Brexit will be delivered a month after the vote.
