Case Study (Brexit Withdrawal)

Question 1

Who took the government to court in order to give Parliament a say over Brexit?

Answer 1

Gina Miller

Question 2

What was the first Act of Parliament regarding Brexit called?

Answer 2

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Question 3

When was that bill introduced and then passed?

Answer 3

It was introduced in July 2017 and passed in June 2018

Question 4

What was the name of the clause within the European Union (Withdrawal) Act that gave MPs a say on the final agreement with the EU?

Answer 4

The meaningful vote clause

Question 5

What happened to PM Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement because of this clause?

Answer 5

It was defeated twice

Question 6

By what margins was the agreement defeated?

Answer 6

January 2019 - 432-202
March 2019 - 391-242

Question 7

Why was a third vote held at the end of March?

Answer 7

Because European Council offered to extend the Brexit deadline if the deal passed by the 29th of March

Question 8

What happened during this third vote?

Answer 8

The bill was defeated again - 344-286

Question 9

What was then done after the third rejection of the agreement?

Answer 9

MPs voted on four options regarding Brexit and rejected all of them

Question 10

What was the type of vote that the Commons held to choose from these four options?

Answer 10

Indicative Voting

Question 11

What is indicative voting?

Answer 11

A non-binding vote to see what the Commons might approve of

Question 12

What was clear during this period?

Answer 12

MPs could decide on what they didn’t want, but not on what they did want

Question 13

What Act was finally passed in April 2019 that ended the problems encountered?

Answer 13

The European Union Withdrawal Act (2019) - The Cooper-Letwin Act

Question 14

Is this Act the same as the one passed in June 2018?

Answer 14

NO.

Question 15

What happened in September 2019?

Answer 15

PM Johnson’s withdrawal agreement was complicated by the passing of another bill

Question 16

What was this bill?

Answer 16

The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 - the Benn Act

Question 17

What did the Benn Act require the government to do?

Answer 17

Get an extension of the withdrawal deadline if certain circumstances were not met

Question 18

What were the circumstances outlined in the Benn Act?

Answer 18

If the Commons didn’t accept a withdrawal agreement or risked leaving without one by the 19th October 2019

Question 19

What date did the Benn Act stipulate as the new Brexit deadline in these circumstances?

Answer 19

31st January 2020

Question 20

PM Johnson refused to ask for an extension and said what?

Answer 20

He would rather be “Dead in a ditch” than request an extension of the deadline

Question 21

What did PM Johnson then do?

Answer 21

Prorogued Parliament illegally

Question 22

Was Parliament prorogued as PM Johnson hoped?

Answer 22

NO - it was declared illegal in an unanimous verdict by the Supreme Court

Question 23

On the 19th October 2019, what did the Commons do?

Answer 23

Pass MP Oliver Letwin’s amendment to PM Johnson’s Brexit deal by 322-306

Question 24

What did Letwin’s new amendment stipulate?

Answer 24

Parliament wouldn’t approve the Brexit deal until the UK had entirely withdrawn from the EU

Question 25

What was the result of the Letwin Amendment passing?

Answer 25

The Benn Act was triggered and a new deadline had to be requested

Question 26

The Government passed what legislative so they could get an early election?

Answer 26

Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019

Question 27

What Act did this bypass?

Answer 27

The Fixed Term Parliament Act

Question 28

After the 2019 election, what was the government able to do?

Answer 28

Pass the withdrawal agreement with a majority of 99 MPs