Political Consequences of Brexit Flashcards
Why did David Cameron resign after the Leave victory in 2016?
Cameron was a strong advocate for remaining in the EU: “I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the EU. I made clear the referendum was about this, and this alone, not the future of any single politician, including myself.”
Who replaced David Cameron after his resignation as PM?
Theresa May took over as Conservative leader and PM in July 2016.
What led to Theresa May’s resignation?
In June 2017, May lost her majority in government forcing a confidence-and-supply deal with the DUP. She survived 2 no confidence votes but after her Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament three times, she resigned in July 2019.
Who became PM after Theresa May resigned – and what was its impact on Brexit?
Boris Johnson becomes PM in July 2019. Johnson renegotiated the Brexit deal and secured an 80-seat majority in the December 2019 general election, enabling Brexit to proceed.
When did Brexit officially start?
On January 31st 2020, with the EU’s acknowledgement of the UK’s letter to Donald Tusk to trigger Article 50 → The UK formally left the EU, entering an 11-month transition period.
When was the end of the Brexit Transition Period and what were its effects?
On the 31st of December 202), the UK exited the single market and customs union, making Brexit fully operational.
What are four lasting impacts of Brexit?
- Divided UK society, with ongoing Scottish independence debates and Northern Ireland tensions.
- Economic uncertainty, with continued discussions on UK-EU trade agreements.
- Immigration and sovereignty remain key issues in British politics.
- A potential UK-EU ‘reset’ under Keir Starmer in 2025, focusing on security, trade, and cooperation—but not rejoining the EU or single market.
