UK wakes up on February 1 no longer a member of the
European Union.
Brexit was formally completed on January 31 at 11pm GMT, but will be perhaps more accurate to call it a separation, for now, than the full divorce that UK had voted for more than three years back.
That is because, while January 31 marks the date the break-up is effected, there is time till the end of this year for finalising it, which will happen when both sides work out the terms for parting ways and the crucial matter of trade, government and people-to-people ties. The more drastic changes are thus slated for December 31, 2020, but some things nonetheless will be different going ahead.
THINGS THAT WILL CHANGEUK can have new trade partners, but won’t want to snub EUAs soon as the UK formally leaves EU on January 31 it can start negotiating trade deals with other countries. But EU accounts for about half of UK’s trade and PM
Boris Johnson will no doubt try to make sure that it is cushioned against disruption.
UK’s Brexit department shuts downThe Department for Exiting the European Union, set up by former PM
Theresa May in 2016, will be disbanded. A 40-member task force based out of Downing Street will handle upcoming negotiations with EU.
British diplomats in EUBritain’s diplomatic presence in Brussels will be re-branded and British officials’ access to EU premises and information will be reduced.
UK MEPs lose their seatsUK’s 73 members of the European Parliament, including prominent figures like Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, will lose their seats.
UK passport to change colourAs UK leaves EU, its new passports will be going back to their traditional blue rather thanburgundy, which is recommended, but not mandated, by EU rules.
Commemorative Brexit coinsThree million commemorative 50 pence coins inscribed with the date “31 January” and the text “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” will enter circulation.
Fish as bargaining chipsBritain’s financial services sector, its biggest export industry, wouldn’t want to lose easy access to the EU, which has indicated it will use the threat of restricting access as leverage for wider demands, like fishing access to UK waters.
English Premier League could take a hitWhen UK voted in favour of Brexit in 2016, all 20 Premier League clubs opposed it. New regulations will likely put stricter limits on the number and eligibility of foreign players and coaches allowed in the Premier League. Foreign managers like Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp may not qualify easily for UK jobs in the future.
THINGS THAT WON’T CHANGE, AT LEAST UNTIL 2021Living and working in the EUDuring the transition phase, UK nationals will be allowed to live and work in the EU, as will EU nationals in the UK. Britons living in the EU will continue to be able to vote and contest in municipal elections.
Scotland will continue to fly EU flagMembers of the Scottish Parliament voted to continue flying the EU flag, rejecting a proposal to lower the flag after UK leaves EU.
Budget contributions to EUUK will continue to pay into the EU budget during the transition This means existing EU schemes will continue.
WHAT HAPPENS IN NORTHERN IRELAND?Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, shares a border with Ireland, which is an EU member. To avoid new checks or controls on goods crossing the border between the two, UK and EU agreed that Northern Ireland will follow EU’s customs code at its airports and EU’s standards for agricultural and manufactured goods despite not formally being a part of the European bloc.