Brexit/Procedure



{| style="width:65%;"
 * style="background-color: cream; border: solid 1px gray; padding: 1em;" valign="top" |

After the referendum
The 2016 Referendum Act did not specifically state that Article 50 had to be invoked. However, the Government expected that a leave vote would be followed by withdrawal, but no contingency plans were drawn up for a leave vote. Following the referendum result David Cameron resigned and said that it would be for the incoming Prime Minister to invoke Article 50.
 * }

{| style="width:65%;"
 * style="background-color: cream; border: solid 1px gray; padding: 1em;" valign="top" |

Article 50 Bill
The House of Commons overwhelmingly voted, on 1 February 2017, in favour of the Bill to invoke Article 50, it passed into law as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017.

Theresa May signed the letter invoking Article 50 on 28 March 2017, which was delivered on 29 March to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, thereby triggering the negotiation period.
 * }

{| style="width:65%;"
 * style="background-color: cream; border: solid 1px gray; padding: 1em;" valign="top" |

Negotiations
Subsequently President Tusk sent draft guidelines for the negotiations to EU delegations from the 27 other member states (EU27), setting out the overall positions and principles that the Union will pursue.

The overall objective will be to preserve the interests of the EU, those of its Member States, its citizens and its businesses, and, in the best interest of both sides, the Union will be constructive throughout and strive to find an agreement.

Negotiations are likely to be delayed until after the snap UK general election, which takes place on 8 June 2017.
 * }

{| style="width:65%;"
 * style="background-color: cream; border: solid 1px gray; padding: 1em;" valign="top" |