United Kingdom exit from the European Union: Difference between revisions
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The weekend of 25th-26th June saw further political upheaval. On Saturday, the UK member of the [[European Commission]], [[Jonathan Hill, Baron Hill of Oareford|Lord Hill]], resigned his seat.<ref>''Daily Telegraph'': '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/25/britains-eu-commissioner-lord-hill-calls-its-quits-after-brexit/ Britain's EU Commissioner Lord Hill quits after Brexit vote - as experts warn City could suffer]'. 25th June 2016.</ref> The Shadow [[Foreign Secretary]], [[Hilary Benn]], was sacked at midnight by the [[Leader of the Opposition (UK)|Leader of the Opposition]], [[Jeremy Corbyn]], for questioning his leadership of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s 'remain' campaign after it emerged that many Labour-supporting areas had strongly-backed Brexit. During Sunday, a series of senior Opposition figures resigned amid calls for Corbyn to step down. Meanwhile, the Scottish First Minister suggested that the [[Scottish Parliament]] might block UK withdrawal,<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36633244 Nicola Sturgeon says MSPs at Holyrood could veto Brexit]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> and a petition on the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK government]] website for a second referendum on EU membership reached over three million signatories. (This petition had originally been started by a 'leave' supporter on the assumption of a 'remain' verdict.)<ref>''Huffington Post'': '[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/william-oliver-healey-referendum-petition_uk_576f8b28e4b0232d331e1b39 Second EU Referendum Petition Started By Leave Voter William Oliver Healey]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] announced a new policy of re-entering the EU.<ref>''Guardian'': '[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/lib-dems-pledge-british-return-eu-next-general-election Lib Dems to pledge British return to EU in next general election]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> In [[business]] news, the [[bank]]ing group [[HSBC]] indicated that some staff would be moved from [[London]] to [[Paris]] if the UK left the EU's single market.<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36629745 HSBC 'to move jobs to Paris if UK leaves single market']'. 26th June 2016.</ref> | The weekend of 25th-26th June saw further political upheaval. On Saturday, the UK member of the [[European Commission]], [[Jonathan Hill, Baron Hill of Oareford|Lord Hill]], resigned his seat.<ref>''Daily Telegraph'': '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/25/britains-eu-commissioner-lord-hill-calls-its-quits-after-brexit/ Britain's EU Commissioner Lord Hill quits after Brexit vote - as experts warn City could suffer]'. 25th June 2016.</ref> The Shadow [[Foreign Secretary]], [[Hilary Benn]], was sacked at midnight by the [[Leader of the Opposition (UK)|Leader of the Opposition]], [[Jeremy Corbyn]], for questioning his leadership of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s 'remain' campaign after it emerged that many Labour-supporting areas had strongly-backed Brexit. During Sunday, a series of senior Opposition figures resigned amid calls for Corbyn to step down. Meanwhile, the Scottish First Minister suggested that the [[Scottish Parliament]] might block UK withdrawal,<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36633244 Nicola Sturgeon says MSPs at Holyrood could veto Brexit]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> and a petition on the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK government]] website for a second referendum on EU membership reached over three million signatories. (This petition had originally been started by a 'leave' supporter on the assumption of a 'remain' verdict.)<ref>''Huffington Post'': '[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/william-oliver-healey-referendum-petition_uk_576f8b28e4b0232d331e1b39 Second EU Referendum Petition Started By Leave Voter William Oliver Healey]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] announced a new policy of re-entering the EU.<ref>''Guardian'': '[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/lib-dems-pledge-british-return-eu-next-general-election Lib Dems to pledge British return to EU in next general election]'. 26th June 2016.</ref> In [[business]] news, the [[bank]]ing group [[HSBC]] indicated that some staff would be moved from [[London]] to [[Paris]] if the UK left the EU's single market.<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36629745 HSBC 'to move jobs to Paris if UK leaves single market']'. 26th June 2016.</ref> | ||
The week beginning 27th June opened with further falls on global stock markets, but speeches by the UK finance minister, [[George Osborne]], and statements by the Prime Minister to the [[House of Commons]] sought to calm fears. Resignations continued from the Labour Opposition team, with the majority of senior figures departing, and a [[confidence vote]] on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership was called for 28th June. | |||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 12:06, 27 June 2016
The exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, also known as Brexit, refers to official plans and progress for the country to leave the international political and trading union comprising 28 member states across Europe. On 23rd June 2016, voters in a UK-wide referendum opted to leave the EU,[1] triggering proposals to disentangle the UK's laws and international agreements from the wider bloc. The vote led the current UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, to notify the nation of his intention to step down following an interim period prior to the election of a new leader of his Conservative Party, who would also replace him as premier.[2] That leader is expected to formally initiate the process to leave the EU.
The initial response to the referendum result on 24th June comprised a significant downturn in global stock markets,[3] a signal from the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, that her Scottish National Party would seek a second referendum on the nation leaving the UK, and various comments from national and international organisations on stabilising the markets and respecting the referendum result in an orderly way.
The weekend of 25th-26th June saw further political upheaval. On Saturday, the UK member of the European Commission, Lord Hill, resigned his seat.[4] The Shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, was sacked at midnight by the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, for questioning his leadership of the Labour Party's 'remain' campaign after it emerged that many Labour-supporting areas had strongly-backed Brexit. During Sunday, a series of senior Opposition figures resigned amid calls for Corbyn to step down. Meanwhile, the Scottish First Minister suggested that the Scottish Parliament might block UK withdrawal,[5] and a petition on the UK government website for a second referendum on EU membership reached over three million signatories. (This petition had originally been started by a 'leave' supporter on the assumption of a 'remain' verdict.)[6] The Liberal Democrats announced a new policy of re-entering the EU.[7] In business news, the banking group HSBC indicated that some staff would be moved from London to Paris if the UK left the EU's single market.[8]
The week beginning 27th June opened with further falls on global stock markets, but speeches by the UK finance minister, George Osborne, and statements by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons sought to calm fears. Resignations continued from the Labour Opposition team, with the majority of senior figures departing, and a confidence vote on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership was called for 28th June.
Footnotes
- ↑ BBC News: 'EU Referendum Results'. 24th June 2016.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU'. 24th June 2016.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Pound plunges after Leave vote'. 24th June 2016.
- ↑ Daily Telegraph: 'Britain's EU Commissioner Lord Hill quits after Brexit vote - as experts warn City could suffer'. 25th June 2016.
- ↑ BBC News: 'Nicola Sturgeon says MSPs at Holyrood could veto Brexit'. 26th June 2016.
- ↑ Huffington Post: 'Second EU Referendum Petition Started By Leave Voter William Oliver Healey'. 26th June 2016.
- ↑ Guardian: 'Lib Dems to pledge British return to EU in next general election'. 26th June 2016.
- ↑ BBC News: 'HSBC 'to move jobs to Paris if UK leaves single market''. 26th June 2016.