Brittle Britain: Officially Off the EU Rope!
After a rollercoaster of 250+ hours of splashing arguments in Parliament and a hearty royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill finally made it into law. If you’ve been watching this drama unfold since the 2016 referendum, sit tight: Britain has officially said “goodbye, Europe.”
What the New Law Does
- Rewrites Britain’s entire legal backbone by scrapping the old 1972 European Communities Act.
- Benchmarks March 29, 2019, 11:00 pm GMT (the same flicker of midnight in Brussels) as the legal “Brexit Day.”
- Hands the government a temporary power‑up to tweak laws during the exit process.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Take
May described the assent as a “historic moment” and a launchpad for turning the Brexit referendum’s voice into reality. She promised a “smooth and orderly” exit – so far, the wording of that promise is the only thing keeping some people awake.
Eurosceptic Cheers
From Liam Fox to Jacob Rees‑Mogg, the pro‑UK‑exit MPs erupted. Leo Fox said the odds of staying in the EU are now zero, while Rees‑Mogg declared the legal footing was “so strong it could give the Prime Minister a straight‑as‑a‑rail negotiating advantage.” Add Dominic Raab’s “wind in her sails” comment, and you can taste the celebratory rumble filling the Commons.
What’s Next?
- Expect tougher debates in the coming weeks around trade deals, with pro‑EU MPs pushing to wield tighter ties to the bloc.
- We’re still waiting on May’s master plan for customs – the biggest sticky point in negotiations with Brussels.
- The EU summit kicks off next Thursday, and May will huddle with her top ministers afterward to squeeze out a comprehensive Brexit blueprint.
The Bottom Line
In short: the law is now in place, the countries are scheduling an exit date, and the political battle for the next few months is just getting started. As Brexit marches forward, keep your popcorn handy and your politics book open – it’s going to be one heck of a show.
