Ever since the UK made an historic decision to leave the European Union (EU), it is clear that there has been continual uncertainty around this topic.
According to the BBC, 52% of the 33 million adults, voted to leave, whilst 48% wanted to stay within the EU. Though the vote took place over six months ago, the UK is currently still a member of the EU and an official process for the UK to leave the EU has not yet started as the government is discussing how this might work.
What happens now?
Theresa may wants to start the process of leaving the EU, by doing what is called triggering Article 50 which is a way of telling the EU that it no longer wants to be a member- though the UK has not yet officially announced to the rest of EU that it is leaving.
If the Prime Minister triggers article 50, this would result in a two year process in which the UK and EU leaders would discuss what their relationship would be like in the future. MPs voted in favour to begin the process of exiting the EU and backed a bill, which is an idea for a new law that will allow Article 50 to be triggered.
There are many things that would need to be agreed upon before the UK could officially leave the EU, including: business, laws and people.
Samantha Clack, a local who lives in Wimbledon says: “I call it ‘Brutal Brexit’ since it has been a decision that has split up our nation. Though we are coming together, it is still hard to oversee the possible negative outcomes which may arise from leaving the EU.”
It is worth mentioning that once Article 50 is triggered, the UK would not be able to come back into the EU unless all the other 27 countries agree that it can.
Sabrina Court, Ursuline Sixth Form
