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| Brexit (2016) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brexit (2016) |
| Date | 23 June 2016 |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Outcome | Vote to leave the European Union |
Brexit (2016) was a referendum held on 23 June 2016 in the United Kingdom to decide whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave that bloc; the result was a vote to leave, initiating a complex withdrawal process involving political leaders, legal institutions, and international partners. The referendum catalyzed realignments among figures such as David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and institutions including the House of Commons, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and the European Council, and it prompted negotiations under the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The referendum followed a history of debates about United Kingdom membership in European institutions stretching from the European Economic Community accession in 1973 through the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Lisbon Treaty, with prominent politicians like Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and John Major taking differing positions. Domestic pressure from parties such as the Conservative Party (UK), the UK Independence Party, and figures including Nigel Farage and Michael Heseltine combined with international contexts such as the Eurozone crisis and negotiations with leaders like Angela Merkel and François Hollande to influence the decision to hold a referendum. Debates referenced legal frameworks such as the European Communities Act 1972 and institutional actors like the European Court of Justice and the European Commission.
Campaigning centered on rival groups: the Vote Leave campaign, the Leave.EU campaign, and the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, with endorsements from politicians including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Gisela Stuart, David Cameron, and George Osborne. Media outlets such as The Sun, Daily Mail, and The Daily Telegraph and broadcasters governed by the BBC and regulatory frameworks influenced coverage alongside polling organizations like YouGov, Ipsos MORI, and Survation. Key topics invoked institutions and treaties: sovereignty vis-à-vis the European Court of Justice, immigration vis-à-vis the Schengen Area, trade relations with the World Trade Organization and European Single Market, and treaty renegotiation discussions involving the European Council and Jean-Claude Juncker.
The referendum produced a 51.9% to 48.1% split in favour of leave, with a turnout involving electoral administration by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom) and counting supervised by regional returning officers in nations including England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Prominent reactions included the resignation of David Cameron, the succession of Theresa May as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and public statements from Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker, and leaders of member states including Matteo Renzi and Mariano Rajoy. The result prompted immediate market responses affecting institutions such as the London Stock Exchange, the Bank of England, and indices tracked by organizations like FTSE Group and prompted commentary from central banks including the European Central Bank.
Political realignment followed: leadership contests within the Conservative Party (UK), debates involving the Labour Party (UK), and positions from devolved administrations led by figures such as Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones. Economic responses involved the Bank of England's financial stability measures, corporate decisions by multinational firms including Toyota, HSBC, and Vodafone, and reactions by rating agencies such as Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's. International political statements came from the United States, with commentary by officials connected to Barack Obama and later Donald Trump, while international organizations including the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development issued analyses.
Legal questions concerned the mechanism to trigger withdrawal under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the status of the European Communities Act 1972, and the application of human-rights instruments including the European Convention on Human Rights. Litigation reached the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union case over prerogative powers and parliamentary approval, while the House of Lords and the House of Commons debated statutes such as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017. Devolution raised constitutional issues involving the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The United Kingdom invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union on 29 March 2017 under Theresa May, leading to negotiations culminating in a withdrawal agreement negotiated with Michel Barnier on behalf of the European Commission and approved in altered form by the European Council. Parliamentary processes produced votes including the Meaningful Vote and the passage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, with subsequent political developments including the premiership of Boris Johnson and the ratification of a revised withdrawal agreement. Implementation involved transition arrangements governed by the Withdrawal Agreement and later the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (UK–EU) negotiated under delegations involving the European Parliament and national legislatures.
The referendum reshaped United Kingdom relations with member states including France, Germany, and Spain and affected negotiations on trade with partners such as the United States, China, and members of the Commonwealth of Nations. It influenced debates within candidate and member states including Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey and prompted discussions at forums such as the G7 and the United Nations General Assembly. Geopolitical analyses referenced institutions like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Council of Europe, and economic bodies including the World Trade Organization to assess impacts on alliances, regulatory regimes, and cross-border cooperation.
Category:Referendums in the United Kingdom Category:2016 in the United Kingdom