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Brexit special

Brexit, all the dates

Half a century of relations between the UK and Europe, in thirty dates.

Brexit is not an event but a process spanning half a century: it begins with a late and reluctant accession, runs through decades of difficult relations with Brussels, erupts with the 2016 referendum and continues today with the rapprochement begun after 2024. On this page we trace all the main stages, from the origins to the Brussels summit of November 2026.

The roots: a late accession

In 1957, when six countries founded the European Economic Community with the Treaties of Rome, the United Kingdom stayed out: it still saw itself as a global power, tied to the Commonwealth and the United States. When it changed its mind in the early 1960s, it found the door shut by General de Gaulle, who vetoed membership twice, in 1963 and 1967. Accession came only in 1973, together with Ireland and Denmark. Two years later Harold Wilson's Labour government put the decision to a popular vote, and two thirds of voters confirmed membership.

Decades of opt-outs

In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher strongly supported the single market but fought every transfer of political sovereignty and secured the rebate on contributions. In the 1990s the country signed the Maastricht Treaty with opt-outs from the single currency and social policy, while the trauma of Black Wednesday in 1992, when sterling was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, strengthened Conservative Euroscepticism. With the eastward enlargement of 2004, Tony Blair's government chose to open the labour market immediately to the new EU citizens, without transition periods: far more workers arrived than expected, and immigration became the dominant political issue.

From the referendum to departure

The decisive dates fall between 2016 and 2020: the vote, the triggering of Article 50, three years of parliamentary deadlock, two snap elections and finally formal departure. Then, from 2021, the new rules came into force, followed by long wrangling over Northern Ireland and, eventually, the reset of relations with Europe.

Brexit in thirty dates
  1. 1 January 1973The UK joins the European Economic Community under Edward Heath's government.
  2. 5 June 1975First referendum on membership: yes wins with 67.2%.
  3. 1984At the Fontainebleau summit Margaret Thatcher secures the British budget rebate.
  4. 16 September 1992Black Wednesday: sterling leaves the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
  5. 1993UKIP, a party campaigning to leave the Union, is founded.
  6. 23 January 2013In his Bloomberg speech David Cameron promises a referendum.
  7. 23 June 2016Referendum: Leave wins with 51.9%.
  8. 13 July 2016Theresa May becomes prime minister.
  9. 29 March 2017The government triggers Article 50.
  10. 8 June 2017Snap election: the Conservatives lose their majority.
  11. 15 January 2019Parliament rejects May's deal by 230 votes, the heaviest government defeat in history.
  12. 24 July 2019Boris Johnson becomes prime minister.
  13. 12 December 2019Johnson wins the election with an 80-seat majority.
  14. 31 January 2020At 11pm the UK leaves the European Union.
  15. 24 December 2020The Trade and Cooperation Agreement is concluded.
  16. 1 January 2021End of transition: no more free movement, single market or customs union.
  17. 1 October 2021EU identity cards are no longer enough to enter the country.
  18. 6 September 2022Liz Truss becomes prime minister; Rishi Sunak replaces her on 25 October.
  19. 27 February 2023The Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland is agreed.
  20. 31 January 2024Sanitary checks on EU imports begin.
  21. 3 February 2024Stormont returns, with Michelle O'Neill as first minister.
  22. 4 July 2024Labour wins the election, Keir Starmer enters Downing Street.
  23. 2 April 2025The ETA becomes necessary for EU citizens.
  24. 19 May 2025First EU-UK summit in London: the reset begins.
  25. 12 October 2025The EU launches its Entry/Exit System, which also applies to Britons.
  26. 25 February 2026Travellers without an ETA can no longer board for the UK.
  27. April 2026Agreement signed for the UK's return to Erasmus+ from 2027.
  28. 23 June 2026Tenth anniversary of the referendum.
  29. 20 July 2026Andy Burnham becomes prime minister.
  30. 20 November 2026Second EU-UK summit, in Brussels.

Dates still to come

The journey is not over. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for a joint review from 2026, the return to Erasmus+ is set for 2027, the fisheries deal expires in 2038, and the veterinary agreement, the linking of emissions markets and the youth scheme have still to be finalised. Back to the Brexit special or read the account of the 2016 referendum.