Confused about Brexit? We simplify it for you. Our World Editor Alex Abraham tells you the developments so far. Visit gulfnews.com to keep up with news surrounding Brexit. #Brexit #gulfnews #EU
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00:00Hello, my name is Alex Abraham and I'm the World Editor at Gulf News.
00:12Over the last few months and even years, we've been hearing so much about Brexit and I'm
00:17here to give you a lowdown about what the whole deal is all about.
00:21What is Brexit?
00:22Brexit simply means British exit and refers to the UK leaving the EU.
00:27The European Union is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries.
00:33It allows the free trade and the free movement of people living and working in the European
00:38countries.
00:40So why is the UK leaving the EU?
00:42A public vote or referendum was held on 23rd June 2016 to decide whether the UK should
00:48leave or remain.
00:51Leave won by 52% to 48% for remain.
00:55The referendum turnout was very high at 72% with more than 30 million people voting.
01:01So why hasn't the UK left the European Union yet?
01:05Brexit was due to happen on 29th March 2019.
01:09That was two years after then Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, the formal
01:14process to leave, and kicked off negotiations.
01:18But the Brexit date has been delayed twice.
01:21The UK and the EU agreed on a deal in November 2018 but MPs rejected it three times.
01:29So what's the status at the moment?
01:31Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the UK will leave the European Union by 31st October
01:39of this year.
01:41But MPs want an agreement with the EU before leaving and that's the whole deal at the moment
01:48in Parliament.
01:49Currently, the MPs in Parliament are putting forward a bill to extend the date of the exit
01:55to January.
01:56Boris Johnson says that he and the country is ready to leave the EU even before that.
02:03He has even threatened to call an election if the MPs block a deal at the moment.
02:09To read more about our news on Brexit, log on to gulfnews.com.