Today, Theresa May will outline her “Plan B” for Brexit. Meanwhile, some MPs are plotting to take control of Parliament to prevent a no-deal exit. What is no deal? And how would it affect you?
Food, flights, Netflix: the EU and daily life
Today, Theresa May will outline her "Plan B" for Brexit. Meanwhile, some MPs are plotting to take control of Parliament to prevent a no-deal exit. What is no deal? And how would it affect you?
Deal or no deal?
"No deal is better than a bad deal." This has been Theresa May's Brexit refrain for two years, as she hashed out a withdrawal agreement with the EU. Now that that agreement has been rejectedThe withdrawal agreement was voted down by 432 votes to 202 in Parliament last week. Theresa May will present her "Plan B" today. by MPs, leaving without a deal has become more likely.
At least two groups of rebel MPs are working on plansTory Dominic Grieve wants Parliament to be allowed to choose the debates and votes on Brexit instead of the government, as well as blocking a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, MPs from five parties want to extend the leaving date if no agreement is reached by February 26. Both would attempt this by adding amendments to a motion by Theresa May in the House of Commons. to block a no-deal Brexit in Parliament. Yesterday, a cabinet minister accused them of trying to "steal Brexit".
But what exactly would no deal mean?
Essentially, it would sever all ties between the UK and EU overnight, with no transition period. The laws which govern their interactions would disappear. Here are five ways that might affect you...
1/ Prices. Britain would trade with other countries on the basic terms of the World Trade OrganizationA international organisation which governs the rules of trade between countries.. That would include tariffs. Exports to the EU would be taxed, on average, at 2.6%. But some tariffsA form of tax on imports. Each product will have a different tariff - for some EU dairy products, such as French cheese, tariffs in the UK will be more than 30%. are higher: cars are taxed at 10%, and dairy products at 35%. Those extra business costs would lead to higher prices for customers.
2/ Food. Around 30% of Britain's food is imported from the EU. At the border, lorries that were once waved through would have to go through customs checks. Experts say that just two minutes each would lead to 17 miles of traffic at Dover's ports. This could lead to gridlocked roads - and potential food shortages if problems persist. However, the government has insisted there would be "adequate food supplies" in the case of no deal.
3/ Health. The NHS has been stockpiling medicines to prevent a shortage. However, some supplies (such as the radioactive isotopesRadiation which is used to kill off cancerous cells. used for cancer treatment) have a shelf life of just a few days. Long delays at the border would make them useless.
4/ Holidays. The European Commission has introduced temporary measures to keep planes from being grounded. However, UK tourists may need to apply for visas to visit Europe.
5/ Citizenship. Whatever happens, the UK's 3.5 million EU citizens will be free to stay. But they will have to apply for "settled status". In the case of no deal, it will become harder for EU citizens to bring over family members. The status of the 1.2 million Britons in Europe will depend on the country they live in, but the EU has encouraged states to be "generous".
The Confederation of British Industry has warned that a no-deal Brexit will shrink the UK's GDPShort for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country. by 8% and risk thousands of jobs. For some, it is worth any short-term pain to get a "clean" break from the EU. Some Brexiteers have even invoked the UK's "blitz spiritThe blitz was the bombing of Britain in the Second World War." as proof that it can survive hard times.
But is it worth it? Is no deal really better than a bad deal? It would allow Britain to have total independence, but is that enough for it to succeed in the modern world?
Keywords
Rejected - The withdrawal agreement was voted down by 432 votes to 202 in Parliament last week. Theresa May will present her "Plan B" today.
Plans - Tory Dominic Grieve wants Parliament to be allowed to choose the debates and votes on Brexit instead of the government, as well as blocking a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, MPs from five parties want to extend the leaving date if no agreement is reached by February 26. Both would attempt this by adding amendments to a motion by Theresa May in the House of Commons.
World Trade Organization - A international organisation which governs the rules of trade between countries.
Tariffs - A form of tax on imports. Each product will have a different tariff - for some EU dairy products, such as French cheese, tariffs in the UK will be more than 30%.
Radioactive isotopes - Radiation which is used to kill off cancerous cells.
GDP - Short for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country.
Blitz spirit - The blitz was the bombing of Britain in the Second World War.
Food, flights, Netflix: the EU and daily life
Glossary
Rejected - The withdrawal agreement was voted down by 432 votes to 202 in Parliament last week. Theresa May will present her “Plan B” today.
Plans - Tory Dominic Grieve wants Parliament to be allowed to choose the debates and votes on Brexit instead of the government, as well as blocking a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, MPs from five parties want to extend the leaving date if no agreement is reached by February 26. Both would attempt this by adding amendments to a motion by Theresa May in the House of Commons.
World Trade Organization - A international organisation which governs the rules of trade between countries.
Tariffs - A form of tax on imports. Each product will have a different tariff - for some EU dairy products, such as French cheese, tariffs in the UK will be more than 30%.
Radioactive isotopes - Radiation which is used to kill off cancerous cells.
GDP - Short for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country.
Blitz spirit - The blitz was the bombing of Britain in the Second World War.