Brexit at last: Britain leaves the EU as champagne corks fly

By Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton

 

A pro-Brexit supporter holds a placard at Parliament Square on Brexit day, in London, Britain January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom finally cast off from the European Union on Friday for an uncertain future, with Brexiteers claiming victory and popping champagne corks for an "independence day" they said marked a new era for the country.

 

In its biggest shift since losing its global empire, the United Kingdom slipped away at 2300 GMT, turning its back after 47 years on the post-World War Two project that sought to build the ruined nations of Europe into a global power.

 

Beside the British parliament, flag-waving Brexit supporters cheered, revelling in a mix of nostalgia, patriotism and defiance. Some sang "God Save the Queen", while others hugged amid the smoke of fireworks.

 

"The war is over: we have won," Nigel Farage, a leading Leave campaigner, told the crowd. "This is the single most important moment in the modern history of our great nation."

 

On the white cliffs of Dover, the message: "The UK has left the EU" was projected between a British and an EU flag.

 

Once considered the unlikely dream of a motley crew of "eurosceptics" on the fringes of British politics, Brexit also weakens the EU, conceived as a way to bind together Europe's major powers in peace after centuries of conflict.

 

When the exit day finally came, after 3-1/2 years of wrangling since the 2016 referendum, it was an anticlimax of sorts: while Brexiteers waving flags toasted freedom in the rain, many Britons showed indifference or relief.

 

"For many people, this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come," Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the New York-born leader of the official "Leave" campaign, said.

 

He celebrated in Downing Street with English sparkling wine and a distinctly British array of canapés including Shropshire blue cheese and Yorkshire puddings with beef and horseradish.

 

The EU's most powerful leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, cast Brexit as a sad moment that was a turning point for Europe. The EU warned that leaving would be worse than staying.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has long supported Brexit. His Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Britons wanted to escape the "tyranny of Brussels".

 

At EU headquarters in Brussels, the British flag was lowered. Little will change immediately, however, as a transition period keeps the United Kingdom as a member in all but name until the end of 2020.

 

Supporters young and old packed into Parliament Square to hear Farage.

 

"I’m not jumping around celebrating, it’s just absolute satisfaction and relief and optimism," said Emma Sandercock, a 53-year-old secretary from Northamptonshire in central England.

 

'INDEPENDENCE DAY'

 

Cast either as an epic opportunity or a grave mistake, Brexit has turned long-held views of Britain upside down just as the world grapples with the rise of China and the West's deepest divisions since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, whose liberated satellite states later joined the EU.

 

It also diminishes the EU. At the stroke of midnight in Brussels, the bloc lost 15% of its economy, its biggest military spender and the world's international financial capital, London.

 

Leaving was once a far-fetched idea: the UK joined in 1973 as "the sick man of Europe" and less than two decades ago British leaders were arguing about whether to join the euro.

 

But the turmoil of the euro zone crisis, fears about mass immigration and miscalculations by former Prime Minister David Cameron led to the 52% to 48% vote to leave in 2016.

 

For proponents, Brexit is "independence day" -- an escape from what they cast as a German-dominated project with a doomed single currency that is failing its 500 million people.

 

They hope departure will herald reforms to reshape Britain and propel it ahead of its European rivals.

 

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

 

Opponents say Brexit is a folly that will weaken the West, torpedo what is left of Britain's global clout, undermine its economy and ultimately leave it a less cosmopolitan set of islands.

 

David Tucker, 75, said he had come to London from Wales to march in the hope that others would keep alive the prospect of one day rejoining the EU.

 

"It is a tragedy," he said. "We were once part of the world's most powerful economic bloc. Now we are just an inward-looking island that is going to get smaller."

 

Johnson has promised to strike a broad free trade agreement with the EU, the world's biggest trading bloc, though Merkel and Macron have warned that leaving will be harder than staying.

 

But Brexit was always about much more than Europe. The referendum exposed deep internal divisions and triggered soul-searching about everything from immigration to empire and modern Britishness.

 

It has tested the very fabric of what now looks a disunited kingdom: England and Wales voted to leave but Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted to stay. The strains could hasten another referendum on Scottish independence and even a push for a united Ireland.

 

"We've had enough of the European Union, we don't want it," said Adrian Langshaw, 42. "We want to be a sovereign nation and live as a British nation, make our decisions, make our rules and live how we want."

 

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan, Andy Bruce, Elizbeth Howcroft and William James in London; Andrew MacAskill in Paris; John Chalmers and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Editing by Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-01

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

I was always a stayer but there is a sense of relief after this dragged on and on that the first stage is finally over.  

Hopefully... onward and upwards from now on, although I wont hold my breath! 

Finally! congratulations to my friends from the UK.

 

A sad day! But democracy reigns and whatever the future holds for the UK, we have shown the world how to uphold a true democracy by sticking to the result of the 2016 referendum. Thailand's military government would do well to take note!

champagne corks?  That's sparkling wine from France, EU . . . . . . . I guess, the next shipment of wine from France will come at higher costs, due to higher customs tariffs.  

 

So no more popping corks from champagne, but from apple cider instead . . .  

 

Brexit means a few changes. If they come for the better or the worse, remains to be seen

I dont believe democracy does reign, if Labour had had an electable leader and a clear manifesto at the last election they could have won and then the leave votes of 17 million people would have been ignored, thankfully that wasnt the case.

Hoooooooooorah..........????

 

 

 

 

Brexit is a defining moment for UK and it will also affect the Western world. There is a political war being waged between moral Nationalism (ordinary People) and progressive Globalism (Elites).  Brexit is a huge win for the ordinary People.  Trump being re-elected in 2020 will be another.  There are so many things wrong in the western world after 3 decades of progressive Globalism policies, that it will take at least a decade to redress them all.  Brexit is a big part of the changes that are coming.

 

Well done Britain! Ill drink to this tonight

I am not from the UK, although it seems most on TV are.

I do not understand how this is good for anything.

Other then I guess some self chest pumping independence.

Just saying, the economic issues with this have already taken effect which are mostly negative for the UK.

Jobs, trade, inflation, etc. you name it will be big issues in the future it seems.  It will probably affect your kids and grandkids more then anyone else.

Anyway,  good luck with it just have to wait and see I guess hope it all does not create any future frozen pensions.

1 hour ago, graemeaylward said:

we have shown the world how to uphold a true democracy by sticking to the result of the 2016 referendum.

Total tosh. Remainer's did everything possible not to abide by the referendum. They made the UK out to be a laughing stock. If it wasn't for the general election you'd still be trying to get a second referendum by hook or by crook. 

56 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Total tosh. Remainer's did everything possible not to abide by the referendum. They made the UK out to be a laughing stock. If it wasn't for the general election you'd still be trying to get a second referendum by hook or by crook. 

The current speaker delivered a short statement to the house immediately after PMQ's last week rendering the actions of his predecessor to the 'never to be repeated' bin.

The battle for Scotland has begun. EU left the light on for Scotland.

 

2 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

A sad day! But democracy reigns and whatever the future holds for the UK, we have shown the world how to uphold a true democracy by sticking to the result of the 2016 referendum. Thailand's military government would do well to take note!

a sad day ?

 

The truth of the matter is we joined the common market but the power hungry (Germany) got out of control - not what we signed up for

 

The irony is if we stayed any longer the EU may have instructed our own Navy and armed forces to invade us lol

 

good riddance

 

There was nothing wrong with having a trading partnership, the EU needs to have a long hard rethink about what they area trying to achieve - seems that another invasion has failed for the 3rd time

 

Bye  

2 hours ago, CFCjeff said:

I dont believe democracy does reign, if Labour had had an electable leader and a clear manifesto at the last election they could have won and then the leave votes of 17 million people would have been ignored, thankfully that wasnt the case.

Ifs and whatabouteries.

 

But they didn't and so they lost and the Leave votes of 17 million people didn't get ignored. In fact those when added to the general election proved that there was a general consensus that the people of the UK DID in fact want to leave the EU.

 

Yet there are still Remainers who refuse to accept the fact that the UK has left the EU.

 

Now the UK is being threatened by some countries within the EU that dire retribution will follow if the UK dares to be different and not toe the EU line.

 

23 minutes ago, smedly said:

The truth of the matter is we joined the common market but the power hungry (Germany) got out of control - not what we signed up for

Brexiteers hated power so much, they decided to remove all the power from themselves. In a way, that makes perfect sense. 

Well I had a GREAT time in London tonight... so onwards and upwards... We WILL make it work and a success, there is no other option with a strong majority gov for at least the next  years probably 10 thats a good thing, Investment loves certainty and stability..... and they have it in spades now... 

 

Thank you all the remaoners for trying to derail things so much, it made so many sick to the stomach it returned a HUGE mandate and allows things to be done that could not have before....

 

Has the £ crashed and burned from leaving  ? ummm no. Looks to me like its moved up to above 41 and thvs the Euro above 1.19.... imagine that against all the "experts" dire if we leave predictions, colour me surprised   ... 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The war is over: we have won," Nigel Farage, a leading Leave campaigner, told the crowd. "This is the single most important moment in the modern history of our great nation."

Well, that's inappropriate language. There hasn't been any war. 

And also in modern history UK isn't any more a great nation but governed by weirdos and misfits.

Very similar to Thailand ????

31 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Well I had a GREAT time in London tonight... so onwards and upwards... We WILL make it work and a success, there is no other option with a strong majority gov for at least the next  years probably 10 thats a good thing, Investment loves certainty and stability..... and they have it in spades now... 

 

Thank you all the remaoners for trying to derail things so much, it made so many sick to the stomach it returned a HUGE mandate and allows things to be done that could not have before....

 

Has the £ crashed and burned from leaving  ? ummm no. Looks to me like its moved up to above 41 and thvs the Euro above 1.19.... imagine that against all the "experts" dire if we leave predictions, colour me surprised   ... 

 

 

 

On your way home did you manage to get through the plague of locusts and the four horsemen of the apocalypse, can you give an update on the Mars bar situation, are they still available?

From Nigels Twitter

 

11 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Poor man, 

Have you checked the exchange rate lately Seamus? ????

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

I was always a stayer but there is a sense of relief after this dragged on and on that the first stage is finally over.  

Hopefully... onward and upwards from now on, although I wont hold my breath! 

Yes it's best not to get too carried away.  We are now entering the transition period so won't see any noticeable changes yet.  We are still in the single market and customs union, still paying in and there is still freedom of movement.  The only real difference today is that we no longer have a voice or a seat at the table.

 

Johnson has said he would get us out by the end of 2020 although there is a strong possibility that that will be extended by up to two more years.  However now the negotiations will begin for any trade deals we can make and the nuts and bolts of the future relationship we will have with the EU.  It is already agreed that all the laws will remain the same and they have been cut and pasted in British law.  Very much a positive as that could have been an issue when negotiating border restrictions.

 

I will continue to sit on the fence rather than attack Johnson and his cronies before seeing what he does actually deliver.  Signing up Huawei against the wishes of his pal Trump is a positive in my book but he has a long way to go yet.

3 hours ago, TheDark said:

The battle for Scotland has begun. EU left the light on for Scotland.

They'd relocate the Eddystone lighthouse if they thought ???????? could be drawn back in.

 

Next test for the government will be whether the HS2 gets the green light.  This is a difficult one for Boris after his commitment to "the north".  Hard for him to back out of it now although I can't really see that it is going to improve things much.  It's easy enough to go up country now with flights and the current road network.  I would have thought the money could be better spent IN the north rather than getting people there 20 minutes quicker.

 

 

43 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Next test for the government will be whether the HS2 gets the green light.  This is a difficult one for Boris after his commitment to "the north".  Hard for him to back out of it now although I can't really see that it is going to improve things much.  It's easy enough to go up country now with flights and the current road network.  I would have thought the money could be better spent IN the north rather than getting people there 20 minutes quicker.

 

 

The North doesn't want it, so fingers crossed Boris will do the right thing.

1 hour ago, TheDark said:

I understand that a stroke can wipe out the memory of 70 past years for one individual. But to have such an large scale of effect to Brexit populae, must require hefty indoctrination to tabloidism. 

we just understand the EU power grab (basically Germany) and reject it, there is/was nothing wrong with trade when it all started in 1973 - that is far from what it is now

 

It is a very simple concept to understand for most - evidently you're not getting it

 

Europe has a history of power grabs, just because it is not war and killing doesn't make it harder to recognise - the UK is having none of it, we prefer peaceful trade 

Will they be cheering when they're eating chlorinated chicken and hormone fed cattle? 

At least the EU had some pretty good health regulations. 

Lots of nasty things on the horizon. 

3 minutes ago, smedly said:

we just understand the EU power grab (basically Germany) and reject it, there is/was nothing wrong with trade when it all started in 1973 - that is far from what it is now

 

It is a very simple concept to understand for most - evidently you're not getting it

 

Europe has a history of power grabs, just because it is not war and killing doesn't make it harder to recognise - the UK is having none of it, we prefer peaceful trade 

I'm sure people who live in the past glory days, will think in that way. After all It was Europeans who conquered and abused people around the world. There was even one country, which boasted its power and huge occupied territories saying that the Sun never sets on her land. 

 

Then there were the Portuguese, the Spanish, Duch and the Germans all wishing to extend their territories and power over others. 

 

EU was created as stabilising force for the continent. Good Friday Agreement was created as stabilising force or the island of Ireland. 

 

UK broke both of her promises of peace. That's not easily forgotten by any party in the world.

 

 

47 minutes ago, alien365 said:

The North doesn't want it, so fingers crossed Boris will do the right thing.

Yes we do want it. Particularly HS3 too.
It's the twenty first century and the whole country should benefit from a full high speed rail network. (Even the Scottish part of it!). The current rail network is failing and we all deserve better than tarted-up Victorian remnants. Better sharpen the pencil on the costs though.