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Brexit by Mind Map: Brexit

1. Boris Johnson

1.1. He was selected as the British Prime Minister after the resignation of Theresa May

1.1.1. He is a visionary leader and has said he will do anything to get Brexit through.

1.1.2. One of Boris Johnson’s most controversial actions was suspending the UK parliament.

1.1.2.1. Lawmakers were scheduled to reconvene on Oct 9, 2019 but Johnson pushed it to Oct 14. This move was seen by many as a way to cut short the negotiation time in a drastic effort to push a deal across. The Supreme Court has since ruled this move “unlawful”.

1.1.3. The main part stopping Johnson from passing Brexit was the again the House Of Commons not the EU

1.1.3.1. On Oct 17, Johnson and the EU had reached a tentative agreement. On Oct 19, that agreement was struck down by the House. Johnson’s Conservatives were the minority in the House.

1.1.3.1.1. On Dec 20, the House of Commons voted to push forward with Boris Johnson’s proposed deal. This is just the first of many steps. Britain officially left the EU on Jan 31, 2020 What’s interesting to note is that Johnson’s deal wasn’t too different from May’s but Johnson was much more effective at getting it across.

2. The Deal

2.1. There will now be a customs border between the Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to checks and will have to pay EU import taxes (known as tariffs).

2.1.1. Northern Ireland will keep EU rules on the regulation of goods, as opposed to UK rules

2.1.2. There will be UK and EU officials at ports of Entry on Norther Ireland to enforce these new rules.

2.2. To leave, the UK will owe the EU approximately £32.8 billion in settlement fees.

2.2.1. This is less than the £39 billion that they would've paid under Theresa May

2.3. The UK also has the freedom to strike trade deals with other EU countries individually or with the entire EU itself.

3. Pros

3.1. UK doesn't have to pay membership fees. For example: in 2016 they were paying a net fee of £8.5bn to the EU.

3.1.1. Many citizens believed this fee was not worth the limited benefits of being in the EU.

3.2. The UK now has greater sovereignty.

3.2.1. Britain now has greater control over their own domestic affairs

3.2.2. Can establish themselves a powerful, INDEPENDENT, nation.

3.3. Potentially beneficial for domestic businesses.

3.3.1. Foreign companies are less likely to invest in the UK as such it gives way for domestic business.

3.3.2. This would create more jobs for the UK people.

4. Cons

4.1. UK would potentially lose the power of free trade with neighbors.

4.2. UK would lose "clout" in terms of foregin investment. Before, people and investors saw London as a gateway to the EU. Now the UK has lost that.

4.2.1. A lot of companies, i.e. banks, have moved their operating locations into the EU. This will cost the UK in lost tax revenie

4.3. UK can't be a part of trade deals between the EU and other large powers (i.e. Canada and Japan have negotiated new deals with the EU since Britain left)

4.4. Potential Loss of Jobs

4.4.1. The UK leaving the EU means a lot of British citizens working in outside countries may lose their jobs.

4.4.2. Foreign countries are less likely to set up operating branches in the UK, thus reducing the jobs for the people of the UK.

5. Why Leave the EU

5.1. Soverignty

5.1.1. Majority of voters believed that decisions concerning the UK should be taken in the UK.

5.2. Immigration

5.2.1. Leaving the EU gives the UK control over immigration and borders. In 2015, of the 333,000 individuals who immigrated to the UK, 184,000 were from the EU.

5.3. Economics

5.3.1. Many opponents of the EU argued that it was dysfunctional as a single economic entity.

6. The Previous Leaders

6.1. David Cameron

6.1.1. Initiated the British Referendum in hopes that British citizens would actually wish to stay.

6.1.1.1. Backfired against him: In June 2016, 51.9% of British citizens voted to leave the EU.

6.1.1.2. The next day, Cameron would resign as prime minister.

6.1.1.2.1. "But the British people made a different decision to take a different path. As such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction,” - David Cameron, shortly after resigning

6.2. Theresa May

6.2.1. Theresa May tried time and time again to pass Brexit Through. She managed to get the EU to agree on a deal but her own Parliament would not agree with her.

6.2.1.1. The deal she agreed upon with the EU called for a softer Brexit than what British lawmakers were fighting for, resulting in multiple rejections each time the deal was put to a vote.

6.2.1.2. Ultimately, she offered a compromise, proposing that if Conservative lawmakers backed her deal, she would resign. This strategy did not work, and was forced to resign without a deal in place.

6.2.1.2.1. She is seen as one of Britain's least-liked Prime Ministers as she became increasingly desperate to pass Brexit through, she ended up pushing away even her closest advisors.

7. What Now?

7.1. The UK and the EU will be in a transition period that will last until June 30. This period is designed to help them renegotiate a positive, working relationship.

7.1.1. During the period, the UK will continue to follow the EU's rules and trade will be just like it was before the UK left.

7.1.2. The main purpose of this period is to negotiate a new free trade agreement. This is to be of benefit to both the EU and the UK. If this deal cannot be negotiated by the end of the year, the UK will have to deal with leaving without free trade which will lead to hurtful tariffs against them

7.1.3. Other topics to be negotiated now include: Law enforcement, data sharing and security. Aviation standards and safety, Access to fishing waters, Supplies of electricity and gas, Licensing and regulation of medicines

7.2. UK Nationals will have until the end of the transition period to live freely in other EU countries. Starting in 2021, they will have to abide by other countries immigration rules.

7.2.1. However, the UK does not plan on implementing tourist visas for EU countries and they can travel to the UK freely under tourism purposes.

7.3. The UK has to start working on creating a positive relationship with the EU

7.3.1. As they were in the EU for 47 years and as such there might be history and resentment from both sides.

7.3.2. A positive working relationship will benefit both parties in multiple aspects but it needs time to be cultivated.

8. Was it Worth it?

8.1. Britain is now more divided than ever on whether it Brexit was worth it.

8.1.1. 57% of UK adults surveyed said that they believed it would have been better not to have had a public vote in June 2016.

8.1.2. "Bregret": The regret of leaving Brexit is a real feeling now in Britain.

8.1.2.1. The UK people expected to leave smoothly and with a good deal. As we can see now, that did not happen.

8.1.2.2. In December 2018, A poll showed that 59% of UK citizens now wish to remain in the EU as opposed to the 48% in the initial referendum.

8.1.3. Many people believe that Brexit was handled poorly.

8.1.3.1. 80% of Leave voters now say that it has handled Brexit negotiations badly

8.2. Right now the UK is in a tough position. Brexit did not go as they had planned and took longer than the people thought it would.

8.2.1. Only time will tell if leaving was worth it.

8.2.1.1. There will be many factors. Whether they can negotiate a good relationship and free trade agreement with the EU will be a huge factor in if this is all worth it.