Brexit day: end of an era as United Kingdom leaves EU – as it happened

That’s all from us for this evening; one of the most consequential in recent British political history. For those of you who have reached this liveblog via our alert – you can follow all the latest news in this new liveblog (which will go live at 7am GMT)

Here’s a summary of the day’s events:

• The United Kingdom faced up to an uncertain future as it left the European Union after years of political wrangling that followed the Brexit vote in 2016. The country now enters a transition period during which it will retain many of the privileges of membership, but have no say on rule-making.
• The process of working out how the relationship between the UK and the bloc begins in earnest. The parties have until the end of 2020 to conclude a deal that replaces the current relationship on trade and other issues – an unusually short period of time for such negotiations.
• Brexit will reinvigorate the UK’s “power of independent thought and action”, the prime minister claimed. Boris Johnson said the move would usher in “real national renewal and change”. But EU leaders said Brexit would show that “strength does not lie in splendid isolation”.
• The sadness of leaving the EU will be “tinged with anger” in Scotland, the first minister said. Nicola Sturgeon said there was hope for Scotland as many prominent SNP figures focused on Scotland rejoining the EU, having gained independence.
• Pro-Brexit hardliners held celebrations. Crowds waving union flags were addressed by a triumphant Nigel Farage outside Parliament in Westminster. The pro-Brexit MP Andrea Jenkyns held an event in Morley, in West Yorkshire.

My colleague, Jonathan Freedland, has tonight’s main story:

31 Jan 202018.46 EST

Jon Henley

Despite what the UK government may say, Brexit is far from ‘done’. We guide you through the difficult next steps in the negotiations:

At 11pm GMT on 31 January, Britain officially left the EU after 47 years of membership. Downing Street marked the moment by beaming a virtual Big Ben on to No 10 to chime. Nearby, in Parliament Square, Nigel Farage led a rendition of God Save the Queen

1:15

Here’s some of Westminster’s reaction to the confirmation that the UK has left the EU:

The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, has said:

The United Kingdom will remain a key partner for the European Union. I look forward to what I hope will be a very close cooperation with our British friends on our common challenges at the regional and global level.

31 Jan 202018.19 EST

Jessica Murray

There were huge cheers in Parliament Square as a simulated Big Ben chimed 11pm GMT to mark the UK’s official exit from the EU.

Nigel Farage spoke to a roaring crowd of thousands of Brexit supporters as he hailed the “point of no return” and the victory of “the people beating the establishment”.

After Farage led the countdown, the crowd joined in a rendition of the national anthem, many waving Union flags.

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The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said:

I am pleased the UK and EU have agreed on a Brexit deal that honours the will of the British people. We will continue building upon our strong, productive, and prosperous relationship with the UK as they enter this next chapter.

While Downing Street has been counting down to Brexit this evening, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has been focusing on protecting the city’s reputation for openness:

View image in fullscreen

31 Jan 202018.11 EST

Jonathan Freedland

How does a nation say goodbye to its neighbours? With a lump in its throat and a poignant song of farewell – or with cheers and a raised middle finger of defiant good riddance? The answer that Britain gave at 11pm on Friday 31 January 2020 was: both. The UK broke from the European Union on a late winter’s night with both jubilation and regret, as divided on the day of leaving as it had been in deciding to leave. For some Britons, this was Independence Day. For others, it was a national bereavement.

As the UK takes the unprecedented step of leaving the EU, prominent voices from each remaining member state say goodbye:

The United Kingdom has left the European Union.

As the clock struck 11pm GMT, the nation officially enacted the biggest constitutional change in living memory and, in doing so, became the first member state ever to leave the EU.

The momentous shift follows more than three years of political wrangling that has seen off two prime ministers and brought about radical change within the two main political parties.

The UK now enters a transition period that is due to run until the end of the year and during which the government is charged with the task of redrawing the country’s relationship with its closest neighbours.

Nigel Farage has taken to the stage at the Brexit celebration rally in central London.
The Brexit party leader has said:

In just 14 minutes’ time something truly remarkable is going to happen. Something that I fought for for 27 years and something many thousands of you have given your time and money for.

In 13 minutes’ time we will leave the European Union. We did it. We transformed the landscape of our country. There are some that say we shouldn’t celebrate tonight, but we are going to celebrate tonight.

There is one thing above all we must celebrate tonight and it is this: The reason we are here tonight is because Westminster became detached from the people in this country. The people have beaten the establishment. The real winner tonight is democracy. And I am someone who believes we should be pro-Europe, but not the European Union.

A crowd of pro-Brexit supporters have gathered at the gates of Stormont, the seat of Northern Ireland’s devolved government, in east Belfast to count down to 11pm GMT when the UK officially leaves the EU.

Many are holding Union flags and are ready to toast the moment Brexit becomes official.

A Lambeg drum was played and Chinese lanterns were set to be released at 11pm.
The DUP’s Jim Wells is among the crowd. The gathering, described as a thanksgiving, started with a prayer.

Boris Johnson has praised Steve Barclay for his work as Brexit secretary, a role that ceases once the UK leaves the EU.

The government has already confirmed that the Department for Exiting the European Union will no longer exist. The prime minister said of Barclay:

On the day that the United Kingdom leaves the EU, you can take particular pride that we are delivering on our promise to the British people to get Brexit done.

Your work, and that of your department, has been absolutely crucial in ensuring that we are leaving the EU with a great new deal and that we are in such a strong position going into the negotiations about our future relationship.