Brexit countdown calendar: Key dates as deadline approaches and what to expect day by day
BORIS JOHNSON has laid out the plans for his new Brexit proposal to the EU as the Brexit countdown enters its final month (again). Here are the latest dates to watch.
Boris Johnson pledges to ‘get Brexit done’ at Tory conference
Addressing the Conservative Party Conference on Wednesday, Boris Johnson said there should be “no doubt” the only alternative to the Brexit proposals he will put to Brussels is no-deal. Shortly after, he set out his plans to take the UK out of the EU, which he said were a “broad landing zone in which I believe a deal can begin to take shape". But while the Prime Minister sought to deliver an upbeat message, the reality remains that one month is a very, very short space of time to achieve his goals. Here’s how the month could pan out.
As you can see on the calendar below, the UK is all systems go to leave the EU on October 31 at 11pm GMT.
The Government has insisted it will not negotiate a further delay beyond the Halloween deadline, saying this would be unnecessary and costly for the UK.
But it might not be this simple: last month, MPs passed a new law which would force the Prime Minister to request an extension if a deal cannot be signed off.
SAftr the new proposals were published, the European Commission said there had been progress but “problems” remained.
READ MORE: What scares you most – no deal Brexit or Corbyn government? VOTE HERE
The proposal is being debated by MPs on Wednesday, and the Prime Minsiter is already looking set for a tough fight.
Mr Johnson said his plan was a "compromise" and proves the Government's willingness to “go the extra mile”.
But Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said the plans are not serious or workable and represent a "race to the bottom" on worker's rights.
While the exact nature of the month ahead depends on how debates pan our both at home and on the continent, there are a few concrete dates which will act as guideposts through October.
MAJOR UPCOMING DATES
OCTOBER 17 and 18
These are the dates for the crucial EU summit, seen largely as Mr Johnson’s final chance to strike a deal.
The PM is hoping that his new proposals will be enough to entice leaders back unto negotiations ahead of this date.
OCTOBER 19
This is arguably an even more important date, setting a deadline which could make or break everything the Prime Minister is working for.
On this day, if a deal is not signed off, Mr Johnson must, by law, request an extension to Article 50.
He has said he’d “rather be dead in a ditch” than do this, but also invited he’d obey the law, so it remains to be seen how he’ll figure it out if this manifests.
If he’s forced to ask for an extension and does so, it’s widely expected opposition MPs will table a motion of no confidence and try trigger a general election.
OCTOBER 31
This is an obvious one: Brexit day.
But whether this will fall the way the previous two Brexit deadlines did remains to be seen.
At the Tory Conference on Tuesday, Mr Johnson reportedly told a reception that the next 48 hours “will be crucial”.
We will be updating this calendar and story each morning as October unfolds, please check in with us for your daily dose of Brexit updates.