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UK set for Brexit, as PM promises 'new dawn'
The UK [officially left] the European Union at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership.
[...] Pro and anti-Brexit demonstrations and marches are being held across the country, as the UK flag is taken down from EU institutions in Brussels.
Little will change immediately, as the UK begins a "transition period".
Most EU laws will continue to be in force - including the free movement of people - until the end of December, by which time the UK aims to have reached a permanent free trade agreement with the EU.
[...] The prime minister held a cabinet meeting at the National Glass Centre, a museum and arts centre in Sunderland, the city that was the first to back Brexit when results were announced after the referendum.
The meeting was held amid tight security.
[...] Mr Johnson told the Cabinet it was time to start a "new chapter in the United Kingdom's story" and end the division of the past three and a half years, according to a Downing Street spokesman.
The Cabinet discussed future trade deals, including seeking a a Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU, and Mr Johnson thanked Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay for the work of his department, which is being wound up.
The PM told ministers the government aimed to have 80% of the UK's trade with other nations covered by free trade agreements within three years.
[...] "This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act. It is a moment of real national renewal and change."
[...] A new commemorative 50p coin will also come into circulation to mark the UK's withdrawal.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by theluggage on Saturday February 01 2020, @11:55AM (1 child)
To be fair, the constitution prohibits her from being bothered by those things. TL:DNR: The UK monarch is allowed to stay on the throne on the strict condition that they don't try to rule and just slap the Royal seal wherever the elected PM tells them to.
Personally, I'd tell the lot of them to become self-funding - if they're such a boon to tourism maybe they should seek direct sponsorship from the tourist industry. Private sector royalty (e.g. the house of Kardashian, Queen Oprah and the First Lords of The Major League) seems to work well in the USA (although they haven't got the message about banning them from government).
Still, I'm not sure it's a priority, and the royals probably do more good work that the typical idle rich. Even comrade Corbyn didn't include abolishing the monarchy on the second longest suicide note in history.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 01 2020, @03:51PM
The parts that are "self-funding" are the parts they keep for themselves - rents, land ownership. Don't you know Prince Charles earned $40m-odd this year? What a busy beaver! The rest is what we the people get to keep - maintaining the palace(s), grounds(s), yacht(s), hosting banquet(s).