Unknown times for Brexit Britain - 6th January 2021

At 11pm in London on 31st December 2020 and at midnight in mainland Europe, the United Kingdom’s transition period after leaving the European Union ended.

A referendum held on the 23rd June 2016 decided the UK should leave the EU. This move has come to be known as Brexit.

Significant hurdles in the Brexit negotiations centred on free movement and trade. At the eleventh hour, the UK government signed a deal with Europe which allows for tariff and quota-free trade.

However, 1st January saw more rigorous customs checks come into effect at all ports. Fears of lengthy delays appeared unfounded as New Year’s Day traffic flowed smoothly on both sides of the channel.

Deep divisions over Brexit are still felt across the UK. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Brexit as presenting “opportunities unknown to modern memory”.

The ending of free movement of over 500 million people between the UK and 27 EU states will impact how people travel. Restrictions limit the period of time Britons spend on the continent, including at their holiday homes, and how they travel with their pets. EU travellers to Britain may be subject to border delays. However, a New Year’s Eve deal between London and Madrid allowed for the tiny British territory of Gibraltar to become part of Europe’s Schengen travel zone.

The true impact of the changes will become more apparent as business returns to normal after the holiday period.