# United Kingdom leaves the European Union (2020)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/2020-united-kingdom-leaves-the-european-union
Categories: main-event

The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force and the UK formally ceased to be an EU member state. Within the broader Postwar & Modern Uk period, decolonization, welfare institutions, migration, European integration and withdrawal, devolution and social change reshaped the modern United Kingdom. This event is placed at 31 January 2020 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. Brexit ended forty-seven years of membership and began a new relationship with Europe.

## Why it matters
Brexit ended forty-seven years of membership and began a new relationship with Europe.

Ruler at the time: [Elizabeth II](https://english-history.com/rulers/elizabeth-ii)

## Sources
- [GOV.UK — UK leaves the EU](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-31-january-2020)
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — United Kingdom leaves the European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=United+Kingdom+leaves+the+European+Union&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — United Kingdom leaves the European Union](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=United+Kingdom+leaves+the+European+Union)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history)
- [The National Archives — Postwar collection](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/postwar/)