European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020

Not to be confused with European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019, European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019, or European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020.

Law which ratifies the UK's exit from the European Union

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act to implement, and make other provision in connection with, the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union which sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU.
Citation| 2020 c. 1
Introduced by| Steve Barclay, Brexit Secretary (Commons)
Earl of Courtown, Government Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
Territorial extent |

* United Kingdom

Primarily section 1 only:

* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Guernsey
* Gibraltar

Other provisions

* There is a power to make Regulations with extraterritorial effect in pursuance of 1971 c.77 (s.36) and 2007 c.30 (s.60(4)) under s.42(4)- this excludes Gibraltar.
* s.42(2): "Any provision of this Act which amends or repeals an enactment has the same extent as the enactment amended or repealed."
* s.42(5): "Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 5, so far as they relate to the modification of any provision in subordinate legislation which extends outside [the UK] also extend there"

Dates
Royal assent| 23 January 2020
Commencement| 31 January 2020
Other legislation
Amends|

* European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
* Immigration Act 1971

Repeals/revokes|

* European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019
* European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019

Relates to|

* European Union Referendum Act 2015
* European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020

Status: Amended

History of passage through Parliament
Records of Parliamentary debate relating to the statute from Hansard
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Part of a series of articles on

Brexit

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

* * *

Glossary of terms

Background

* European Communities Act
* 1975 EC membership referendum
* UK rebate
* Bruges speech
* No. No. No.
* Maastricht Rebels
* Black Wednesday
* European Union (Amendment) Act 2008
* European Union Act 2011
* UK opt-outs from EU legislation
* Euroscepticism in the UK
* UK opinion polling on EU membership
* Campaigns for a referendum
* People's Pledge
* Labour for a Referendum
* Bloomberg speech
* In or Out
* 2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful)
* 2014 European Parliament election
* 2014 UK Parliament by-elections
* Clacton
* Heywood and Middleton
* Rochester and Strood
* 2015 UK general election
* 2015–16 EU membership renegotiation

2016 referendum

* EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar)
* EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations
* EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations
* Issues
* Endorsements
* Opinion polling
* UK Government pro-EU leaflet

* * *

Campaigns

Leave campaigns

* Vote Leave (official)
* Business for Britain
* Conservatives for Britain
* BeLeave
* Leave.EU
* Bpoplive
* The Freedom Association
* Better Off Out
* Grassroots Out
* Labour Leave
* Get Britain Out
* Bruges Group
* Campaign for an Independent Britain
* Brexit: The Movie

Remain campaigns

* Britain Stronger in Europe (official)
* Labour In for Britain
* European Movement UK
* Britain in Europe
* British Influence
* Business for New Europe
* Nucleus
* Project Fear

* * *

Outcome

* Results
* Causes for result
* International reactions
* Immediate aftermath
* 2016 Conservative Party election
* 2016 Labour Party election
* 2016 UKIP election
* Department for Exiting the EU
* Department for International Trade
* Allegations of unlawful campaigning
* Alleged Russian interference

Notice of withdrawal

* Article 50 process
* Miller case (Article 50)
* EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
* Brexit plan
* Repeal Bill plan
* 2017 UK general election

Negotiations

* Negotiation positions
* EU negotiation mandate
* Chequers agreement
* Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019
* 2019 European Parliament election
* 2019 UK general election

Withdrawal agreement

* Brexit divorce bill
* Fish for finance
* Irish backstop
* No-deal Brexit
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
* Windsor Framework

Legislation

* Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* Cooper–Letwin Act
* Benn Act
* 2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs
* Public Vote Bill (not passed)
* Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed)
* Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked)
* Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar)
* Scottish EU Continuity Act
* Internal Market Act
* EU (Future Relationship) Act
* Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act

Impact

* Impact on the Irish border
* Good Friday Agreement
* Impact on the EU
* Economic effects
* Effects on Gibraltar
* Scientific cooperation
* Effects on popular culture
* Retained EU law
* 2021 Jersey dispute

EU–UK relations

* Relations pre- and post-Brexit
* EU–UK trade negotiation
* EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
* Partnership Council
* Partnership Assembly

* * *

Relations with EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Ireland–UK border
* British–Irish Council
* North/South Ministerial Council
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Status of Gibraltar
* Gibraltar–Spain border
* Sweden

* * *

* Conjectured EEA membership

Opposition

* Post-referendum opinion polling
* New initiatives
* Change Britain
* More United
* Open Britain
* The New European
* Unite to Remain
* Led By Donkeys
* Revoke Article 50 petition
* Postcards from the 48%
* Proposed second Scottish independence referendum

* * *

Calls for a second referendum

* People's Vote
* Britain for Europe
* European Movement UK
* For our Future's Sake
* Healthier IN the EU
* InFacts
* Open Britain
* Our Future Our Choice
* Scientists for EU
* Other organisations
* Best for Britain
* Bollocks to Brexit
* Change UK
* Liberal Democrats
* Right to Vote

Timeline

|  Bloomberg speech|  Jan 2013

|

Referendum Bill blocked| Jan 2014
European Parliament election|  May 2014
2015 general election|  May 2015
Renegotiation begins|  Jun 2015
Referendum Act passed|  Dec 2015
Renegotiation concluded|  Feb 2016
Referendum held|  Jun 2016
David Cameron resigns as PM|  Jul 2016
Theresa May becomes PM|  Jul 2016
Article 50 judgement|  Jan 2017
Brexit plan presented| Feb 2017
Notification Act passed|  Mar 2017
Article 50 invoked|  Mar 2017
Repeal Bill plan presented| Mar 2017
2017 general election|  Jun 2017
Brexit negotiations begin|  Jun 2017
Withdrawal Act passed| Jun 2018
Chequers plan presented|  Jul 2018
Withdrawal agreement plan presented|  July 2018
Withdrawal agreement released|  Nov 2018
Scottish Continuity Bill blocked| Dec 2018
Meaningful votes|  Jan–Mar 2019
Brexit delayed until 12 April|  Mar 2019
Cooper–Letwin Act passed|  Apr 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 October|  Apr 2019
European Parliament election|  May 2019
Theresa May resigns as PM|  Jul 2019
Boris Johnson becomes PM|  Jul 2019
Prorogation and annulment|  Aug–Sep 2019
Benn Act passed|  Sep 2019
Withdrawal agreement revised|  Oct 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 January|  Oct 2019
2019 general election|  Dec 2019
Agreement Act passed|  Jan 2020
UK leaves the European Union|  Jan 2020
Implementation period begins|  Jan 2020
UK–EU trade deal agreed|  Dec 2020
Future Relationship Act passed|  Dec 2020
Scottish Continuity Act passed|  Dec 2020
Implementation period ends|  Dec 2020
New EU–UK relationship begins|  Jan 2021
UK–EU trade deal ratified|  Apr 2021
Windsor Framework released|  Feb 2023
Windsor framework adopted|  Mar 2023

* EU portal
* UK portal

* v
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Constitutional documents and events relevant to the status of the United Kingdom and its countries

List per year

| Treaty of Union| 1706

|

Acts of Union| 1707
Succession to the Crown Act 1707| 1707
Septennial Act| 1716
Wales and Berwick Act| 1746
Constitution of Ireland (1782)| 1782
Acts of Union 1800| 1800
HC (Disqualifications) Act 1801| 1801
Reform Act 1832| 1832
Scottish Reform Act 1832| 1832
Irish Reform Act 1832| 1832
Judicial Committee Act 1833| 1833
Judicial Committee Act 1843| 1843
Judicial Committee Act 1844| 1844
Representation of the People Act 1867| 1867
Reform Act (Scotland) 1868| 1868
Reform Act (Ireland) 1868| 1868
Irish Church Act| 1869
Royal Titles Act 1876| 1876
Appellate Jurisdiction Act| 1876
Reform Act 1884| 1884
Interpretation Act 1889| 1889
Parliament Act| 1911
Aliens Restriction Act| 1914
Status of Aliens Act 1914| 1914
Government of Ireland Act 1914| 1914
Welsh Church Act| 1914
Royal Proclamation of 1917| 1917
Representation of the People Act 1918| 1918
Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act| 1919
Government of Ireland Act| 1920
Anglo-Irish Treaty| 1921
Church of Scotland Act 1921| 1921
Irish Free State (Agreement) Act| 1922
Irish Free State Constitution Act| 1922
Ireland (Confirm. of Agreement) Act 1925| 1925
Balfour Declaration of 1926| 1926
Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act| 1927
Representation of the People Act 1928| 1928
Eire (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1929| 1929
Statute of Westminster| 1931
HM Declaration of Abdication Act 1936| 1936
Regency Act 1937| 1937
Regency Act 1943| 1943
British Nationality Act 1948| 1948
Representation of the People Act 1948| 1948
Ireland Act 1949| 1949
Statute of the Council of Europe| 1949
Parliament Act 1949| 1949
Regency Act 1953| 1953
Royal Titles Act 1953| 1953
European Convention on Human Rights| 1953
Interpretation Act (NI)| 1954
HC Disqualification Act 1957| 1957
Life Peerages Act| 1958
Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962| 1962
Peerage Act| 1963
Royal Assent Act| 1967
Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968| 1968
Immigration Act| 1971
EC Treaty of Accession| 1972
NI (Temporary Provisions) Act| 1972
European Communities Act| 1972
Local Government Act| 1972
UK joins the European Communities| 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act| 1973
NI border poll| 1973
NI Constitution Act| 1973
House of Commons Disqualification Act| 1975
Referendum Act| 1975
EC membership referendum| 1975
HC (Administration) Act|  1978
Interpretation Act| 1978
Scotland Act 1978| 1978
Wales Act 1978| 1978
Scottish devolution referendum| 1979
Welsh devolution referendum| 1979
British Nationality Act| 1981
Representation of the People Act 1983| 1983
Representation of the People Act 1985| 1985
Single European Act| 1985
Maastricht Treaty| 1993
Local Government (Wales) Act| 1994
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act| 1994
Referendums (Scotland & Wales) Act| 1997
Scottish devolution referendum| 1997
Welsh devolution referendum| 1997
1998 GLA referendum|  1998
Bank of England Act| 1998
Good Friday Agreement|  1998
Northern Ireland Act|  1998
Government of Wales Act|  1998
Human Rights Act| 1998
Scotland Act|  1998
GLA Act| 1999
House of Lords Act| 1999
Representation of the People Act 2000| 2000
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act| 2000
Justice (Northern Ireland) Act| 2002
Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act|  2004
Constitutional Reform Act| 2005
Government of Wales Act 2006| 2006
GLA Act 2007| 2007
Northern Ireland Act 2009| 2009
LDEDC Act|  2009
Lisbon Treaty| 2009
Constitutional Reform and Governance Act| 2010
Parl. Voting System and Constituencies Act| 2011
Welsh devolution referendum| 2011
Alternative Vote referendum| 2011
European Union Act 2011| 2011
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act|  2011
Sovereign Grant Act|  2011
Fixed-term Parliaments Act| 2011
Localism Act|  2011
Scotland Act 2012| 2012
Succession to the Crown Act 2013| 2013
Scottish independence referendum| 2014
House of Lords Reform Act| 2014
Wales Act 2014| 2014
HL (Expulsion and Suspension) Act| 2015
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act| 2015
Recall of MPs Act| 2015
European Union Referendum Act| 2015
Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act| 2015
EU membership referendum| 2016
Scotland Act 2016| 2016
Cities and Local Government Devolution Act|  2016
Wales Act 2017| 2017
EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act| 2017
Invocation of Article 50| 2017
European Union (Withdrawal) Act| 2018
EU Withdrawal Act 2019| 2019
EU Withdrawal (No. 2) Act| 2019
Early Parliamentary General Election Act| 2019
EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act| 2020
UK leaves the European Union| 2020
UK Internal Market Act| 2020
EU (Future Relationship) Act| 2020
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act| 2022
Judicial Review and Courts Act| 2022
Elections Act| 2022
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act|  2023

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This article is part of a series on

Politics of the European Union

Member states (27)

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Candidate countries

* Albania
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Georgia
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* North Macedonia
* Serbia
* Ukraine

* * *

Countries with suspended accession negotiations

* Turkey

* * *

Applicant countries

* Kosovo

* * *

States not on the agenda

* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Iceland
* Kazakhstan
* Norway
* Russia
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom

* * *

Microstates and the European Union

* Andorra
* Liechtenstein
* Monaco
* San Marino
* Vatican City

* * *

* Special territories
* EU 3 (EU founding states)
* Enlargement of the European Union
* Withdrawal from the European Union

* * *

Treaties and Declarations

* Schuman Declaration (1950)
* Treaty of Paris (1951)
* Europe Declaration (1951)
* Spaak Report (1956)
* Treaty of Rome (1957)
* Euratom Treaty (1957)
* Merger Treaty (1965)
* Solemn Declaration (1983)
* Single European Act (1986)
* Maastricht Treaty (1992)
* Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
* Treaty of Nice (2001)
* Berlin Declaration (2007)
* Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
* Article 7
* Article 50

* * *

Opt-outs

* * *

Treaties of accession

1972, 1979, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2011

* * *

Treaties of withdrawal

1984, 2020

* * *

Other treaties

* Schengen Agreement (1985)
* European Economic Area Agreement (1992)

* * *

Abandoned treaties and agreements

* European Constitution (2004)
* UK membership renegotiation (2015–2016)

Executive institutions

European Council

* President: Costa (PES)
* Parties
* List of meetings

* * *

European Commission

* Von der Leyen Commission
* President: Von der Leyen (EPP)
* Vice Presidents
* College of Commissioners
* Civil Service
* Secretary-General:  Juhansone

Legislative institutions

* Legislative procedure

* * *

Council of the EU

Presidency

Denmark

(July–December 2025)

* * *

Configurations

* GAC
* FAC
* ECOFIN
* Eurogroup
* AGRIFISH
* EPSCO
* COMPET
* TTE
* ENVI
* JHA
* EYC

* * *

* Voting
* Secretariat
* Secretary-General: Thérèse Blanchet
* Directorates-general
* Council preparatory bodies
* COREPER
* Council Working Parties

* * *

European Parliament
(Members)

* President: Metsola
* Largest groups
* EPP (Manfred Weber)
* S&D (Iratxe García)
* Member of the European Parliament
* 10th session (2024–2029)
* Bureau
* Vice Presidents
* Quaestor
* Conference

* * *

National parliaments

Judicial institutions

Court of Justice of the EU

* European Court of Justice
* Members
* Advocates General
* Rulings
* General Court

Auditory institutions

European Court of Auditors

* European Court of Auditors

* * *

Other auditory bodies

* Internal Audit Service of the Commission
* Committee on Budgetary Control of the Parliament
* Economic and Financial Affairs configuration of the Council
* Anti-Fraud Office
* Public Prosecutor's Office

European Central Bank

* President Lagarde
* ESCB
* EMU
* Euro banknotes
* Euro coins

Other bodies

European Investment Bank Group

* Investment Bank
* Investment Fund
* EIB Institute

* * *

European Stability Mechanism

* European Stability Mechanism

* * *

European University Institute

* European University Institute

* * *

Unified Patent Court

* Unified Patent Court

* * *

Agencies, decentralised independent bodies and joint undertakings

* Decentralised agencies of the EU
* Single market agencies
* CFSP agencies
* AFSC agencies
* ESFS European Supervisory Authorities
* SRM bodies
* Executive agencies of the EU
* Euratom agencies
* Decentralised independent bodies of the EU
* European Institute of Innovation and Technology
* European Public Prosecutor's Office
* Corporate bodies of the EU
* European Data Protection Board
* Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations
* Joint undertakings
* of the EU
* of the Euratom

* * *

Other independent bodies

* European Data Protection Supervisor
* European Ombudsman

* * *

Advisory bodies

* European Committee of the Regions
* European Economic and Social Committee
* Political and Security Committee
* European Union Military Committee
* EU/ESA Space Council

* * *

Inter-institutional bodies

* Publications Office of the European Union
* European External Action Service
* European Personnel Selection Office
* Anti-Fraud Office
* European Administrative School

Euratom

Euratom members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Associated states

* Switzerland
* United Kingdom

* * *

* Nuclear power in the European Union

Euratom since 1 January 2021

Economic and Monetary Union

Eurozone members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain

* * *

Eurogroup

* President
* Paschal Donohoe

* * *

Other currencies in use

* Bulgarian lev
* Czech koruna
* Danish krone
* Hungarian forint
* Polish złoty
* Romanian leu
* Swedish krona

* * *

* ERM II
* Enlargement of the eurozone

* * *

Non Euro countries relationship to Euro

* Bulgaria
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Hungary
* Poland
* Sweden
* Romania

Eurozone since 2015

Schengen Area

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Non-EU members

* Iceland
* Liechtenstein
* Norway
* Switzerland

* * *

Non-Schengen area EU member states

* Cyprus
* Ireland (Opt-out)

* * *

* ETIAS
* Prüm Convention
* Schengen Information System
* Visa Information System
* Visa policy of the Schengen Area

Schengen Area from January 2023

European Economic Area

EEA members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Non-EU members

* Iceland
* Liechtenstein
* Norway

* * *

Topics

* EEA Joint Committee
* EEA National Identity cards
* Microstates and the European Union

European Economic Area

Elections

* Elections to the European Parliament
* European parties
* European foundations
* Political groups of the European Parliament
* Spitzenkandidat
* Constituencies
* Apportionment
* Referendums related to the EU

* * *

European elections

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019
* 2024 (latest election)

* * *

Elections in EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
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* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
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* Spain
* Sweden

Law

* Acquis
* Conferral
* Primacy (ECJ Case 6/64)
* Subsidiarity
* Regulation
* Democratic legitimacy
* Directive
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* Fundamental Rights

Policies and issues

* Budget
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* Area of FS&J
* Policies
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* Passports of the European Union
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* European banking union
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* Single Resolution Mechanism
* Capital Markets Union
* European System of Financial Supervision
* Institutional seats of the European Union
* Integration
* Supranationalism
* European Federation
* Multi-speed Europe
* Enhanced cooperation

Foreign relations

High Representative

* Kaja Kallas

* * *

* Ext. Action Service
* Foreign Policy
* Defence Policy

* * *

Foreign relations of EU member states

* Austria
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* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
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* Argentina–European Union relations
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* United Kingdom–European Union relations (History)
* Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
* Brexit
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* * *

* Common Travel Area (Ireland)
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* * *

* G7
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Defunct bodies

* European Communities (1958–1993)

European Coal and Steel Community
European Economic Community
* European Community
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European Union portal

* Other countries

* v
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* e

The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that makes legal provision for ratifying the Brexit withdrawal agreement and incorporating it into the domestic law of the United Kingdom. It is the most significant constitutional piece of legislation to be passed by Parliament of the Second Johnson ministry. The Withdrawal Agreement was the result of Brexit negotiations.[1]

On 24 July 2018 the Government produced a white paper on the proposed bill and how the legislation would work.[2] The bill was first introduced[3] by the government in the second session of the 57th Parliament on 21 October 2019 with the long title "A Bill to Implement, and make other provision in connection with, the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union which sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU".[4] This bill was not further debated after the second reading in the Commons on 22 October 2019 and lapsed on 6 November when parliament was dissolved in preparation for the 2019 general election.

The bill was reintroduced immediately following the general election and was the first bill to be put before the House of Commons in the first session of the 58th Parliament,[5] with changes from the previous bill, by the re-elected government and, in an unusual procedure, received its first reading before the debate on the Queen's Speech began. The second reading took place on 20 December, and the third on 9 January 2020.

This act was given royal assent on 23 January 2020, nine days before the UK left the European Union.

## Provisions

[edit]

The Act provides for the following:

* Provides (introducing a saving) that most provisions (certain provisions which were not repealed with immediate effect) of the 1972 European Communities Act will remain in full legal force and effect, as if they were not yet and never repealed, during an implementation period to last until (by default) 31 December 2020, notwithstanding the repeal of the whole act by the automatic operation of Section 1 (came into force on 17 August 2019) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 on 31 January 2020 at 11:00pm.[6]
* Enshrines the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU in domestic law including any financial settlement and agreement on citizens' rights.[1]
* Makes provisions for changes to EU law to be legally binding in the UK during the implementation period (after the UK has left the EU).
* Makes provisions for Parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of the process by primary legislation, instead of secondary legislation under the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.
* Section 38(1) expressly recognises that the Parliament of the United Kingdom is sovereign, though the effect of this section is debated.[7]

* v
* t
* e

Parliamentary sovereignty sources

Magna Carta 1215 cl 12

Bill of Rights 1689 arts 1–4

Parliament Act 1911 ss 1–2 and Parliament Act 1949 s 1

United Nations Act 1946 s 1

Human Rights Act 1998 ss 3–6

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 s 38(1)

Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 s 2(1)

* * *

Local Government Act 1972

Scotland Act 1998

Government of Wales Act 1998

Northern Ireland Act 1998

Greater London Authority Act 1999

* * *

Court judgments

Stockdale v Hansard (1839) 9A&E1

Pickin v British Railways Board [1974] AC 765

Attorney General v Jonathan Cape Ltd [1975] 3 All ER 484

R (Factortame) v Transport Secretary [1990] UKHL 7

R (Simms) v Home Secretary [1999] UKHL 33

R (Jackson) v Attorney General [2005] UKHL 56

R (HS2 Action Alliance) v Transport Secretary [2014] UKSC 3

R (Miller) v Brexit Secretary [2017] UKSC 5

R (Miller) v The Prime Minister and Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland [2019] UKSC 24

* * *

Repealed legislation

European Communities Act 1972 s 2

European Union Act 2011 s 18

see UK constitutional law

See also: Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements

## Legislative history

[edit]

See also: Brexit withdrawal agreement plan

On 13 November 2017, the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, announced plans for a new bill to enshrine the Withdrawal Agreement, if any, in domestic law by primary legislation. Upon further questioning in the House of Commons, Davis clarified that if MPs chose not to pass the bill, the UK would remain on course to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 without a deal as a consequence of invoking Article 50 in March 2017, after the passing of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017.[8]

Described by The Independent as the government "caving in" to Tory rebels, the bill as originally conceived would have allowed MPs to scrutinise any agreement "line-by-line", as well as make amendments.[9] Conservative MP Steve Baker, writing for The Times, claimed the new bill "gives whatever deal we strike with the EU proper standing in British law" and that it was consistent with the referendum result in providing "more control over how we are governed to the UK Parliament."[10]

The bill was introduced to Parliament for the first time on 21 October 2019, but lapsed on 6 November with the dissolution of Parliament in preparation for the December 2019 general election.

Following the attainment of a Conservative majority at the election, the bill was revised and reintroduced on 19 December, passing its second reading the following day. The December revision of the bill removed the provisions made in previous versions for parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit negotiations.[11]

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed its third and final reading in the House of Commons on 9 January 2020, with 330 in favour to 231 against.[12]

On 21 January 2020, the House of Lords passed the bill after approving five amendments to it. However, these amendments were overturned by the House of Commons on the following day.[13][14]

On 22 January 2020, the bill was passed by the House of Lords without further modifications. It received royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II the following day.[15][16]

## See also

[edit]

* Brexit
* Brexit negotiations in 2019
* Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU (post-Brexit negotiations in 2020)
* European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
* European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019 – European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019
* Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to the European Communities and the European Union
* European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020
* Enabling act

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "New Bill to implement Withdrawal Agreement". Government of the United Kingdom. 13 November 2017.
2. ^ "Legislating for the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union". Government of the United Kingdom. 24 July 2018.
3. ^ "European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019 — UK Parliament". services.parliament.uk.
4. ^ "Government website 21 October 2019" (PDF).
5. ^ "European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 — UK Parliament". services.parliament.uk.
6. ^ European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended by EU (W) A 2020[1]
7. ^ Jones, Carwyn (18 January 2021). "Is Dicey dicey?". UK Constitutional Law Association. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
8. ^ "David Davis: UK will leave EU with no deal if MPs vote down Withdrawal Bill". Herald Scotland. 13 November 2017.
9. ^ "MPs to get vote on new Brexit bill as Government caves in to Tory rebels". The Independent. 13 November 2017.
10. ^ "New bill will give parliament the full chance to do its job". The Times. 14 November 2017.
11. ^ Sandford, Alasdair (20 December 2019). "What has changed with Boris Johnson's new Brexit bill?". Euronews. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
12. ^ "Brexit: MPs give final backing to Withdrawal Agreement Bill". 9 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
13. ^ "Lords send amended Brexit bill back to MPs". BBC News. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
14. ^ correspondent, Peter Walker Political (22 January 2020). "Brexit bill passes parliament as Johnson overturns Lords amendments". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 January 2020. `{{cite news}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
15. ^ "Brexit bill clears final parliamentary hurdle". BBC News. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
16. ^ "Brexit bill receives Royal Assent". BBC News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020: legislation.gov.uk
* European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20: Progress
* Legislating for the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union 24 July 2018
* European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 Bills and legislation, parliament.uk
* Explanatory Notes, 13 July 2017, published with the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
* House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution – European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: interim report (published 7 September 2017)
* House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution – European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill: interim report (published 5 November 2019)
* Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (The Great Repeal Bill White Paper), 30 March 2017 (Accessible web version) (Print version)
* Briefing paper, House of Commons Library, 1 September 2017
* UK Government – "Plan for Britain" website
* The Withdrawal Agreement Act - a commentary: thomashobbes.co.uk

* v
* t
* e

2016 UK European Union Membership referendum and Brexit

* Renegotiation
* Referendum results
* Invocation of Article 50
* Negotiations
* Withdrawal agreement
* Northern Ireland protocol
* Trade negotiation
* Trade and Cooperation Agreement
* Windsor Framework
* Timeline

Referendum question|

"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"

Referendum legislation|

* European Union Referendum Act 2015
* Gibraltar
* European Union Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations 2016
* The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016

Background|

| Treaties|

* Rome
* 1972 Accession Treaty
* Single European Act
* Maastricht
* Amsterdam
* Nice
* European Constitution
* Lisbon
* UK opt-outs from EU legislation

|

Legislation|

* European Communities Act 1972
* Amendments: 1986
* 1993
* 1998
* 2002
* 2008
* 2011
* European Economic Area Act 1993

Proposed bills|

* European Union Bill 2004–05
* European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bills
* European Union (Referendum) Bill 2013–14

Elections|

* 2014 European Parliament election
* 2015 general election

By-elections|

* 2014 Clacton
* 2014 Heywood and Middleton
* 2014 Rochester and Strood

Other|

* UK accession
* 1973 EC enlargement
* UK membership
* 1975 EC membership referendum
* UK rebate
* Bruges speech
* No. No. No.
* Black Wednesday
* EEA
* Maastricht Rebels
* The European Union: In or Out
* Bloomberg speech
* Russian interference
* Balance of Competences Review
* 2015–16 renegotiation
* Euroscepticism in the UK

Campaign|

* Issues
* Opinion polling
* Endorsements
* Project Fear
* Unlawful campaigning allegations
* Brexit: The Movie
* Pro-EU leaflet
* Breaking Point (UKIP poster)

Campaign
organisations|

| Remain|

* Britain Stronger in Europe (official campaign)
* Labour In for Britain

|

Leave|

* Vote Leave (official campaign)
* Vote Leave bus
* Leave.EU
* BeLeave
* Grassroots Out
* Labour Leave
* Campaign for an Independent Britain
* The Freedom Association
* Better Off Out
* Get Britain Out
* Bruges Group

Aftermath of
referendum|

| Political party
leadership elections|

* Conservative
* 2016
* 2019
* Scottish, February 2020
* Labour
* UKIP

|

Opposition to Brexit|

* Proposed second referendum
* People's Vote
* Petition to revoke Article 50
* Led By Donkeys
* Bollocks to Brexit

Elections|

* 2017 local
* 2017 general
* 2018 local
* 2019 local
* 2019 European Parliament
* Brexit Party
* 2019 general

By-elections|

* 2016 Witney
* 2016 Richmond Park
* 2016 Sleaford and North Hykeham
* 2017 Copeland
* 2017 Stoke-on-Trent Central
* 2019 Peterborough
* 2019 Brecon and Radnorshire

Other|

* International reactions
* March to Leave
* Brexit Alliance
* Blue Collar Conservativism
* Brexit Party
* Independent Alliance for Reform

Brexit process|

* Miller I case
* Invocation of Article 50
* Negotiations
* Brexit divorce bill
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* Withdrawal agreement
* Parliamentary votes
* No-deal Brexit
* Operation Yellowhammer
* Prorogation of Parliament
* Miller II / Cherry case
* Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU
* Fish for finance
* EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)

Impact of Brexit
and
potential effects|

| on Northern Ireland and
the Republic of Ireland|

* 2024 Northern Ireland Executive formation
* Brexit and the Irish border
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* proposed changes
* Irish Sea border
* Windsor Framework

|

Other|

* on Gibraltar
* on the EU
* Science and technology
* Economic effects
* EU–UK relations after Brexit

Brexit legislation|

| White papers|

* Brexit plan
* Repeal Bill plan
* Chequers plan
* Brexit withdrawal agreement plan

|

Enacted|

* Notification of Withdrawal Act 2017
* Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* Cooper–Letwin Act
* Benn Act
* Withdrawal Agreement Act 2020 (Gibraltar)
* Internal Market Act 2020
* Future Relationship Act 2020
* UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2020
* Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023

Proposed|

* Terms of Withdrawal from EU (Referendum) Bills
* UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill 2018
* European Union Withdrawal Agreement (Public Vote) Bill 2017–19

Related|

* Brexit 50p coin
* Change Britain
* Change UK
* Chaos with Ed Miliband
* European Research Group
* "Enemies of the People"
* Leave Means Leave
* Led By Donkeys
* More United
* Northern Future Forum
* The New European
* Open Britain
* Proposed second Scottish independence referendum
* Reform UK
* Rue du Brexit
* Terminology (Glossary)
* Tufton Street
* United Ireland
* Voting pencil conspiracy theory
* Retained EU law
* 2017 Diane Abbott–David Davis controversy

Media depictions|

* Remainiacs (2017)
* Postcards from the 48% (2018)
* Not Tonight (2018)
* Brexit: The Uncivil War (2019)
* @BorderIrish (2018–2020)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Theresa May

* Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2016–2019)
* Leader of the Conservative Party (2016–2019)
* Home Secretary (2010–2016)
* MP for Maidenhead (1997–2024)

Home Secretary|

* National Crime Agency
* Draft Communications Data Bill
* Investigatory Powers Bill
* Policing and Crime Bill 2016
* Police and crime commissioners
* Home Office hostile environment policy
* Operation Yewtree
* Murder of Jo Cox

Premiership|

* First ministry
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* list of resignations
* 2018 cabinet reshuffle
* 2018 Conservative Party vote of no confidence
* International trips
* Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary
* Jeremy Hunt's tenure as Health Secretary
* Brexit
* Article 50 invocation
* negotiations
* European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2019
* Chequers plan
* Irish backstop
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* meaningful vote
* European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020
* vote of confidence
* Windrush scandal
* Resignation Honours

Politics|

* Electoral history
* Conservative Party
* One-nation conservatism

Elections|

* 2016 (party leadership)
* 2017 (local)
* 2017 (general)
* 2018 (local)
* 2019 (local)
* 2019 (European)

Family|

* Philip May (husband)

Slogans|

* "Strong and stable"
* "Brexit means Brexit"

See also|

* "Running through fields of wheat"
* St Theresa's Independent State Grammar School for Girls (and Boys)
* The Abuse of Power

* ← David Cameron
* Boris Johnson →

* * *

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Boris Johnson

* Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2019–2022)
* MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (2015–2023)
* Mayor of London (2008–2016)

Premiership|

| First
ministry|

* 2019 Conservative Party leadership election
* 2019 G7 summit
* Prorogation controversy
* Suspension of rebel Conservative MPs

|

Second
ministry|

* Chancellorship of Rishi Sunak
* 2020 budget
* March 2021 budget
* October 2021 budget
* List of departures
* 2020 cabinet reshuffle
* 2021 cabinet reshuffle
* EU withdrawal agreement
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* COVID-19 pandemic
* government response
* lockdown
* vaccinations
* contracts
* contract controversies
* Dominic Cummings scandal
* Partygate
* Commons Privileges Committee investigation
* Downing Street refurbishment controversy
* 2021 State Opening of Parliament
* 2021 G7 summit
* New Atlantic Charter
* Evacuations from Afghanistan
* COP26
* Irish Sea Bridge feasibility study
* Owen Paterson scandal
* Parliamentary second jobs controversy
* Levelling-up policy
* Growth deals
* White Paper
* Great British Railways
* Integrated Rail Plan
* Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU
* Trade and Cooperation Agreement
* Cost of living crisis
* Rwanda asylum plan
* Murder of David Amess
* War in Ukraine
* 2022 State Opening of Parliament
* 2022 Conservative Party confidence vote
* 2022 G7 summit
* Chris Pincher scandal
* July 2022 government crisis
* 2022 cabinet reshuffle
* Conservative Party leadership election
* 2022 vote of confidence in the Johnson ministry
* Resignation Honours

* Political positions
* International trips
* Brexit

Mayoralty|

* "Boris Island"
* "Boris Bikes"
* New Routemaster
* 2011 London riots
* London Cable Car
* 2012 Summer Olympics
* 2012 Summer Paralympics
* Garden Bridge
* Night Tube
* Jennifer Arcuri

Other offices held|

* Leader of the Conservative Party (2019–2022)
* Commonwealth Chair-in-Office (2019–2022)
* Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (2016–2018)
* Shadow Minister for Higher Education (2005–2007)
* Shadow Minister for the Arts (2004)
* MP for Henley (2001–2008)

Elections|

* 2008 (Mayoral)
* 2012 (Mayoral)
* 2019 (General)
* 2021 (Local)
* 2022 (Local)

Books|

| By Johnson|

* Friends, Voters, Countrymen (2002)
* Seventy-Two Virgins (2004)
* The Dream of Rome (2006)
* The Churchill Factor (2014)
* Unleashed (2024)

|

About Johnson|

* Boris: The Rise of Boris Johnson (2006)
* Boris v. Ken (2008)

Public
image|

| Cultural
depictions|

* Headcases (2008)
* When Boris Met Dave (2009)
* Newzoids (2015–2016)
* South Park (2016)
* Brexit: The Uncivil War (2019)
* "Vossi Bop" (2019)
* "Boris Johnson Is a Fucking Cunt" (2020)
* "Can't Stop Christmas" (2020)
* Spitting Image (2020–2021)
* "Boris Johnson Is Still a Fucking Cunt" (2021)
* This England (2022)
* DSP (2022)
* Partygate (2023)

|

* 1987 Bullingdon Club photograph
* "Greased piglet"
* "Dead cat strategy"

Family|

* Allegra Mostyn-Owen (first wife)
* Marina Wheeler (second wife)
* Carrie Johnson (third wife)
* Lara Johnson-Wheeler (daughter)
* Dilyn (dog)
* Stanley Johnson (father)
* Charlotte Fawcett (mother)
* Rachel Johnson (sister)
* Jo Johnson (brother)
* Edmund Fawcett (uncle)
* James Fawcett (grandfather)
* Ali Kemal (great-grandfather)
* Elias Avery Lowe (great-grandfather)
* H. T. Lowe-Porter (great-grandmother)

* ← Theresa May
* Liz Truss →

* ← Ken Livingstone
* Sadiq Khan →

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