London: Britain begins the day as a member of the European Union ( EU). Its status at the end of the day u2018 as a proud nation that has reclaimed its sovereignty, or a diminished presence in Europe and the worldu2019 will still be up for debate.
Britain officially departs the EU at 11 pm local time on Friday, midnight in Brussels ( 2300 GMT, 6 pm EST).
The departure comes three and a half years after the country voted by a margin of 52- 48 per cent to walk away from the club that it had joined in 1973. Itu2019s the first time a country has left the EU, and many in the bloc regard it as a sad day.
In Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel and EU commission leader Ursula von der Leyen are due to sketch out the EUu2019s first steps as a group of 27, rather than 28.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to meet in the morning with his Cabinet in the pro- Brexit town of Sunderland, in northeast England. He is scheduled to deliver a televised address to the country an hour before departure, calling Brexit, u2018 not an end but a beginning.u2019 According to his office, he will describe it as u2018 a moment of real national renewal and change.u2019 Some Brexit supporters will be holding more raucous celebrations.
Arch- Brexiteer Nigel Farage and his band of devotees will gather for patriotic songs and speeches in Londonu2019s Parliament Square to mark a moment that even Farage sometimes doubted would ever come. Britain was never a wholehearted EU member, but actually leaving the bloc was long considered a fringe idea. Agencies Johnson hails UKu2019s u2018 new beginningu2019 as Brexit day arrives Anti- Brexit protesters hold placards in London on Friday. PIC/ AFP In Edinburgh, the EU flag will not be lowered outside the Scottish Parliament. Lawmakers there voted to keep it as a symbol of their opposition to Brexit 1973 Year Britain joined the European Nations
