Brexit has an official date - three months earlier than expected!
It looks like Britain will be leaving the EU earlier than planned, as negotiators on both sides have agreed on an official date of 31 December 2020.
A government source told The Sun newspaper "The EU timetable is the working assumption and no one seems too upset by that." The Prime Minister originally wanted a transition period of around two years after the 29 March 2019 date, but officials are happier with a 21-month grace period.
The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said that a shorter transition time would be better for everyone and would be "useful for Britain to get prepared for the kind of challenges they will face...and for the new relationship." He also says that although UK businesses have access to the single market at the moment, British companies should "start preparing for this right now". Yikes. Sounds kinda scary.
Theresa May is due to give a speech this week about the UK's relationship with the EU post-Brexit.
