When was Brexit and why do Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland vote in the UK Elections?

Just over eight years ago, on June 23, 2016, millions of Brits went to the polls to vote in a referendum on the UK’s membership in the European Union. 51.9% of those who voted chose to leave the EU, initiating a process known as Brexit, an obvious play on the words ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’.

Although it has been several years since the UK ceased to be a member state of the Euro block, the repercussions of that decision are still very much felt today. Additionally, many questions continue to arise about the process, most of which relate to the countries involved in this decision. On Thursday 4 July, the general election takes place to determine the new party and prime minister to govern and, unlike some commentary suggests, not only England votes, but also Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Here’s a brief explanation of why.

Brexit: a timeline

One year after the referendum, in 2017, the British government under the Conservative Party notified the European Council of its intention to leave the EU and invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union to formalize the UK’s exit.

This process was supposed to last two years, but it experienced delays due to complicated negotiations between the EU and the UK to ensure an orderly exit without too many major issues. Finally, on 1 February 2020, the Withdrawal Agreement came into effect. From that day, the UK ceased to be a member of the European Union and began a transition period that ended on December 31 of the same year. Since then, the myriad benefits promised by those pushing the leave vote have yet to materialise, and economic experts have pointed to the huge negative impact of the self-inflicted move.

Voting in the UK Elections

In the UK elections, including that of 4 July 2024, citizens from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are eligible to vote, as these countries make up the United Kingdom. While England is the largest of the four, it’s important to remember that the UK is a union of these four nations. Therefore, each participates in electing Members of Parliament (MPs) to the British Parliament in Westminster, London.

Each territory elects its MPs to the House of Commons to ensure representation in the UK’s political process. Although each country has its own parliaments and assemblies for local governance, certain issues are decided at the British Parliament level.