Timeline: Here's what we know about Brexit in 2018

With the turning of the clock into 2018, people can now say that Brexit is happening next year.

However, an unpredictable 2017 – which saw the Tories lose their parliamentary majority and Theresa May weakened in a snap General Election – illustrates that a year really is a long time in politics.

And with the country seemingly still divided over how they want Brexit to take shape, there is no certainty on how Britain’s divorce from the EU will play out.

But what CAN we expect from the Brexit process in 2018?

Phase two of talks

The EU accepted that “sufficient progress” had been made on talks that they could move on to the next phase, dealing with transition. However, the EU leaders need to agree on legal text with the UK to start shaping the formal withdrawal agreement before negotiations can move on.

The thorny issue of transition

It is widely known that talks will centre on the transition period after Brexit day on 29 March 2019. However, there is still no agreed consensus on what this should be. EU leaders insist that transition must take place under all existing rules and regulations – including free movement of people – until 31 December 2020. However, several UK business and Remainers do not think this will be long enough. Unsurprisingly, Brexit supporters take an opposing view, believing the UK will be bound by rules that it has no say over.

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EU Withdrawal Bill

The EU Withdrawal Bill – the bill that will repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which took Britain into the EU – is still yet to make its way through parliament. Ministers will have to address the concerns of MPs before it heads to the House of Lords for a Second Reading at the end of January. Lords are then expected to try and amend the bill, with a Third Reading of the bill set for May. Peers, who are predominately pro-EU, are expected to make life difficult for the Government, and some fear that they would try to thrown the bill out completely, effectively blocking Brexit.

Local elections

May will see local elections potentially upset politics once again. With London boroughs and mayoralties up for grabs, the results could be e reflection of the public mood on Brexit and the party leaders. Could a disastrous result for Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn destabilise their leadership – and threaten the prospect of a smooth Brexit? Remainers may hope so and cast their votes accordingly.

Agreement?

The EU wants a withdrawal agreement in place by October, giving time for it to be be ratified fully by the time the final Brexit date rolls around in March 2019. However, there is no way of knowing how talks will go throughout the year, and whether all the sticking points – including transition and free movement – will be resolved.