Brexit: A Love Story?

With problems in Parliament trying to get consensus on a withdrawal agreement, it seemed the main political parties were edging away from the centre ground. Did this leave a vacuum for a new movement?

In 2019, more or less simultaneously, a new party started and a new campaign launched, both supporting a so-called People's Vote on any Brexit deal. The Independent Group - or Change UK, as they came to be known - was not without chal...

Emotions run high as Theresa May tries to get her Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament, and fails. Not once, not twice but three times. Meanwhile the European Research Group (ERG) grows in influence and now firmly holds Parliament in the balance. Each day seems to wear away the Conservative’s party cohesion. And while Mrs. May’s government will try again and again if necessary, there will be a cost.

Mark Mardell takes a look beh...

After Theresa May's so called Chequers plan failed to impress, the Prime Minister faced another problem within her own party. A group of eurosceptics were gaining interest, members and momentum.

The European Research Group (ERG), or the Spartans as they came to be known, had previously been a small organisation on the fringe of politics. In 2018, they fought their way to the front line. As Mark Mardell follows the twists and turns ...

After months of talks, haggling and negotiations, the Prime Minister invited the entire cabinet to her country retreat in Buckinghamshire to present her proposed deal. The mercury was running high, as were tensions; it was reported that Downing Street officials made it clear if ministers weren't happy with the deal, they could leave but would have to give up their ministerial cars and take a taxi home. Hours later, and the Chequers...

Even before she became Prime Minister, Theresa May pledged a new government department that would oversee Britain's departure from the European. Not just that, but the department would be run by a leading Brexiteer. How much influence did David Davis - the first Brexit secretary - have? Who was really leading negotiations? And was it all simply a political manoeuvre on the Prime Minister's part?

Mark Mardell delves into the corrido...

It took the Government nine months to trigger Article 50 after the British public voted to leave the European Union. At the time, some said it was overdue. Since, people have said it was too soon. Running alongside that debate, though, was whether it could even be triggered at all.

Mark Mardell unpicks the attempt to trigger Article 50 without a vote in Parliament and the ensuing court case, how a business woman was thrust into the...

After Theresa May became Prime Minister, one of the first jobs was to set out her vision for implementing Brexit. Integral to doing that were her Chiefs of Staff – Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill.

Mark Mardell considers how Mrs May positioned herself as the person to deliver Brexit, the influence her chiefs had at the time, and - as she approached her first party conference that Autumn – what her speeches said about how negotiations w...

In June 2016, Theresa May put herself forward to be the new Prime Minister, the person who would navigate the UK's exit from the European Union. Her campaign, however, was to be short lived and she moved into Number 10 just a few weeks later.

What did she think about the EU? Mark Mardell delves into what she said to friends and colleagues, the role she played in the Referendum campaign itself and what this tells us about her approa...

In 1973, there were celebrations when Britain joined the European Community. But there were always those against the UK being part of the project. Over the next 45 years, there were debates and clashes, headlines and speeches; everyone speaking just as passionately about membership, regardless of which side they were on.

In Brexit: A Love Story? Mark Mardell has talked to the people who were there at those key moments, trawled thro...

When the Conservatives won the 2015 election, David Cameron reiterated his manifesto promise to hold an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. Not long after, the starting gun was fired and the battle lines drawn.

What followed? It's a well charted path; but Mark Mardell talks to the people who were there at the key moments, to see what they think the defining factors are, and whether they think things could - should -...

The European Union started with just 6 member countries. Over the years 6 more - including the United Kingdom - joined the community. But it was in 2004 when the single largest expansion saw 10 more countries join in one go. And with membership came freedom of movement.

Mark Mardell looks at what impact this had on Britain's relationship with the EU and whether enough consideration was given to the number of people who would come t...

A blustering billionaire playing politics, or a brave man doing his best for his country? Sir James Goldsmith divided opinion, but he united both sides of politics in promising a referendum on the euro.

Mark Mardell reflects on the party that only fought one election, didn't win a single seat, but secured a promise that in the end mattered more. And while that referendum never came to pass, he paved the way for the one that did, nin...