Chapter 1 – Brexit history and context
The United kingdom’s departure from the European Union (EU), better known as ‘Brexit’, began on the 23 rd of
June 2016 when the country held a referendum on its membership of the EU and 51.9% of voters elected to
leave the union. In march 2017, Theresa May notified the European Council President Donald Tusk of the
United Kingdom’s intention to leave the EU. Consequently article 50 of the Lisbon treaty was triggered and
thus a two-year transition period filled with negotiations, in which the UK still complied with EU legislation,
regarding the terms of withdrawal began.
After months of disagreements and a change in leadership, on the 24 th of December 2020 negotiations
between the UK and the EU came to an end and reached a deal on their new relationship. The terms set out in
the new deal came into force on January first of 2021
Due to the UK being a member of the EU since 1973, a substantial amount of the legislation they have created
was implemented in the United Kingdom. This caused a significant shift in terms of legislation in the country,
thus to avoid further issues the UK government proposed a Repeal bill.
Post-Brexit the limited, at times non-existent, access the United Kingdom has to EU bodies and security has
caused a decline in UKs ability to combat modern slavery. While efforts have been made by the government to
maintain a civil and good standing partnership many legislations are still left in the open.
EUSS – eu settlement scheme -POINTS BASED IMMIGRATION SYSTEM –
During the two-year negotiation period of Brexit, the UK government had intention to end the free movement
of labour and bring new immigration legislation to limit and control immigration to the UK. This brought on the
new points-based immigration system.
January 2021 brought further vulnerability and risk to modern slavery and its victims with its new immigration
system which “treats EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s
economy”
The government published policy paper on the new points-based immigration system, which applies to non-
EEA (European Economic Area) immigrants and newly arriving EEA migrants and prioritises high-skilled
workers.
It is vital that the UK government respects their commitment to protect individuals from exploitation.
The United kingdom’s departure from the European Union (EU), better known as ‘Brexit’, began on the 23 rd of
June 2016 when the country held a referendum on its membership of the EU and 51.9% of voters elected to
leave the union. In march 2017, Theresa May notified the European Council President Donald Tusk of the
United Kingdom’s intention to leave the EU. Consequently article 50 of the Lisbon treaty was triggered and
thus a two-year transition period filled with negotiations, in which the UK still complied with EU legislation,
regarding the terms of withdrawal began.
After months of disagreements and a change in leadership, on the 24 th of December 2020 negotiations
between the UK and the EU came to an end and reached a deal on their new relationship. The terms set out in
the new deal came into force on January first of 2021
Due to the UK being a member of the EU since 1973, a substantial amount of the legislation they have created
was implemented in the United Kingdom. This caused a significant shift in terms of legislation in the country,
thus to avoid further issues the UK government proposed a Repeal bill.
Post-Brexit the limited, at times non-existent, access the United Kingdom has to EU bodies and security has
caused a decline in UKs ability to combat modern slavery. While efforts have been made by the government to
maintain a civil and good standing partnership many legislations are still left in the open.
EUSS – eu settlement scheme -POINTS BASED IMMIGRATION SYSTEM –
During the two-year negotiation period of Brexit, the UK government had intention to end the free movement
of labour and bring new immigration legislation to limit and control immigration to the UK. This brought on the
new points-based immigration system.
January 2021 brought further vulnerability and risk to modern slavery and its victims with its new immigration
system which “treats EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s
economy”
The government published policy paper on the new points-based immigration system, which applies to non-
EEA (European Economic Area) immigrants and newly arriving EEA migrants and prioritises high-skilled
workers.
It is vital that the UK government respects their commitment to protect individuals from exploitation.
