Brexit timeline: From the referendum to TODAY and what’s next – What on EARTH is going on?

The Brexit negotiations have been a rollercoaster for the British public. With backstops, customs unions, no-deal and no clarity, it’s hard to cut through the noise to get a picture of what’s happening. Now, as we rapidly approach the most important moment in European history since the end of World War II, it’s more important than ever to have a clear sense of where things stand.

BREXIT TIMELINE PART ONE: What has happened

• January 1, 1973: UK joins the EU (or what it was back then, called the European Economic Community)

• June 5, 1975: First EU referendum – 67 percent of UK public vote for Britain to be part of the EU.

• June 23, 2016: Another referendum is held – 52 percent of the UK public vote to leave the EU.

READ MORE: Follow our LIVE updates as Brexit debates unfold

Brexit timeline part three OUTCOME 2: The deal is rejected (Theresa May fails to get the 318 or more ‘yes’ votes required)

• December 11: 21-day period initiated for the government to put forward a new plan for Brexit, which Parliament will vote on.

Possible outcomes:

a: UK seeks extension to Article 50 and has another go at negotiating. The EU has said they won’t allow this, but they probably would as they don’t want no-deal.

b: Second referendum: Either Brexit is abandoned or we try re-negotiate (back to outcome a)

c: Vote of no confidence in Theresa May (likely in any case if the deal is rejected) and a potential general election. This would, again, lead to renegotiating, so back to outcome a.

d: The UK leaves the EU on March 29 with no deal.