Brexit: A Love Story?
Brexit: A Love Story?
BBC Radio 4
You know we’re leaving the EU but this is the story of how the UK got here. Mark Mardell uncovers the fractious yet intriguing story of Britain’s relationship with the EU.
25. The Purge
Revolution is afoot in the Conservative Party - with many Tory MPs threatening to vote against the new Prime Minister's deal - while Boris Johnson himself is threatening to boot them out of the party if they do.Mark Mardell follows the twists and turns as this love story comes to a close.Email: [email protected]. Twitter: #BBCWATO
Sep 4, 2020
18 min
24. The Centre Cannot Hold
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 challenges. Neither was the People's Vote campaign. Eventually, the friction came to be personal. Mark Mardell speaks to the people involved about where it all went wrong. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: #BBCWATO
Sep 2, 2020
19 min
23. Three Strikes and You're Out!
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 behind the news reports of the day, into the meeting rooms and corridors of Westminster, and reveals the private tensions of the party’s existential crisis. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: #BBCWATO
Sep 2, 2020
19 min
22. The Spartans
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 of Britain's 45 year relationship with the European Union, Mrs May must meet her newest challengers.Email: [email protected]. Twitter: #BBCWATO
Aug 31, 2020
19 min
Brexit: How did we get here?
In this one-off special episode of Brexit: A Love Story?, Mark Mardell recaps the journey Britain has taken from joining the European Economic Community in 1973 to voting to leave the European Union in 2016. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @BBCWorldatOne
Jan 31, 2020
15 min
21. Checkmate at Chequers
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 deal was finally done. People seemed pleased... but for how long?Mark Mardell revisits the events of that day and finds out from those there what really went on. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BBCPM
Apr 23, 2019
21 min
20. The path to a meaningful vote
Running alongside the Government's negotiations with the European Union has been a complex - and at times fraught - discussion in Parliament about how much say MPs should have on the final Brexit deal. Mark Mardell navigates MPs' journey for a meaningful vote on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BBCPM
Apr 22, 2019
21 min
19. The election that broke Brexit
When Theresa May called a surprise general election that she'd ruled since she took office, with the aim strengething her mandate ahead of tricky Brexit negotiations, nobody could have predicted that she'd end up losing her overall majority in the Commons.Mark Mardell dissects the campaign itself, and the impact on Britain's departure from the European Union. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BBCPM
Apr 19, 2019
20 min
18. Dexeu: Brexit from a broom cupboard
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 corridors of Whitehall and the new Department for Exiting the European Union, to find out what was really going on behind the doors of No 10 and No 9 Downing Street. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BBCPM
Apr 18, 2019
20 min
Coming soon
If you’re getting bogged down in Brexit… maybe it’s time to take a step back and get some perspective.After a hiatus to allow the day-to-day events to unfold, Mark Mardell returns with his in depth look at Brexit... New episodes available soon.#brexitlovestoryEmail: [email protected] Twitter: @BBCPM
Mar 28, 2019
1 min
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