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Brexit countdown: What happens next and why you need to know

No deal
Image: The deadline for Brexit is 31 October
Why you can trust Sky News

Boris Johnson has published his new Brexit proposal to the the European Union in which the controversial Irish backstop has been removed.

The prime minister has said he wants a deal in place ahead of the EU summit on 17 October so the UK can leave the bloc with an agreement at the end of the month.

We'll take you through what's likely to happen next.

Brexit: Has Britain left the EU yet?
Brexit: Has Britain left the EU yet?

The UK voted to leave the EU on 23 June 2016 and was due to leave on 29 March 2019 following two years of negotiations.

Parliament prorogued... again

Boris Johnson will seek to suspend parliament for a week from 8 October until the Queen's Speech on 14 October.

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that a previous five-week suspension - or prorogation - of parliament requested by the prime minister was unlawful.

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How judgment day for Johnson unfolded

In fact, the 11 judges declared that "parliament is not prorogued", meaning MPs and peers could go back to Westminster - and they did, almost immediately after the judgment was delivered.

More on Brexit

If Mr Johnson's request to suspend parliament from next Tuesday evening is accepted by the Queen then MPs will have a week out of the Commons before the prime minister's plans for his government are set out in the Queen's Speech on 14 October.

It is the same date MPs were meant to return after the initial prorogation, before it was ruled unlawful.

European Council building in Brussels
Image: The European Council's meeting room in Brussels

EU summit

Intense negotiations between the government and Brussels are expected to get under way between now and the crunch EU summit in Brussels on 17-18 October now Mr Johnson has revealed his Brexit blueprint.

The PM has sold his plan as a "fair and reasonable compromise". The proposal would keep Northern Ireland tied to the EU single market rules for trade in goods - but leave the customs union with the rest of the UK, resulting in new customs checks.

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Brexit plans: What are they and what do they mean?

So far European leaders' response to the PM's proposals to resolve the issue of the backstop has been lukewarm.

Irish PM Leo Varadkar said the proposals "do not fully meet the agreed objectives" of the backstop, while European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said there were some "problematic points".

If the reaction to Mr Johnson's offer remains flat, the chances of a new agreement being reached with the EU are slim.

Boris Johnson
Image: Boris Johnson has said the UK is leaving the EU at the end of the month - with or without a deal

Does that mean Brexit is definitely on?

In principle, yes.

The Brexit date remains 31 October and Mr Johnson has said he won't be delaying the UK's exit from the EU by asking for another extension.

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Moment the bill to block no-deal passed

But the Benn Act - the legislation rushed through parliament in September after MPs took control of the Commons agenda - requires the PM to seek a delay to Brexit if MPs have not approved a deal, or agreed to leave the EU without one, by 19 October.

The government hasn't actually said how it plans to get around the law forcing him to ask Brussels to delay Brexit if he hasn't succeeded in getting a new deal.

So this question still hangs in the balance.

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Raab: We will test 'to the limit' law blocking no-deal

Will the PM have to break the law to force a no-deal Brexit?

Well, the government says very clearly it will never break the law.

But it is planning to "test" it to its limit and see if it can find any wiggle room to avoid delaying Brexit again.

If it all comes down to a matter of interpretation, this will probably end up in the courts.

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'Come on!' - PM challenges Corbyn to table vote of no-confidence

Will there be a vote of no confidence in the PM?

Opposition parties can call a vote of no confidence in the government at any point.

But they have so far flatly refused to do so - despite challenges from Mr Johnson for them to throw down the gauntlet.

Corbyn tells 'unelected' PM to resign at Labour conference
Image: Jeremy Corbyn has said the priority of opposition parties is to prevent a no-deal Brexit

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he and other opposition leaders remain committed to preventing a no-deal Brexit - first and foremost.

Mr Corbyn has said a motion of no confidence will be tabled at a point when it can be carried in parliament, but opposition parties' priority has been to make sure the PM takes no-deal off the table, obeys the Benn Act and applies to the EU for an extension if an agreement cannot be reached.

SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 08: A woman walks into a polling station on June 8, 2017 in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom. Polling stations open across the country as the United Kingdom goes to the polls to vote in the 2017 general election. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Image: An election is now unlikely to be held before 21 November

So… is the election completely off now?

For now, yes.

Opposition parties have been blocking the prime minister from calling an election because they want to be sure their efforts to delay the Brexit Halloween deadline to avoid no-deal actually pay off.

When we find out if they definitely have on 19 October, then they may back a poll soon after that.

The earliest date it could now be - assuming convention is followed and it is held on a Thursday - is 21 November.

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'Democracy did not end with Brexit'

Cancel Brexit?

There is also the legal option of cancelling Brexit by revoking Article 50.

The Liberal Democrats have backed party leader Jo Swinson's call to campaign at the next general election with a promise to revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit if they form a majority government.

The party had previously supported staying in the EU, but via a majority vote for Remain at a second referendum.