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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.

29 - 25. The Purge
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  • 29 - 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: worldatone@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: #BBCWATO

    Fri, 04 Sep 2020
  • 28 - 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: worldatone@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: #BBCWATO

    Wed, 02 Sep 2020
  • 27 - 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: worldatone@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: #BBCWATO

    Wed, 02 Sep 2020
  • 26 - 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: worldatone@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: #BBCWATO

    Mon, 31 Aug 2020
  • 25 - 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: WATO@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: @BBCWorldatOne

    Fri, 31 Jan 2020
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