January 2020 – Borderlands

The EU officially leaves the EU at 11:00pm GMT, 31 January 2020.

Meanwhile in Scotland

In the Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow this morning, a traffic cone painted in the blue and yellow stars of the EU flag appears on the Duke of Wellington statue. Apparently putting a traffic cone on the head of the statue has been par for the course in Glasgow since the 1980s. The EU colours are a special effort for Brexit day.

The Scottish government won a vote to keep the EU flag flying above Holyrood. A YouGov poll on Thursday suggested that a narrow majority of Scots now support independence – with 51% backing yes to 49% No. Former European Council president Donald Tusk has since said that a bid from an independent Scotland for membership of the EU would be looked on with “empathy.”

“Never Gonna Give EU Up” – Missing EU Already rally outside the Scottish Parliament.

And Dover

At dawn, anti-Brexit campaign group Led by Donkeys projected a message to Europe on the side of the White Cliffs of Dover. Photograph: By Donkeys/Twitter.

Anti-Brexit campaigners Led by Donkeys projected a video message to Europe on the White Cliffs of Dover. World War II veterans express their disappointment about the UK’s departure from the EU. 98-year-old Brigadier Stephen Goodall says that: “At my age I shan’t be living much longer but I hope that for the sake of my children and my grandchildren and my great grandchildren that England, Britain will move back to be much closer to Europe than what we have done now.” Sid, a 95-year-old Welsh veteran addresses Europe directly with these words: “Look from your side to this side, see these white cliffs and we’re looking across at you feeling we want to be together and we will be together before long I’m sure.”

*Anti-Brexit campaign group Led by Donkeys projected a message to Europe on the side of the White Cliffs of Dover. Photograph: By Donkeys/Twitter.*

The video fades to a single yellow star representing Britain, with this message underneath: “This is our star – look after it for us.”

Ireland

Border Communities Against Brexit poster advertising Brexit day protests.

Border Communities Against Brexit stage demonstrations in border towns in Ireland: Carriccarnon, Aughnacloy, Aghalane, Blacklion, Lifford and Bridgend. The Belfast Agreement provides a mechanism for a Northern Ireland border poll if the demand exists. The new border down the Irish Sea offers the logic for a potential Irish reunification.

Satirical Twitter account @BorderIrish *tweets for the last time.*

In Brussels

The Union flag is removed from outside the European Parliament.

In the headlines

“Adios, Auf Wiedersehen, Arrivederci, Au Revoir … Goodbye. For now.” The New European.

“Brexit Day: This is not an end, but a beginning.” The Daily Telegraph.

“Britain bows out of EU with a mixture of optimism and regret.” Financial Times.

“‘Brexit must not take us backwards’: Mayor of London concerned for Irish community following Britain’s EU departure.” The Irish Post.

“Our time has come” The Sun. “UK’s leap into the unknown.” i (newspaper).

“Bye bye, my love! Der Tag des Brexit.” Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger.

The Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger Editor-in-chief writes:

“My generation grew up with the wonderful idea of Europe. A diverse Europe that preserves regional cultures – but united! And this includes London and the Scottish Highlands. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, New Wave and Punk, British humour and your typical lust for civil disobedience. And let’s not forget of course your epic failure at penalty shootout.

The world would be a poorer place without Shakespeare, the Spice Girls, Harry Potter, Shaun the sheep … The list goes on.

Today you get back to your chosen isolation. Sure, friends will be friends! But it feels different now. More distant, non binding, like a spurned love that was once so beautiful.”