London: Britain begins the day as a member of the European Union ( EU). Its status at the end of the day u2018 as a proud nation that has reclaimed its sovereignty, or a diminished presence in Europe and the worldu2019 will still be up for debate.
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The departure comes three and a half years after the country voted by a margin of 52- 48 per cent to walk away from the club that it had joined in 1973. Itu2019s the first time a country has left the EU, and many in the bloc regard it as a sad day.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to meet in the morning with his Cabinet in the pro- Brexit town of Sunderland, in northeast England. He is scheduled to deliver a televised address to the country an hour before departure, calling Brexit, u2018 not an end but a beginning.u2019 According to his office, he will describe it as u2018 a moment of real national renewal and change.u2019 Some Brexit supporters will be holding more raucous celebrations.