TIMELINE
23rd June 2016
The UK Referendum on membership of the EU votes in favour of leaving the EU, 52% to 48%
Winter 2016
A marked increase of racially motivated attacks is reported in the news.
9th February 2017
UK parliament vote down a bill amendment to protect EU citizens living in the UK from possible deportation after
Brexit.
27th March 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50, beginning the formal process of the UK leaving the EU. Scotland immediately call for a second referendum for independence from the UK.
1st April 2017
The civil service begin the process of disentangling EU and UK policy. Most policy is kept, copied over from EU policy documents in order to keep trading standards for future trading.
9th April 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May calls for a snap General Election.
8th June 2017
The Conservative Party win the general election, but lose their Majority in the House of Commons. They are forced to ally with the Irish Democratic Unionist Party in order to form a majority government. The loss of confidence in the Conservative Party is seen as an indication of both Pro-Brexit and Anti-Brexit sentiment.
Summer 2017
As Parliament rise for their summer vacation, the UK press begin a campaign to “Take back our laws” after several leaked documents make it increasingly clear that a post-Brexit UK will have all the laws of an EU state, but lack the free movement and market access.
8th January 2018
Three major UK-based banks publicly announce that they are moving their operations to Frankfurt. It rapidly becomes clear that this planned move has been in place since shortly before the triggering of Article 50, with many jobs and operations having been moved almost immediately. The banks plan to move all staff and major trading in time for the end of start of the next financial year in April 2018.
1st April 2018
The start of the new financial year sees nearly all the major banks and investment companies move the bulk of their operations to Frankfurt. The remaining small UK based operations all move into a single building in Canary Wharf. UK press reports that “The great financial centre of Europe is no longer in the UK.”
Summer 2018
The press and the Government push an agenda of Austerity and Good Work Ethic, with little resistance from the opposition party in the House of Commons. The first bill to change UK labour laws, abolishing minimum pay and maximum working week hours is voted down, but has gained a growing movement of followers.
1st March 2019
Plaid Cymru announce their intention to push for a referendum for Welsh independence from the UK. Wales has been disproportionately hit by the reduction in UK GDP, Austerity measures and the lack of EU funding. The movement rapidly gains popularity, although it is dismissed by Parliament as a fantastical wish.
31st March 2019
The UK officially leaves the EU.
17th April 2019
The Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and Labour backbenchers all vote in favour of a bill to force referendum votes for all UK countries. Many Labour MPs are sacked for voting against party lines, they are quoted in the Press as unrepentant. The Prime Minister attempts to block the bill, but her attempts are ruled unlawful. Independence Referendum dates are set for all UK countries for 1st March 2020.
19th May 2019
A second bill to change UK labour laws is introduced in parliament, with modified working weeks and the abolishment of the minimum wage, the bill is popularised in the press and passes into law.
Summer 2019
The UK becomes a divided nation - the support for the independence of the UK countries sees a marked increase in tensions between nationals. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all return polls showing increasing popularity for independance.
1st March 2020
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all vote in favour of independence. England returns a vote for remaining in the UK, by a slight margin.
3rd March 2020
Formal negotiations for Welsh independence begin. Wales sets a grace period of 1 year for all Welsh-born people and their spouses to move back to Wales from England before they will formally close the borders.
18 September 2020
England introduces further Austerity measures, reducing social security and benefits throughout England, but introducing a “light working” scheme to allow those who cannot work full time better access to part time and flexible work.
1st March 2021 Wales formally closes their borders. They institute a socialist-leaning government. Their main national income is the sale of water to England after securing rights to the operations of all national waters in Wales.
Summer 2021
England suffers huge drought after the government refuse to pay for Welsh water, and accuse Wales and Scotland of price-fixing their water supplies. The press report a huge spike in English requests for immigration visas to a whole range of countries, including Wales. Alt-right groups, emboldened by the government line, are increasingly active. They blame the economic downturn on layabouts and the nanny state, which they say is a drain on free entrepreneurship.
December 2021
England introduce the “Work what you can” Policy - it replaces all UK labour and social security laws. The policy is championed as giving everyone the freedom to work the hours they can work, at whatever level they are able to work, at a pay level suitable to their contribution. Thousands of people are suddenly plunged into poverty and underemployment as companies take advantage of the ability to dictate hours and pay levels of employees. Alt-right support for the government line coalesces into the formation of the Albion League that pledges to give England back her pride.
January 2022
The re-branded English Broadcasting Corporation makes its first special report into the plight of English immigrants attempting to enter Wales. Many are found to be former benefits claimants who are unable to work, but are claiming asylum status due to facing hate crimes in England. The EBC refuses to use the word “Refugee” to describe these people.
February 2022
The EBC reports that 18 individuals have died attempting to enter Wales in one night. They were all either recovered from or reported missing shortly after entering the Severn River in an attempt to cross to Wales. A verdict of suicide is returned by an English coroner's court. There is uproar on social media, and people throughout England begin sharing their stories of poverty and social decline.
March 2022
Wales is ordered to make a formal statement to English government about the refugee situation. While they refuse to open their borders, they pass a bill in their national parliament to allow a small number of English refugees into their nation per month. England and Wales agree to co-fund the setup of processing centres on the border.
July 2022
Three temporary processing centres are set up, funded by the Welsh and English governments, but run by a private contractor. The initial contract is for 5 months, although the centres are immediately swamped.
January 2023
The three “temporary” processing centres are still in place, although the Welsh and English governments are both on record as showing signs of wanting to close down the centres, or to de-fund them. The English government vote down a bill in parliament to make immigration a one-way deal, although favour for such sentiments is growing. The press quote an English politician as saying “The ongoing panic-migration of English citizens must be stopped. It is a fake situation, caused by fake news and fueled by social media. The English National Government must look at ways of stopping this.”
March/April 2023
The events of the pre-play phase of the Quota take place.
May 2023
The events of The Quota take place.