Brexit for the non-brit: What is it, and why can't they get it done?

A timeline of events on Britain's struggle with Brexit

After delays, stumbles and intermittent negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May this week finally presented a draft plan for Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union — and it has been roundly and loudly panned. Her government may be verging on collapse.

Supporters of Brexit had promised that leaving the European bloc would be quick and simple. It has turned out to be the opposite. To understand why, it helps to understand the origins, and how that history is playing out today.

What Is Brexit?

Britain joined the forerunner of the European Union in 1973, but British politicians have always been ambivalent