A t 11pm last night the UK ceased to be a member of the European Union.

The UK has been a member since 1973 when it joined the European Economic Community together with Ireland and Denmark, in the first of many enlargements, taking the original EEC membership of six to nine, before many enlargements created the 28 member state European Union.

While the UK has now left there is a transition period until the end of 2020 where the UK will still abide by the rules of the EU while a deal is agreed for the future trading relationship between the two.

It means people can still travel to EU countries without the need for a visa and firms will still apply the standards to goods and services that exist across the EU. and EU law still applies to the UK.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said last night, as the UK was leaving, it was a new beginning for Britain.

He said: “Our job as the government, my job, is to bring this country together and take us forward.

“And the most important thing to say tonight is that this is not an end but a beginning.

“This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act.

“It is a moment of real national renewal and change.

“This is the dawn of a new era in which we no longer accept that your life chances – your family’s life chances – should depend on which part of the country you grow up in.

“This is the moment when we begin to unite and level up.”

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In the next 11 months the negotiations will take place and end either in a new arrangement or the UK will leave without a trade deal.

However, in the next year the arrangements will be unpicked and EU leaders said that the benefits of being in the EU will be lost to the UK.

The presidents of the European Commission, European Council and European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, and David Maria Sassoli, President, said: “Without the free movement of people, there can be no free movement of capital, goods and services. Without a level playing field on environment, labour, taxation and state aid, there cannot be the highest quality access to the single market. Without being a member, you cannot retain the benefits of membership.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens held a Brexit day pro independence in Europe rally in Glasgow.

Green Glasgow MSP Partick Harvie, said he was no longer “a remainer but a rejoiner”.

He said: “We will be campaigning to convince as many as possible that a road back to the EU is possible and that independence can have a real purpose, helping us build a new, just and sustainable Scotland.”

Ska Keller German MEP, and co-president of the Green/EFA group in the European Parliament, told supporters Scotland would be welcomed back into the EU.

She said: “In this extremely sad moment, we need to see hope. It is a dark time for the UK.

“It is a big step backward for the environment and a big step backwards for social rights,”

Pro EU supporters were also holding a ‘leave a light on’ rally in Buchanan Street at 1030, with a “torchlit gathering” with SNP and Green politicians taking part.

The group were to lead singing of Auld Lang Syne and the EU anthem Ode to Joy from the steps at the Donald Dewar statue.

And as the UK left at 11pm, despite a campaign, Big Ben did not bong.