Brexit key dates: When is the UK leaving the EU?

As Britain prepares to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, much uncertainty hangs in the air. Will that fixed date be extended to allow for further negotiations? What kind of deal will we leave with, and what scenarios will we face if we don't strike a deal? Will there be a second referendum, to give the people a Final Say?

This will all become clearer in the months ahead, across a number of crucial votes, summits and negotiations. We'll be keeping track of all the key dates to keep an eye out for, as one of the biggest political changes in British history approaches.

4 September 2018: House of Commons returns

MPs will return from their summer recess, and the parliamentary diary will start to fill up with any remaining votes on Brexit related issues.

15-18 September 2018: Liberal Democrat conference

The party will kick off the conference season with their gathering in Brighton. Leader Sir Vince Cable, who is backing The Independent's campaign for a Final Say on the Brexit deal, will give the key note speech.

23-26 September 2018: Labour conference

The Labour party will gather in Liverpool for their autumn conference, attended by over 13,000 people and featuring a key note speech from Jeremy Corbyn.

30 September - 3 October 2018: Conservative conference

The government will gather in Birmingham where Theresa May will deliver the key note speech just two weeks before the autumn's crucial EU summit.

18-19 October 2018: EU summit

This gathering of the 28 EU member states will be held in Austria, and it is the point at which all sides hope to agree the terms of the UK's withdrawal agreement. This will include the key issues of the Irish border, and any potential trade deal between the two sides after Brexit.

November 2018: Emergency EU summit?

If terms cannot be agreed for a withdrawal agreement at the October summit, an emergency reconvening is expected in November.

13-14 December 2018: EU summit

The 28 EU member states will meet in Austria. This would be the final chance to agree any deal, if both sides are still willing to strike one.

November 2018 - January 2019: UK could vote on Brexit deal

If Theresa May has secured a deal with EU leaders in October, it will be during this session of parliament that MPs will vote on whether or not to accept it. Parliament will also pass an Implementation and Withdrawal Bill that sets out the full details of Brexit.

March 2019: EU summit to ratify Brexit deal

The 28 EU member states will meet in Brussels for the last time before Brexit, where they are expected to ratify the withdrawal agreement, if it has been passed by the UK parliament.

29 March 2019: Brexit Day

At 11pm on Friday 29 March next year, the UK will officially cease to be a member of the EU, although a transition period will remain in place until the end of 2020. - ndependent