UK public’s top Google searches about Brexit answered

The dismissal of Theresa May’s Brexit deal by MPs on Tuesday night has brought more questions than answers for the British public, at least if their Google searches are to believed.

The world’s biggest search engine has released information on the most-searched questions following the vote, ranging from how MPs voted to WTO trade rules.

Here are answers to the biggest questions.

Did my MP support Brexit?

The websites MySociety.org and TheyWorkForYou.com both hold details about how every MP voted on the EU Withdrawal Agreement and nearly every other vote in Parliament.

What happened with Brexit?

After more than a year of negotiations, Mrs May presented her EU Withdrawal Agreement to Parliament in November, but it was immediately dismissed by hard Brexiteers within her own party, leading to a string of Cabinet resignations.

Hours before Parliament was due to vote on the deal in December, sensing a heavy defeat, the PM delayed the vote and returned to Brussels to seek reassurances about its implications.

Despite her efforts, MPs rejected the deal in a meaningful vote on Tuesday.

What is WTO Brexit?

WTO rules decide the level of tax imposed on goods whenever they cross a border, known as tariffs, where countries do not already have an agreement.

There are no tariffs on UK imports from the EU, and tariffs on imports from other countries are relatively low thanks to existing trade agreements. Trading under WTO rules means tariffs will be much higher.

The UK has yet to negotiate any new trade deals with any other countries in preparation for leaving the EU, meaning WTO rules would apply to all imports and exports.

Until new trade agreements are signed, anything imported into the UK or exported but UK businesses will be subject to these much higher taxes, damaging businesses and affecting the prices of nearly all goods found in the shops.

What will happen now with Brexit?

Before anything else can happen on Brexit, Theresa May’s Government must survive a vote from MPs on whether they can still run the country, to be held on Wednesday night.

If the Government loses, there is likely to be a general election.

Whichever way the vote goes, and with only 72 days left until the UK is due to leave the EU, many commentators believe the Government will delay leaving to negotiate a deal that can command a majority in Parliament and be acceptable to the EU.

Is Brexit cancelled?

Brexit is not cancelled. A large majority of MPs disagreed with Theresa May’s Government about the best way to continue, and a sizeable minority of MPs are arguing for a second referendum – but at present the UK is still due to leave the EU on March 29.

How much has Brexit cost so far?

The Government set aside more than £4.2 billion for Brexit preparations in 2016, not all of which has been spent yet.

A study by the Centre for European Reform in September found that the UK economy was 2.5% smaller than it would have been had Remain won the referendum.

The centre’s deputy director, John Springford, estimated the impact to have cost the Treasury roughly £440 million per week – and the website CostOfBrexit.netlify has set up a running total, currently at £59 billion.

What is the backstop in the Brexit negotiations?

The backstop arrangement outlined in the Prime Minister’s deal would create a single EU-UK customs area to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.

Northern Ireland would need to follow some of the EU’s single market rules – including laws on goods, agricultural production, veterinary controls and state aid rules.

It is this point that led many – including Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party and a number of Conservative backbenchers – to oppose the deal.