Friday marks five years since Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020. People and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected suggestions the UK will rejoin the EU, saying the decision is "settled". As he prepared to meet European Council leaders on Monday, the PM faced calls from the Liberal Democrats to begin talks which could pave the way for a customs union with the European Union.

Five years on from the day Britain formally left the EU, BBC Verify has examined five important ways Brexit has affected Britain. Economists and analysts generally assess the impact of leaving the EU single market and customs union on 1 Jan 2021 on the UK's goods trade as having been negative.

EU officials and diplomats believe improvements to the cross-channel relationship are possible, and still happening — but slowly.

EU member states could demand assurances on fishing rights before opening the door to closer security and economic ties with the UK, according to diplomatic sources. View on euronews