The first referendum: reassessing Britain's entry to Europe, 1973-75

On 5 June 1975 British voters went to the polls in their country's first-ever national referendum. They voted, by a majority of 67%, in favour of remaining in the European Community, which Britain had joined two-and-a-half years earlier. Scholars and commentators tell us that the period between...

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1. Verfasser: Aqui, Lindsay (VerfasserIn)
Format: Buch
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: Manchester Manchester University Press 2020
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Zusammenfassung:On 5 June 1975 British voters went to the polls in their country's first-ever national referendum. They voted, by a majority of 67%, in favour of remaining in the European Community, which Britain had joined two-and-a-half years earlier. Scholars and commentators tell us that the period between accession, on 1 January 1973, and the vote, was a series of crises followed by politically motivated renegotiation and referendum which ultimately culminated in an 'unequivocal' but 'unenthusiastic...vote for the status quo'. This book revises this interpretation in two ways. First, it shows the continuities between the policies towards Europe pursued by the two prime ministers of the period, Edward Heath and Harold Wilson. Secondly, it shows that the result of the referendum was also underpinned by a sense of uncertainty
"On 1 January 1973 the United Kingdom joined the European Community (EC). Although this was celebrated at first, by the end of the first year of membership the mood in the UK had changed from 'hope to uncertainty'. This was in part because of the wider international context of 1973, including the oil crisis. However, the decision to 'join now and negotiate later', also contributed to the change of mood. When Edward Heath lost the February 1974 General Election, Harold Wilson returned to No. 10 promising a fundamental renegotiation and referendum on EC membership. Although their policies seem very different, there are continuities in the concessions they sought to secure from the Community.The renegotiation did little to change the terms of membership, but it convinced Wilson's Cabinet and Parliament to vote for the new deal. With the conclusion of the renegotiation, the campaigns began. Britain in Europe (BIE), advocating a 'yes' vote, had a flexible set of campaign messages and benefited from better financing, the endorsement of most of the UK's major national newspapers and a huge range of campaigners with established political appeal. The 'no' campaign, the National Referendum Campaign, was handicapped in these areas.For voters, the most convincing messages related to the economy. However, contemporary polling also reveals public awareness of the impact of EC membership on the Commonwealth and sovereignty. Overall, few voters judged the campaigns to be informative or helpful. Despite this, the referendum returned a result of 67% in favour of maintaining membership. This huge majority was underpinned by a degree of uncertainty and ultimately, neither Heath nor Wilson managed to transform the UK's relationship with the EC." -- Back cover
Beschreibung:xii, 311 Seiten 2 Diagramme
Zielpublikum:This book primarily is written for academic readers. It will have relevance to specialists and students in the areas of contemporary British history, post-1945 British history, European history (and especially the history of the EU) and international history. It will also appeal to political scientists and international relations scholars interested in European and British government, politics and public opinion. As the latest statement on the history of Britain and Europe,it will be an important addition to university and other academic institutions' libraries, principally in the United Kingdom and in Europe
ISBN:9781526145192

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