Changing views in the U.K. on membership in the EU

The U.K. considered membership in the union in 1955, when the organization would only cover coal and steel. The Labour party government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee declined. By 1962, the U.K. had changed its mind but its application was vetoed by France.

The U.K. finally managed to join in 1973 under the Conservative party leadership of Edward Heath, but the Labour party was dissatisfied with that. When it became the majority party the next year, it promised voters a chance to make their wishes known.

1975

The 1975 referendum made it clear citizens of the U.K. wanted to be in the European Union. However, membership in the EU continued to be a topic for debate in the U.K.

2016

Prime Minister David Cameron scheduled a new referendum but reportedly thought it had no chance of passing. He would resign when voters indicated they were ready to exit the EU.

Sovereignty

Some in the U.K. regretted the government giving up even a small degree of control in the management of its own affairs.

Nationalism

The EU aimed to bring member nations closer together. However, Many U.K. voters felt separate from Europe — and believed in “British exceptionalism.”

Culture

Some in the U.K. felt that membership in the EU and other changes represent changes in the culture of which they didn’t approve.

Immigration

Some U.K. residents viewed increasing immigration with alarm. Yet another refugee crisis in Europe in 2016 didn’t help.

Among the reasons membership in the European Union has been such a divisive issue in the U.K.: