The First Referendum: Reassessing Britain's Entry to Europe, 1973–75 - Hardcover

Aqui, Lindsay

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1526145197 ISBN 13: 9781526145192

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2020

Synopsis

Although the United Kingdom’s entry to the European Community (EC) in 1973 was initially celebrated, by the end of the first year the mood in the UK had changed from ‘hope to uncertainty’. When Edward Heath lost the 1974 General Election, Harold Wilson returned to No. 10 promising a fundamental renegotiation and referendum on EC membership. By the end of the first year of membership, 67% of voters had said ‘yes’ to Europe in the UK’s first-ever national referendum.

Examining the relationship between diplomacy and domestic debate, this book explores the continuities between the European policies pursued by Heath and Wilson in this period. Despite the majority vote in favour of maintaining membership, Lindsay Aqui argues that this majority was underpinned by a degree of uncertainty and that ultimately, neither Heath nor Wilson managed to transform the UK’s relationship with the EC in the ways they had hoped possible.

About this title

About the Author

Lindsay Aqui is Lecturer of History at the University of Newcastle -- .

From the Back Cover

'Richly researched and clearly argued, it offers new insights into Britain's entry to the European Community, its early years of membership and its first national referendum in 1975.'
Robert Saunders, Reader in British History, Queen Mary University of London

'A timely and insightful study, based on exhaustive research.'
John Young, Professor of International History, University of Nottingham

'As Britain enters a new relationship with Europe, Aqui's book is a well-timed and compelling addition of a historian's voice to this complicated and ever evolving relationship.'
Eirini Karamouzi, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary History, University of Sheffield

'Aqui's well-researched and perceptive study shines important new light on Britain's bumpy and difficult debut as an EC member state. It is a fascinating read.'
N. Piers Ludlow, Professor of International History, The London School of Economics and Political Science

'A focused and highly original study of British government policies and public attitudes towards European integration during a short but crucial period of British membership in the EC.'
Katja Seidel, Senior Lecturer in the Humanities, University of Westminster

Although the United Kingdom's entry to the European Community (EC) in 1973 was initially celebrated, by the end of the first year the mood in the UK had changed from 'hope to uncertainty'. When Edward Heath lost the 1974 General Election, Harold Wilson returned to No. 10 promising a fundamental renegotiation and referendum on EC membership. By the end of the first year of membership, 67% of voters had said 'yes' to Europe in the UK's first-ever national referendum.

Examining the relationship between diplomacy and domestic debate, this book explores the continuities between the European policies pursued by Heath and Wilson in this period. Despite the majority vote in favour of maintaining membership, Lindsay Aqui argues that this majority was underpinned by a degree of uncertainty and that ultimately, neither Heath nor Wilson managed to transform the UK's relationship with the EC in the ways they had hoped possible.

Edition details

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1526145197
• ISBN 13: 9781526145192
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 328