Impact of the EU on UK politics

• Cautious involvement 1970s - 90s

  • UK joined the EEC in 1973
  • Uk was split on this decision and labour held a referendum in 1975 to remain or leave
  • Labour leading up to the 1983 general election promised to leave the EEC if it won
  • The UK opted out of a lot of EU policies and treaties which reduced the impact of the EU on the UK
• Rising in Euroscepticism

  • John major found his government plagued with Eurosceptic conservative MPs
  • Tony Blair allowed for the 2004 EU expansion which led to mass immigration which was criticised by Eurosceptics
  • UKIP which gained notoriety in the under Nigel garage who criticised mass immigration and the democratic deficit of the EU
  • UKIP won the 2014 UK elections to the European parliament which put pressure on the conservatives
• Divided Britain

  • In an attempt to stop UKIP from taking conservative voters, David Cameron promised a referendum to leave or remain in the EU if he won the 2015 general election
  • The Tories were divided amongst this issue, Boris Johnson wanting to leave but Labour, Lib Dems and SNP wanted to remain
  • Expert opinions stated that leaving the EU would be damaging to the UK economy
  • 52% leave, 48% remain was a shock to remain voters
• Post referendum politics

  • This led to David Cameron's resignation as PM.
  • Brexit negations shadowed over all UK politics between 2017 and 2019
  • Government used article 50 without asking parliament which led to a supreme court case
• Post referendum politics 2

  • May lost her majority in the 2017 general election so she couldn't pass legislation
  • She was replaced by Boris Johnson who called a snap election in 2019 and won by landslide.
  • He finalised the deal and got the UK out of the EU
• Impacts on policy making

  • Economy - UK considered joining the euro in 2003 but decided not to which allowed the UK to retain it's own economic policy
  • UK governments had to pay more into the EU than they got back due to the UK being a net contributor
  • Brexit has allowed the UK to negotiate it's own trade deals
  • Brexit caused economic disruption because of COVID which meant there was adjustments to the UK economic policy
• Agriculture

  • Common agricultural policy provided EU subsides for all EU farmers
  • CAP prevented the UK from developing it's own farming policies
  • After leaving the EU the gov introduced the 2020 agriculture act which set in place a new system
• Immigration

  • Freedom of movement prevented the UK government from restricting immigration from EU countries. 2015 - net migration was at 190,000
  • Conservatives 2010 manifesto promised to reduce migration but couldn't due to it's membership with the EU
  • Brexit have governments more freedom to introduce immigration controls but experts argue immigration is essential for the country to grow