Untitled

EC Referendum

• When was the Referendum?
• 5th June 1975
• What was the referendum based on?
• It was a UK wide referendum to scale support for the country's continued membership of the EC, promised in Labour manifesto of the 1974 October election and finalised in the Referendum Act 1975.
• Question?
• The Question was phrased to the people as: Do you think the UK should stay in the European Economic Community (or Common Market)?
• Turnout?
• 64% of the country voted, with 67% voting to stay in the EEC and 33% voting against.
• Result?
• Supported the Labour government's campaign to stay in EEC, who were in opposition to several cabinet ministers being in favour of British withdrawal. Only Shetland and the Western Isles voted against the EEC.
• ]
• Why was it important?
• On 1st January 1973, UK had joined EEC under Ted Heath's Conservative government, who promised to "change the history of this nation." Labour allowed the people to vote on this decision on the fall of the Tories in 1974.
• Was the result right?
• The EEC created a common market, which protected common agricultural policy in 1962 and reduced WW2 tensions. There is an increase in cheap product choice and market can be competitive at lower prices