AHC/WI : Britain leaves the EEC in 1975

[LSCatilina]

What could have led the 1975 referendum about Britain remaining or leaving the EEC end up with a "No" victory? Not necessarily by a wide margin, giving the historical vote went massively in favour of the Yes, but enough (maybe followed by supporting elections) to maintain Britain out of the EEC durably.

What would be the consequences in Britain? As far as I understand, the opposition to EEC was much more balanced on the left/right spectrum in 1975 with significant labour and conservative support as well from independentist/automonist parties. and could have made for a significant but not monopolized governmental outlook in Britain, while the question remains open whether or not Britain would overcome the industrial and economic difficulties that made joining the EEC attractive in the first place.

Eventually, what would be the consequences for the European project itself? On the same broad course, or more early on focused on political integration even at the cost of slower extension?

 

[Ricardolindo]

What could have led the 1975 referendum about Britain remaining or leaving the EEC end up with a "No" victory? Not necessarily by a wide margin, giving the historical vote went massively in favour of the Yes, but enough (maybe followed by supporting elections) to maintain Britain out of the EEC durably.

What would be the consequences in Britain? As far as I understand, the opposition to EEC was much more balanced on the left/right spectrum in 1975 with significant labour and conservative support as well from independentist/automonist parties. and could have made for a significant but not monopolized governmental outlook in Britain, while the question remains open whether or not Britain would overcome the industrial and economic difficulties that made joining the EEC attractive in the first place.

Eventually, what would be the consequences for the European project itself? On the same broad course, or more early on focused on political integration even at the cost of slower extension?

A problem is that the Leave campaign was associated with radical figures on both the right and the left, Enoch Powell and Tony Benn.

 

[Ricardolindo]

A problem is that the Leave campaign was associated with radical figures on both the right and the left, Enoch Powell and Tony Benn.

It's certainly not inconceivable that No could have won. It was initially on the lead. However, as the campaign progressed, the No side became tarnished because of its association with those radical figures and the Yes side was generally better organized.

 

[Charles EP M.]

There's two ways to take it:

a) Britain hadn't been able to join for years and had only been in for two-and-a-half, so this is probably seen as a sign - both on the continent, outside nations, and in the UK itself - that we aren't 'really' European, that the country is a step removed. The EU can carry on as it is.

b) Norway also voted against joining in the end. What does it mean if two countries that should be part of something like the European Communities decide "actually, nah"? Soul searching is needed

One long-term impact is that Ireland is in the EEC and the UK is not. You still have border checks on goods in a period where OTL they'd been disappearing

 

[Hendryk]

b) Norway also voted against joining in the end. What does it mean if two countries that should be part of something like the European Communities decide "actually, nah"? Soul searching is needed

In the 1970s the EC still lingered in the shadow of the so-called Luxembourg Compromise of 1966, which had brought political integration to a quasi-standstill by enshrining unanimous voting on key issues (as determined by member states). Any soul-searching conducted at that time would probably conclude that the EC is not attractive enough compared to the European Free Trade Association and needs to push integration further.