Britain and EU
evidence that we weren't European enough
- de gaul said no to use joining as we weren't European enough
when did labour oppose entry to the EEC?
- 1963 - even though the leader was pro EU = he didn't want to right party activists - "would bring an end to 1000 years of British history" - they saw EEC as a Capitalist club
who took us into the EU?
- 1973, conservatives, Ted Heath
when was the first EU referendum? and who lead it?
- 1975, Harold Wilson - but in 1983 Labour Party threatened to leave = referendum didn't work
what had Margret Thatchter supported?
- 1985 signed single european Act = single market = good for business - pushed it more than any other country
how does Europe lack Salience?
- Europe is the bottom of the league table when it comes to winning votes in an election - voters don't actually care about Europe - voters don't see the connection between domestic and EU things - even in 2015 it was a non-issue
what event confirmed Labour Parties loyalty to US and NOT EU?
- Iraq War = didn't listen to public opinion or the EU - wanted to keep relationship with America strong
how did the Eurosceptism stay after Thatcher?
- John Major in 1991 had problems getting the Maastrict treaty through parliament - 1990's civil war in Conservative party - Maastricht faced massive rebellion when it came to the ratification of the treaty
what things did the conservative party say no to in 2015?
- Lisbon treaty - EU constitution - Treaty of Nice - Fiscal compact 2010
what is salience?
- Salience means importance - measures the capacity of a particular issue for people to vote differently
what was the Maastrict treaty and when was it signed?
- The Maastricht Treaty was signed on February 7, 1992, by the leaders of 12 member nations, and it reflected the serious intentions of all countries to create a common economic and monetary union. Also known as the Treaty on European Union. - when you sign it you agree to sign up to, Euro, cooperation of Foreign Policy, cooperation in Judical affairs, Social Chapter
examples of Ant- ieuropeans?
- borris Johnson - Michael gove - ian Duncan smith = also some cabinet ministers - pritti patel - John Whitingdale
conservatives and the EU historically?
- ever since 1975 - 2015 = Conservatives have been mainly pro EU - macmillian tried to take us in - heath took us in 1973 - 1975 referendum = voted to stay - thatcher = single market - major maastrict
what were the key elements of the Burges Speech?
- favoured cooperation rather than integration - keep strong nation states rather than powerful EU institutions - Preserve national characteristics - opposed to centralisation of power in Brussels - Anti-state, anti-beaurocracy = Nigel Farage = modern day example = not anti Europe - just anti EU
in the 21st century what has the debate become more about?
- issue is not about membership, but more about the nature of membership and further integration of the EU = opened up divisions in the govt
why is the EU different now to how it used to be?
- it is now a lot deeper - changes from economic integration to political union too = dynamic institutional change
evidence that Britains delayed membership was NOT because we weren't European enough?
- it was because the French thought we'd be a threat to their power within the EU
what did the Soverignty Act do?
- make sure that future integration would be impossible without a referendum
what 3 things characterised Labours attitude towards Europe between 50'sand 80's?
- more Anti-European than pro European - inconsistent with their behaviour - divided/not divided - more divided than united
being an Anti-European conservative?
- more of these than we originally thought - most vocal about their opinions - ultimate good is to leave - politicians never thought about this issue until now it actually becomes a possibility = didn't realise they were always anti-European = always just accepted it
conservatives and EU today
- now conservatives are increasingly Eurosceptic - 1/2 Conservative MP's want to leave - 1/2 ministers are supporting the leave campaign - Europhile's have completely gone - or they are hiding =e.g. david Cameron
evidence that the British Public are not enthusiastic about Europe?
- sense of identity =2/3 said they were British NOT European in survey in 2005 - sense of image = UK said that EU had a negative image in UK - public asked of their trust of Europe = they said NO in 2009 - the EU did a survery to the member states and asked if the EU was positive or negative = UK were the only ones to say it had more negatives than pos - since 1979, UK turnout on EU elections has always been lower than the EU average - march 2016 opinion poll - 51% of British Public said to leave
from the 80's onwards, how does the EU become more integrated?
- single market - single currency - social chapter - ERM - ECJ - cooperation on foreign policy and Judicial affairs - OMV in CofM
what did Thatcher oppose?
- social chapter - Maastrict
what politically solved the issue of membership in the conservative party?
- the 1975 referendum - got rid of the eurosceptics = probably David camerons plan too = changed the debate from issues of membership to integration
what is a Europhile?
- they are supportive of further integration with EU
conservatives and the EU since 1997?
- they became more Eurosceptic post 1997 but NOT anti-European 1- question to stop further integration= repatriation of powers but no question to leave (only by a few grassroots) 2- conservatives manifesto 2001 = didn't say NO to the Euro, just said no for the next Parliament 3- 2005 - ruled out membership of the euro for the forseable future 4- 2010 = completely against the idea of joining the euro = due to soverign deby crisis 5- 2010 - promise to renegotiate EU legislation and want to repatriate social legislation 6- 2015 - wanted NO MORE integration 7- withdrew from the EPP as they were too European 8- most cabinet members and MP's wanted to stay in with a loose relationship
was it usual for the conservatives so divided over Europe?
- unusual as Conservatives have always been the best at balancing political differences = BUT EUROPE PROVES DIFFERENT - Lord Kilmur = "the secret weapon of the tories was discipline" - but Europe matters too much for them = create conflict
being a Pro-European conservative?
-definition: wishes to stay in EU and wants further integration - number of these have decreased dramatically - coming out as a Europhile in the Cons party = political suicide
evidence of lack of salience
1- 2005 - asked voters 3 issues that would make you decide on what party to vote for -e.g. - Europe was 11th most important. 13% of voters mentioned it. 2- 2010 - even less - 10% mentioned it 3- march 2015 - even though the parties were offering a referendum - Europe was still not in the top 10 issues
- why did Britain never really want to join the EU?
1- Britain was always reluctant to join, said we would only join if we had a limited relationship - we saw it as a threat to national sovereignty - thought that it would undermine our special relationship with the US - never thought the EEC would be a success
influence in Europe, example as to why the conservatives had divisions?
1- Europhiles = to be at the heart of Europe and influence from within. believe that switzerlland and Norway are weaker and still contributing to EU 2- eurosceptics = remain but stop integration - better to be in 3- anti-euro = by staying in you make yourself less important
reasons why Europe lacks Salience?
1- It is a constitutional issue - people only care about issues that they can make sense of and that they can see have a clear impact on them. 2- voters don't make the connection between Europe and TAXES, economy, employment, laws 3- Europe is too complex for the average citizen 4- people tend to vote based on what domestic party they always have supported, but Political parties don't have a clear stand on Europe thus citizens don't know where they stand 5- EU is an elite issue = issue for politicians/academias
evidence of UK govt supporting the EU?
1- Macmillain, Heath and Wilson = all took a large role in staying in the EU = by doing this they split their parties and got bad press BUT that didn't stop them = passionate = risked their political carreers to get Britain in the EEC 2- David Cameron wants to stay in = already admitted to resigning so hes only doing it because he thinks its best for UK NOT for political popularity
historic conservative divisions on the issue of Europe?
1- douglas carswell and Mark Wreckless both left the conservative party over Europe 2- conservatives needed Labour and LD votes to get the bill of joining the EEC through due to rebellion in backbench conservatives - European communities bill = big disagreements 3- Enoch Powell - was a conservative but told the people to vote labour because they were offering a referendum on Europe
ways in which the EU does NOT work for Britain (UKIP VIEW) ?
1- easier for terrorists - boarder controls = due to free movement of people 2- pressure of health and education and jobs 3- drives wages down 4- we are a NET contributer to the EU - pay more than we get out of it = difference between what we pay and what we get out is 8billion a year 5- immigration = pressure on public services and a rise in crime. = depressant effect on wages 6- undermines democracy in Britain = unelected Euro Commison and MEP's are not from britiain and OMV used on 80% 7- trade = restricts trade with the rest of the world due to EU tariffs AND we export more to EU than we import thus they need us more than we need them 8- CAP = if we weren't in EU we could still subsidise our farmers 9- too much regulation = EU rules that do nothing for competition of choice- just there because they want to do something = e.g. bendy bananas bill 10- EU is superior the UK law = undermines sovereignty 11- OMV on 80% of decision making in CofM
why did David Cameron offer a referendum on Europe?
1- had no choice - wanted to hsve a repeat of 1975 ref and use it as a tool to shut up the euro-sceptics after he had won 2- worried about rising threat of Europe 3- worried he wouldn't win the election without offering something for the far right 4- creates legitimate desire to get rehegotiated terms with the EU - bigge threat if we actually are doing something 5- knew that hed been hiding behind LD's for past 5 years and now he needed something to quieten down the Eurosceptics 6- If he didn't more MP's would have resigned 7- he was in a good position to win when he offered it
evidence that the Labour Brown and Blair GOVT were NOT enthusiastic about the EU?
= british public were not that Pro EU, so the Labour govt had to hold back on their pro EU views 1- Signed the Sociap chapter BUT did NOT implement the Working Time Directive = was not keen to apply binding regulations on british business 2- Labour said they would join the Single Currency following a referendum which they never had = didn't think they could convince the British Public to give up the pound 3- 2004 Labour signed European Constitution - but blair sai if they don't like it they'll have a referendum = which never happened
examples of how the divisions don't end with the end of thatcher? - Divisons under John Major
= john major was seen as the best to keep everyone happy = signed maastrct but rejects social chapter and organised an opt out of Euro 1- during 1997 general election - 2 ministers came out and said they do not agree with their govts policy on Europe = damaging to the party = breach of the convention of collective ministerial power
conservative party divisions - 1980's - 1990's?
= lots of ministers resign over the issue of Europe 1- Nigel Lawson - chancellor of the Ex - couldn't compromise with Thatcher over membership of the ERM 2- 1990 - Nicholas Ridly - trade and industry minister = believed Germany was trying to succeed through the EU where they failed with Hitlet - he has to resign as Thatcher had the same views and he wanted to protect her 3- 1990 - Thatchers forced out of office because the party was divided on Europe
economic example as to why Conservatives had divisions?
= most conservatives have been pro EU due to its benefits for big businesses and the fact that its seen as a 'capitalist club' wins the support of Conservatives = more movement of G&S the better - EU population = 500 million = reduced economic trade barriers are beneficial for businesses = recent treasury report suggests households would be £4300 worse off by 2030 if we left the EU = BUT most Anti-Europeans don't agree with this view and argue that it restricts trade with the rest of the world fue to EU tariffs on exports
tory ideology example as to why conservatives had divisions?
= sovereignty matters the most to conservatives, and anything that reduces it will sit uncomfortably next to their views = cant have complete sovereignty without control of our own currency/boarders/econ policy = conservatives see pooling sovereignty is losing sovereignty = conservatives have always had a cross class appeal = because its what matters to these people = Britain's national sovereignty = no sovereignty = not democratic = how can we be democratic if MEP's and ministers make 80% of our laws with OMV
why was British entry very controversial?
= thought that we should have stayed like Switzerland - thought we were too reluctant to join and therefore it would never be a good idea - there was civil war in the Conservative and Labour parties, Ted Heath had to reply on Labour and Lieral MP's to say yes to the "European Communities Bill" as he couldn't reply on his own party
being a Eurosceptic conservative?
definition: someone who believes Britain should stay in EU but there is no enthusiasm behind it = don't want further integration or transfer of sovereignty - want repatriation of powers but ultimately want to stay in the EU - Cameron & Obsbourne = very pro - thereasa may - most sceptic sceptic = same views as borris Johnson but different outcome
evidence that other states are Awkward members too?
other states act in their own interest 1- de Gaul didn't let us in in the first place 2- French Vetoed TTIP negotiations with US until special guarentees were put in place for the French Film Industry 3- French get 1/6 of the 58billion that goes into CAP = they defend it as its in their interest to do so and it enabled their farmers to have dominance 4- Hungary & Croatia & Austria in 2015= restoring boarder controls as they don't want migrants 5- Greeks = fudged the figures to get in & failed to tackle their sovereign debt crisis as it was domestically unpopular 6- Germans forced Austerity on PIGS as it was domestically popular 7- Danish govt 2016 = charging migrants from Syria to pay for settling in their country = a deterent for migrants 8- Poland Veotoed transfer scheme 9- Irish kicked up a fuss when they couldn't have a commissioner so now they get one 10- Ireland rejected EU treaty Law twice = nice treaty & Lisbon Treaty