Br Entry Into EEC Flashcards
When did Br apply to join EEC for third time?
-1971 third application being prepared
-everyone knew it was likely to be accepted
How did Wilson feel about the EEC?
-uncommitted to European membership
-worried about maintaining unity in lab party - Heath more committed
How did Heath view the EEC!
-passionately European + gave speech in parl about Schuman plan
-as a student visited Gr 1930s + appalled by Nazi gr seeing European membership key to preventing repetition
What had changed with France allowing Br membership?
-new pres of Fr Georges Pompidou
-was convinced EEC needed Br as much as Br needed EEC + all of the hard work of negotiations had been done by Heaths team of negotiators 1962
What was the biggest issue with the application?
-gaining parl approval in Br
-doubters in cons party + also those believing Br would be surrendering sovereignty
Who was the most vociferous critic of the EEC?
-Powell most against Br joining
-his relationship with Heath already very poor in aftermath of rivers or blood
What was Powell’s stance on joining EEC in the 70s?
-voted against the passage of European bill through parl at every stage
-beloved Heath betrayed country by signing treaty before was debated in parl
What did Powell’s stance lead to him doing?
-refused to stand as cons candidate Feb 1974 election + called on his supporters to vote lab
What was the lab party’s view on joining EEC.
-even more divided in the issue
How was lab divided?
-some who were committed pro-Europeans like Jenkins
-but lab left mostly hostile
-Wilson neither pro or against but more concerned with lab unity
How did lab formally respond?
-officially opposed heaths plans why came to parl
-but could not argue against joining on principle as too many pro-Europeans
What did Wilson do instead?
-argued terms offered not good enough but this compromise didn’t satisfy all
-could only keep party together by promising re-negotiation + national referendum when lab came back to power
What was the outcome?
-69 rebel lab MPs helped cons gov win decisive commons vote with 20 more abstaining
-Jan 1973 ‘the six’ became ‘the nine’
