Kirstin Stobo Dr Cameron
Analyse how EU membership has affected the political parties in the UK
The issue of the European union has been one which has dramatically shaped the course of British politics. Most significantly, it has affected the political parties, in various ways. It might be assumed that each party would be required to create firm and coherent policies on Europe, to provide choices for the electorate. However, in Britain, the issue of the European Union serves to divide the parties internally and leads to fluctuating and irresolute policies.
Within both major parties, there has been intense division since the establishment of even the most basic “European Union”. Originally, the Labour Party was divided on the issue bordering on the hostile, when in opposition; their Euro-policies were erratic and were incoherent. From 1983, they have pursued a far more pro-European stance which was one of the most crucial elements in their landslide victory in both 1997 and 2001. It was in 1997 where we saw the party support a “loose confederation of the states” and this was a particular ideal of Tony Blair, and his victory was seen as a victory for the pro-Europeans in the party, and not the more socialist, federal contingency. A good example is the caution shown to the idea of the European Single currency, which Blair has pledged to put to the nation in a referendum, and his general ‘wait and see’ attitude which means he is for the Euro in principle but wants to wait ten years before entering into it, is really an excuse to avoid the issue and not hold a specific ‘for’ or ‘against’ view which might tamper with his overall popularity. In short, although sense would dictate that a party would need to associate itself with a specific policy, it had been an issue which has been avoided by British Political Parties. This exact problem has lead to the major change within political parties, inner division. For example, in the Labour Party, this very issue has seen the Deputy PM, Roy Jenkins, in 1979, to resign, the party to split into a fragment called the Social Democratic Party in 1981 taking up an anti-European agenda, and even the exact issue was bypassed due to the division and contrasting views of the government and the party by the use of the 1975 ‘EU’ referendum.
