Javeria Masud
12 O
Impact Of Europe On The British Political Parties
The Liberal Democrats are the most pro – European of all the main UK political parties. They have always wanted Britain to play a positive role in the process of European integration. Their long-term aim is to have a federal Britain within a federal Europe.
1945 – 1979
Since the late 1950s they have supported closer ties with Europe, whether it was joining the Common Market or the Euro. There are only a handful of Lib Dems who are sceptical over Europe. As early as 1951, Liberals were arguing that Britain should join the European Coal and Steel Community. The formation of the modern Lib Dems can be attributed in many ways to a split within the Labour Party in the early 1970s. In 1957 the Liberals were the only mainstream party to support Britain’s entry in the EEC. They also supported the Single European Act, Amsterdam, Nice and Maastricht Treaty. A referendum was called in 1975 which saw the British political establishment split over staying in or drawing out of the Common Market. The anti-marketers lost and this later on lead to the formation of the Liberal Democrats.
