Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit

The UK voters chose to leave the European Union in 2016, despite being unhappy with their membership for over 40 years. The book explores the UK's complex relationship with Europe, tracing its history from the 1950s to the present day. It highlights the struggles of British politicians to reconcile the country's national interest with the sceptical strands of opinion in parliament, the press, and public opinion.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 352 pages
\n Publication date: 24 September 2020
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press
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The United Kingdom's voters made a historic decision in 2016 to leave the European Union, despite a narrow majority in favor of "Leave." Over four decades of EU membership, the British had expressed varying levels of contentment, with governments preferring the Commonwealth to the Common Market in the 1950s and both Conservative and Labour administrations seeking to join the European Community in the 1960s due to its perceived success. However, France rejected the UK's application. When the UK eventually joined the EU, more than a decade after its initial application, it found itself in a club where its rules were largely set by others, which it did not particularly enjoy. Throughout its history, the UK experienced internal conflicts between Labour and Conservative parties, as well as disagreements within the EU itself. In 1975, the Labour government held a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU, with two-thirds of voters deciding in favor. However, the wounds of division persisted, and Europe remained distant and disconnected from the UK. The UK was proactive in proposing reforms and modernizations within the EU, while other members sought closer union. British diplomat Stephen Wall, who worked in the field from 1968, witnessed and participated in these unfolding events and negotiations. This book delves into the story of a relationship rooted in a thousand years of British history, exploring the conflict between the UK's national interest in succeeding in the EU and the skepticism and hostility from various segments of society, including parliament, the press, and public opinion. It sheds light on the challenges and complexities faced by British policymakers as they navigated the intricate web of political, economic, and cultural factors shaping the country's relationship with continental Europe.

\n Weight: 678g\n
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780198840671\n \n