The 1975 EEC referendum

[Eric Mc]

I reckon they wouldn't.

The UK was economically on its knees by 1975. ANYTHING seemed better than where things stood at that time. Indeed, in 1975/76, Britain came closest to a military coup than at any time since the Civil War.

The EEC was looked on as a form of "rescue" - as it often is perceived by countries gagging to join.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Eric Mc said:

I reckon they wouldn't.

The UK was economically on its knees by 1975. ANYTHING seemed better than where things stood at that time. Indeed, in 1975/76, Britain came closest to a military coup than at any time since the Civil War.

The EEC was looked on as a form of "rescue" - as it often is perceived by countries gagging to join.

But they voted on joining a trading bloc, known as the EEC, not to become a subordinate country in an organization led by the very country they were fighting against just a few short years before.
E.g Vote question in 1975: UK, Do you want to vote to join what is being called a trading organization, which once you are in, will change itself (without your consent) into a European super state, (headed ironically by the same country you have just been fighting to stop it dominating Europe) and which will be taking billions of pounds off you every year, for nothing more than the privilege of letting the UK do business with it?
My guess would be that most UK citizens at the time would vote no.

Edited by Pan Pan Pan on Tuesday 24th May 13:47

[Eric Mc]

Pan Pan Pan said:

But they voted on joining a trading bloc, known as the EEC, not to become a subordinate country in an organization led by the very country they were fighting against just a few short years before.

We all know that, now.

I'm talking about the mindset in place over 4 decades ago and the circumstances existing at the time of the vote

I would wager that even if people thought that sovereignty was an issue back in 1975, they still would have voted "yes" on the basis that the current governments and unions of the day were effectively destroying the country between them.

[dandarez]

I had just got married the year before, fell for all the bullst just 9 member states and it is just a 'common market' of people, so voted stay. Who'd have thought it would turn into this gravy train project? Not me, nor many others of my age.

Still, I was young, naïve, just like those stayers today in their 20s.

You make mistakes in your life.

Rarely, if ever, twice.

OUT!

[Pan Pan Pan]

Eric Mc said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

But they voted on joining a trading bloc, known as the EEC, not to become a subordinate country in an organization led by the very country they were fighting against just a few short years before.

We all know that, now.

I'm talking about the mindset in place over 4 decades ago and the circumstances existing at the time of the vote

I would wager that even if people thought that sovereignty was an issue back in 1975, they still would have voted "yes" on the basis that the current governments and unions of the day were effectively destroying the country between them.

I would agree with that, but if one compared the information available today, and its effect on the population as a whole, to the frankly, generally naïve under informed campaigns (and the generally naïve general population) of the day, people in 1975 could hardly be blamed for the decision they made then.
We now know much more than we did then, but surprisingly there are still `some' (probably EU gravy trainers or those who have not bothered to look at the UK`s relationship with what is now the EU) who will vote to remain.

[dandarez]

In the old leaflet that the Wilson gov sent out it said:

'We do not pretend, and never have pretended, that we got everything we wanted in these negotiations. But we did get big and significant improvements on the previous terms.'

I never received a copy (like, it seems, many other voters) of the Camoron booklet (printed by a German company, how patriotic!) so I don't know what it says.

Something along these lines?

'We do not pretend, and never have pretended, that we got everything we wanted in these negotiations. But we did get a tampon tax, fk all else, so please vote stay.'

[Smiler.]

Saw this on the inside of a cupboard door at my mums the other day.

I was a bit too young for this to mean anything at the time, but thought it somewhat relevant to the whole in/out debate (however tenuous).

[V8 Fettler]

Most people who voted to stay in the Common Market in 1975 did so for the promised cheap tobacco and alcohol.

[Laurel Green]

Vincecj said:

I voted out in'75 and will vote out this time.

As did I and will again.

[unrepentant]

Interestingly in '75 it was the left wing of the Labour party most in favour of leaving and the Tory party who campaigned to stay in.

[Eric Mc]

I always find that quite ironic.

[colonel c]

As I remember it. I voted for a 'Common Market', not a 'European Union'.


I don't intend to make the same mistake.

[tight fart]

I'd vote in if we were voting for the EEC, but out for the EU.

[dandarez]

colonel c said:

As I remember it. I voted for a 'Common Market', not a 'European Union'.


I don't intend to make the same mistake.

Almost what I said above.
We all make mistakes in life, and opportunity seldom knocks twice.

Thanks Mr Cameron. Here's to full egg on your face!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I was 13 in 1975 but we had a vote in school and I voted not to join. This time I shall vote to remain in.

There's a lot of arguments both ways but the leave camp definitely has a far higher number of scumbags I utterly despise on board. I can't help thinking that being in the opposite camp to Katie fking Hopkins, Ian an Smith, that tt Farage and Gove, has got to be the right way forward.

I'm just hoping the Catholic church will declare itself in the leave camp and then I'll know for certain I'm on the right track.

[Murph7355]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I was 13 in 1975 but we had a vote in school and I voted not to join. This time I shall vote to remain in.

There's a lot of arguments both ways but the leave camp definitely has a far higher number of scumbags I utterly despise on board. I can't help thinking that being in the opposite camp to Katie fking Hopkins, Ian an Smith, that tt Farage and Gove, has got to be the right way forward.

I'm just hoping the Catholic church will declare itself in the leave camp and then I'll know for certain I'm on the right track.

It's a worry that people can't see beyond personalities...

You think Junkers, Tusk, Merkel and the like are much nicer people?

[RYH64E]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I was 13 in 1975 but we had a vote in school and I voted not to join. This time I shall vote to remain in.

There's a lot of arguments both ways but the leave camp definitely has a far higher number of scumbags I utterly despise on board. I can't help thinking that being in the opposite camp to Katie fking Hopkins, Ian an Smith, that tt Farage and Gove, has got to be the right way forward.

I'm just hoping the Catholic church will declare itself in the leave camp and then I'll know for certain I'm on the right track.

Don't forget Donald Trump and two faced Boris. Leave does appear to have attracted more than it's fair share of high profile tts.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Murph7355 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I was 13 in 1975 but we had a vote in school and I voted not to join. This time I shall vote to remain in.

There's a lot of arguments both ways but the leave camp definitely has a far higher number of scumbags I utterly despise on board. I can't help thinking that being in the opposite camp to Katie fking Hopkins, Ian an Smith, that tt Farage and Gove, has got to be the right way forward.

I'm just hoping the Catholic church will declare itself in the leave camp and then I'll know for certain I'm on the right track.

It's a worry that people can't see beyond personalities...

You think Junkers, Tusk, Merkel and the like are much nicer people?

I would wager that Angela Merkel has got a bit more about her than Katie fking Hopkins. (Sorry, her and Danny fking Dyer, I can't say their names without putting the f word in the middle.)

[Don]

I remember 1975 well. It was st.

We have it phenomenally better now. I do not give the EU credit for that. Successive UK Governments did a decent job, with a few dips and lows.

There have been mistakes....but on the whole.

I have to say I think this current referendum will result in a damp squib no matter what happens.

[markh1973]

dandarez said:

I never received a copy (like, it seems, many other voters) of the Camoron booklet (printed by a German company, how patriotic!) so I don't know what it says.

You could always look at the online version couldn't you - probably hosted on a UK server so suits your requirement for patriotism ??

And obviously it's irrelevant but the company that printed it, Williams Lea, is British (owned by DHL yes but still a British company).