Global Information2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum information
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Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results by local voting area Leave: 50–60% 60–70% 70-80% Remain: 50–60% 60–70% 70-80% 90-100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| On the map, the darker shades for a colour indicate a larger margin. The electorate of 46.5m represents 70.8% of the population. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| National and regional referendums held within the United Kingdom and its constituent countries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On 23 June 2016, a referendum, commonly referred to as the EU referendum or the Brexit referendum, took place in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar to ask the electorate whether the country should remain a member of, or leave, the European Union (EU). The referendum resulted in 51.9% of the votes cast being in favour of leaving the EU, triggering calls to begin the process of the country's withdrawal from the EU commonly termed "Brexit".
Since 1 January 1973 the United Kingdom had been a member state of the EU and its predecessor the European Economic Community, along with other international bodies. Since joining, the constitutional implications for the UK had been a topic of debate domestically. A referendum on continued membership of the Communities to try and settle the issue was held in 1975, with 67.2% of the votes cast in favour of the UK remaining a member.[1] Between 1975 and 2016 as European integration deepened, subsequent EC/EU treaties and agreements were ratified by the UK Parliament.
Following the surprise Conservative Party victory at the 2015 general election as a main manifesto pledge, the legal basis for the EU referendum was established through the European Union Referendum Act 2015. Prime minister David Cameron also oversaw a renegotiation of the terms of EU membership, intending to implement these changes in the event of a Remain result. The referendum was legally non-binding due to the ancient principle of parliamentary sovereignty, although the government promised to implement the result.[2]
Campaigning officially took place between 15 April and 23 June 2016.- The official group for remaining in the EU was Britain Stronger in Europe while Vote Leave was the official group endorsing leaving.[3] Other campaign groups, political parties, businesses, trade unions, newspapers and prominent individuals were also involved, with both sides having supporters from across the political spectrum. Parties in favour of 'remain' included Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and the Green Party;[4][5][6][7] while the UK Independence Party (UKIP) campaigned in favour of leaving the European Union;[8] and the Conservative Party remained neutral.[9] In spite of the official positions of the Conservative Party and Labour, both parties allowed their MPs to publicly campaign for either side of the issue.[10][11] Issues during campaigning included the costs and benefits of membership for the UK's economy, freedom of movement and migration. Several allegations of unlawful campaigning and Russian interference arose during and after the referendum.
The results were that most areas of the UK had a majority for Leave, with the exception of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Greater London and Gibraltar, where the majority of voters chose Remain. Voter preference correlated with age, level of education and socioeconomic factors. The causes and reasoning of the Leave result have been the subject of analysis and commentary.
Immediately after the result, financial markets reacted negatively worldwide and Cameron announced that he would resign as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron was succeeded by Theresa May on 13 July 2016. The referendum prompted a wide array of reactions internationally. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also faced a leadership challenge as a result of the EU referendum. On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom gave formal notice of intent to withdraw from the EU, with the withdrawal being formalised on 31 January 2020.
- ^ "True stories of the 1975 EEC Referendum". OpenLearn. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Cameron says no second EU referendum if result is close". Reuters. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Gisela Stuart to Chair Vote Leave campaign – Vote Leave". 27 July 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ "Labour fears voters will back Brexit". 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Carrell, Severin (3 March 2016). "Scotland to campaign officially to remain in the EU". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ "Europe". 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ correspondent, Rowena Mason Political (14 March 2016). "Green party 'loud and proud' about backing Britain in Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ "Major coach tour to crusade for Brexit – UKIP". 18 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Hope, Christopher (21 September 2015). "Conservative Party to stay neutral during EU referendum". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Helm, Toby; McDonald, Henry (9 January 2016). "Two-thirds of Tory MPs want Britain to quit European Union". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.