Criticism/Opposition to the European Union in the United Kingdom
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Part of a series of articles on
UK membership of the European Union (1973–2020)
Accession
Treaty of Accession 1972
1972 EC Act
1973 enlargement of the EC
1975 referendum
Referendum Act (results)
Treaty amendments
Single European Act, 1986
(UK ratification)
Maastricht Treaty, 1992
(UK ratification)
Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997
(UK ratification)
Treaty of Nice, 2001
(UK ratification)
Treaty of Lisbon, 2007
(UK ratification)
Related:
2011 UK Act on new EU Treaty amendments
EU-related British Acts
Proposed European Constitution referendum
European Union Bill 2004–2005
MEPs for UK constituencies
Members 1973–1979
(elected by parliament)
Members 1979–1984
(1979 election)
Members 1984–1989
(1984 election)
Members 1989–1994
(1989 election)
Members 1994–1999
(1994 election)
Members 1999–2004
(1999 election)
Members 2004–2009
(2004 election)
Members 2009–2014
(2009 election)
Members 2014–2019
(2014 election)
Members 2019–2020
(2019 election)
Women
Officials and bodies
House of Lords EU Committee
House of Commons EU Committee
Permanent EU Representatives for UK
Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels
EU Representative in London
UK European Commissioners
Department for Exiting the European Union
Issues and events
Economy
The Euro
Black Wednesday
UK budget rebate
Nationality law
Euroscepticism in the UK
United Kingdom opt-outs from EU legislation
Maastricht Rebels
Balance of Competences Review
Withdrawal
2015 UK general election
2015–2016 membership renegotiation
2016 EU membership referendum
Vote Leave
Britain Stronger in Europe
Notification of withdrawal
2017 UK general election
Brexit negotiations
Impact of Brexit
Future relationship
Withdrawal agreement
No-deal Brexit
Impact on Irish border
Northern Ireland Protocol
Parliamentary votes
Proposed second referendum
2019 UK general election
EU portal
UK portal
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Part of a series of articles on
Brexit
Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union
Glossary of terms
Background
European Communities Act
1975 EC membership referendum
UK rebate
Bruges speech
No. No. No.
Maastricht Rebels
Black Wednesday
European Union (Amendment) Act 2008
European Union Act 2011
UK opt-outs from EU legislation
Euroscepticism in the UK
UK opinion polling on EU membership
Campaigns for a referendum
People's Pledge
Labour for a Referendum
Bloomberg speech
In or Out
2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful)
2014 European Parliament election
2014 UK Parliament by-elections
Clacton
Heywood and Middleton
Rochester and Strood
2015 UK general election
2015–16 EU membership renegotiation
2016 EU referendum
EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar)
EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations
EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations
Issues
Endorsements
Opinion polling
UK Government pro-EU leaflet
Campaigns
Leave campaigns
Vote Leave (official)
Business for Britain
Conservatives for Britain
BeLeave
Leave.EU
Bpoplive
The Freedom Association
Better Off Out
Grassroots Out
Labour Leave
Get Britain Out
Bruges Group
Campaign for an Independent Britain
Brexit: The Movie
Remain campaigns
Britain Stronger in Europe (official)
Labour In for Britain
European Movement UK
Britain in Europe
British Influence
Business for New Europe
Nucleus
Project Fear
Outcome
Results
Causes for result
International reactions
Immediate aftermath
2016 Conservative Party election
2016 Labour Party election
2016 UKIP election
Department for Exiting the EU
Department for International Trade
Allegations of unlawful campaigning
Alleged Russian interference
Notice of withdrawal
Article 50 process
Miller case (Article 50)
EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
Brexit plan
Repeal Bill plan
2017 UK general election
Negotiations
Negotiation positions
EU negotiation mandate
Chequers agreement
Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019
2019 European Parliament election
2019 UK general election
Withdrawal agreement
Brexit divorce bill
Fish for finance
Irish backstop
No-deal Brexit
Northern Ireland Protocol
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Windsor Framework
Legislation
Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
Cooper–Letwin Act
Benn Act
2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs
Public Vote Bill (not passed)
Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed)
Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked)
Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar)
Scottish EU Continuity Act
Internal Market Act
EU (Future Relationship) Act
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
Impact
Impact on the Irish border
Good Friday Agreement
Impact on the EU
Economic effects
Effects on Gibraltar
Scientific cooperation
Retained EU law
2021 Jersey dispute
EU–UK relations
Relations pre- and post-Brexit
EU–UK trade negotiation
EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
Partnership Council
Partnership Assembly
Relations with EU member states
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Ireland–UK border
British–Irish Council
North/South Ministerial Council
Italy
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Spain
Status of Gibraltar
Gibraltar–Spain border
Sweden
Conjectured EEA membership
Opposition
Post-referendum opinion polling
New initiatives
Change Britain
More United
Open Britain
The New European
Unite to Remain
Led By Donkeys
Revoke Article 50 petition
Postcards from the 48%
Proposed second Scottish independence referendum
Calls for a second referendum
People's Vote
Britain for Europe
European Movement UK
For our Future's Sake
Healthier IN the EU
InFacts
Open Britain
Our Future Our Choice
Scientists for EU
Other organisations
Best for Britain
Bollocks to Brexit
Change UK
Liberal Democrats
Right to Vote
Timeline
Bloomberg speech
Jan 2013
Referendum Bill blocked
Jan 2014
European Parliament election
May 2014
2015 general election
May 2015
Renegotiation begins
Jun 2015
Referendum Act passed
Dec 2015
Renegotiation concluded
Feb 2016
Referendum held
Jun 2016
David Cameron resigns as PM
Jul 2016
Theresa May becomes PM
Jul 2016
Article 50 judgement
Jan 2017
Brexit plan presented
Feb 2017
Notification Act passed
Mar 2017
Article 50 invoked
Mar 2017
Repeal Bill plan presented
Mar 2017
2017 general election
Jun 2017
Brexit negotiations begin
Jun 2017
Withdrawal Act passed
Jun 2018
Chequers plan presented
Jul 2018
Withdrawal agreement plan presented
July 2018
Withdrawal agreement released
Nov 2018
Scottish Continuity Bill blocked
Dec 2018
Meaningful votes
Jan–Mar 2019
Brexit delayed until 12 April
Mar 2019
Cooper–Letwin Act passed
Apr 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 October
Apr 2019
European Parliament election
May 2019
Theresa May resigns as PM
Jul 2019
Boris Johnson becomes PM
Jul 2019
Prorogation and annulment
Aug–Sep 2019
Benn Act passed
Sep 2019
Withdrawal agreement revised
Oct 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 January
Oct 2019
2019 general election
Dec 2019
Agreement Act passed
Jan 2020
UK leaves the European Union
Jan 2020
Implementation period begins
Jan 2020
UK–EU trade deal agreed
Dec 2020
Future Relationship Act passed
Dec 2020
Scottish Continuity Act passed
Dec 2020
Implementation period ends
Dec 2020
New EU–UK relationship begins
Jan 2021
UK–EU trade deal ratified
Apr 2021
Windsor Framework released
Feb 2023
Windsor framework adopted
Mar 2023
EU portal
UK portal
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Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom is a continuum of belief ranging from the opposition to certain political policies of the European Union to the complete opposition to the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. It has been a significant element in the politics of the United Kingdom (UK). A 2009 Eurobarometer survey of EU citizens showed support for membership of the EU was lowest in the United Kingdom, alongside Latvia and Hungary.[1]: 91–3
Levels of support for the EU have historically been lower in the UK than most other member states. UK citizens are the least likely to feel a sense of European identity, and national sovereignty is also seen as more important to British people than that of people from other EU nations. Additionally, the United Kingdom was the least integrated EU member state with four 'opt-outs' – the most of any EU member state.
A referendum on the UK's membership of the European Community was held in 1975, with a majority voting in favour of continued membership of the EC (which later evolved into the European Union). A referendum on membership of the EU was held in 2016, with a majority of voters voting to leave the European Union.
The decision of the electorate to vote in favour of Brexit marks the first time in history that a member state has decided to leave the European Union. The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020.
^"Standard Eurobarometer 71 (fieldwork June–July 2009)" (PDF). European Commission. September 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
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