Brexit 1975 ?.

Hi, My first post.


As Brexit daily unfolds, the thought came to me, " what if the United Kingdom had voted to leave the then Common Market?.
 
Hi, My first post.
Welcome.
As Brexit daily unfolds, the thought came to me, " what if the United Kingdom had voted to leave the then Common Market?.
My first thought is that the UK returns to the EFTA. IIRC, the UK was a prominent proponent of expanding EU membership, so I assume that they'd push for EFTA expansion with equal vigour. You might well end up with an EU that hasn't expanded much beyond it's founding membership but is far more politically integrated and an EFTA that is more of an equal partner to the EU in the EEA.

Alternatively, it could lead to no EEA beyond the EU and the EU single market and the EFTA developing separately but with a very close and pretty well integrated trading relationship.
 
Slight difference, the vote in 1975 was to join the EEC, the forerunner of the EU, which at that point was mainly a trade bloc. It wouldn't be a vote to leave, it would be a vote not to join in the first place.

British industry at that point seemed to be suffering from a lack of innovation, a lack of investment and a lack of quality, (see the Vauxhall Chevette, Austin Allegro and Ford Capri), of which the car industry was an example.

In essence, I think you'll see someone like Thatcher elected earlier and the devastation of under performing British industries far sooner and with far deeper cuts and the same with the unions.
I'd also expect Britain to move closer to the US politically and financially to the extent that there would be a fringe type party who would be seeking admittance into the United States. Think UKIP on stronger crack. x'D
 
Slight difference, the vote in 1975 was to join the EEC, the forerunner of the EU, which at that point was mainly a trade bloc. It wouldn't be a vote to leave, it would be a vote not to join in the first place.
The UK joined the EEC in 1973. The 1975 referendum was on whether to remain in the European Community or to leave it.
British industry at that point seemed to be suffering from a lack of innovation, a lack of investment and a lack of quality, (see the Vauxhall Chevette, Austin Allegro and Ford Capri), of which the car industry was an example.
I don't see this much affecting the decline of the British car industry, but it would affect the recovery in from the mid-80's. For instance, I doubt that Nissan would build its factory in Sunderland if it weren't for the UK's access to the European market.
In essence, I think you'll see someone like Thatcher elected earlier and the devastation of under performing British industries far sooner and with far deeper cuts and the same with the unions.
There's no opportunity for someone like Thatcher to be elected earlier because the election following the referendum was the 1979 election that saw Thatcher become Prime Minister. It would have to be Thatcher herself because she was the leader of the opposition during the referendum and an earlier election, which is possible since Wilson would have lost the referendum which would likely have led to his resignation. However, Thatcher and the overwhelming majority of her party had supported the campaign to remain in the EC too, so you might well end up with a Labour government led by a prominent leave supporter such as Tony Benn or Michael Foot.
I'd also expect Britain to move closer to the US politically and financially
I think that's a definite likelihood. Though it'd undoubtedly exacerbate public worries about "Americanisation", which would tend to push voters toward Labour at the ballot box.
to the extent that there would be a fringe type party who would be seeking admittance into the United States. Think UKIP on stronger crack. x'D
That would be a very fringe party.
 
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