Britain’s flirtation with Europe began with two rejections in the 1960s. Even after the union was consummated, passion was soon spent, followed by arguments, acrimony and eventual divorce. Simon Jenkins tells the story of Brexit. Thread below #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
In 1973, Edward Heath was finally able to negotiate Britain “in”, though he dared not put it to a vote. “Membership” chiefly symbolised cultural broad-mindedness, town-twinning, student exchanges, Eurovision contests and the European Cup #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou… 
The romance did not last. Opposition became organised, led on the right by Enoch Powell, who always saw Europe as an infringement of sovereignty. On the left, Europe was regarded as a capitalist cartel #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
Opposition was strong enough to oblige Harold Wilson to pledge a referendum following a “renegotiation” that proved as tenuous as the one staged by David Cameron. The referendum campaign in 1975 was also an uncanny foretaste of Brexit in 2016 #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
Almost every British leader gained power by being anti-EEC and left defending it, including Wilson, Major, Blair, Cameron and May. Ironically, only Thatcher was a supporter, however sceptical, from the start until she resigned #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
From 2006, Britain’s membership of the EU faced a concerted threat. Nigel Farage took over as leader of Ukip, a party dedicated to leaving the EU #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
Click the link for the full story #BrexitDay thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ou…
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