ONTHE SCENE BREXIT

摘要

The relations between the United Kingdom and European integration were never rectilinear. In 1946, Winston Churchill called for a "United States of Europe", but in 1951 he argued against membership of the European Coal and Steel Community, reasoning that "we are with them, but not of them." As an alternative to the European Communities, the UK launched the European Free Trade Association in 1960, but in 1972 was the first to leave, applying for full membership of the European Communities, to be followed by Denmark, Portugal, Austria and Sweden. In a 1975 referendum the British people voted by 67% against 33% to remain, but in 2016 the Brexit vote won by 52% to 48%.