1975 Referendum on Europe: Volume 2. Current Analysis and Lessons for the Future

by Craig Pierce, Philip B. Whyman, Mark Baimbridge, et al.

Book Overview

An act of bravery has turned Specs the guide dog into a city hero. The mayor, police and even strangers have showered Specs with gifts, treats and awards. Now it's Roy Cook's turn to thank his dog for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845400356
• ISBN13: 9781845400354
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Imprint Academic
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Useful study of Britain's 1975 referendum

These extremely useful books examine the 1975 referendum and look at the EU's economic and political effects. They are not written in EU jargon, unlike most books on the EU, usually semi-official. The first volume studies the early history of the EU, the referendum itself, and the Labour government's manipulation of public opinion in the referendum campaign. It includes reflections by 16 participants in the Yes and No campaigns, and also copies of the two Yes pamphlets and the one No. Various contributors point out that the EU is a machine for eliminating popular influences on policy, reversing all our democratic gains over the last two centuries. They show that the European Commission acts for, not against, capitalist `globalization'. They note that Thatcher forced through the 1986 Single Europe Act, which removed many vetoes and gave the EU powers over environment policy, letting the EU use the issue of climate change to add to its powers. The second volume looks at the role and implications of referendums, and at the EU's effects on the Labour and Conservative parties, on the trade unions and on public opinion. The authors show how the trade unions are becoming incorporated into the EU capitalist state, and how the fraud of a `social Europe' has not saved one British industry or job from destruction. The authors argue that the alternative to the EU is `the pursuit of Britain's wider global interests.' But the real alternative to the EU's embrace of global capitalism is not to embrace non-EU global capitalism, but to advance the British people's interests - not EU first, not world first, but Britain first. The authors remind us that in November 2004, 77.9% voted against the EU/Government scheme for an assembly for the North-East region. This was hugely significant, the first time a part of the British people rejected an EU policy. Last December, Blair pledged to back the German government's effort to resurrect the Constitution, which would destroy our democracy, self-rule and sovereignty. The working class is increasingly anti-EU, and the ruling class is increasingly pro-EU - a growing conflict.