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- Labour's left-wing 1983 manifesto pledged to take the country out of the EC. Seen as a "capitalist-club". However this gave way to measured membership and further engagement in the EC in the Tory government.

- Under Neil Kinnock, socialists saw in Delors' social Europe agenda (especially the Working Time Directive) a protective shield against Thatcher's domestic policies
- John Smith's leadership boosted the party's turn to a more pro-EU stance.
- Smith - Major wanting to turn Britain into "the sweat-shop" of the EU.
- Criticised John Major for using the EU to create a low wage economy (cheap migrant labour). Lowering living for British working class

Michael foot's Labour party pledged to take the UK out of the EC (the left)

Leaders of British trade unions saw in Delors social european agenda a protective shield against Thatcher's domestic policy

john smiths leadership, following on from Kinnock, took a more pro eu stance

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- Tony Blair was much vaunted pro-European, not particularly left-wing. Favoured the single market because it provided economic benefits.

- Britain signed up to the 'social chapter' and gave British workers a series of benefits, a left-wing reason to be in the EU.

- Blair wanted the EU to be a superpower not a superstate (or so he said).

- Labour's enduring attachment to NATO and Atlantic-ism. Britain is uniquely placed in-between the EU and the US. Maximising smart power.
-Democratic peace thesis, interconnected countries don't fight with one another.

- Labour split on the Euro. Brown did not want it. Didn't meet his '5' economic tests. Not strong enough, too unstable, too diverse,  national pride, German dominance, national sovereignty over monetary policy. Blair supported it, as it created a strong single market across the continent.

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1. Blair wanted a fresh start with the EU after Conservatives had annoyed them. Set out joining the social chapter

2. Brown said no to the EMU because it didn't meet his tests. Although many MPs backed it including Blair.

3. Blair didn't like the Council of Ministers because they don't discuss new ideas. Too stuck in old forms of working and not willing to modernise.

4. 2014 manifesto Ed Milliband said there would be no further transfer of power to EU without consultation of people. acknowledging euroscepticism in the UK.

5. Blair had a focus on maintaining national vetos when negotiating Lisbon

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1. The official stance of Labour during the referendum was to ‘Remain’, as this appeased Blairites. However, it would appear that Labour recognise the democratic result of the 2016 referendum, and are now committed to maintaining Brexit.

2. The 2017 manifesto has been clearly influenced by Corbyn’s leadership, and more left-wing elements of the party. Labour call for a new relationship based on the protection of workers’ rights and the environment, which are both distinctly socialist ideas.

3. In addition, Labour accuses the Tories of pushing for a ‘hard Brexit’ prioritising the welfare of corporations, isolationism and a complete withdrawal from the EU. As it turns out, however, the actual result of negotiations appears to have gone in Labour’s favour.

4. Interestingly, these soft-left stances are not universal within Labour. A vote on an amendment which would essentially maintain membership of the Customs Union demonstrated this. Labour suffered a 3-way split. Some accused the amendment of being impractical, while others accused it of betraying the will of the British people.

5. There is also clear tension between party membership and leadership. Corbyn is a left-Eurosceptic who dislikes the capitalist leanings of the EU, as is John McDonnell - however, left-wing elements of the party view Corbyn as a traitor. They accuse him of betraying the classic Labour opposition to capitalism, for the sake of gaining support from more centrist Blairites. Evidently, Labour is still hugely split

Soft left, want to ‘retain benefits of single market and customs union.’ This could mean staying in the single market and customs union for many years post brexit.

Far left want to leave single market and customs union as most traditional working class supported voted to leave

Blairites want a transitional period to avoid a cliff edge break from EU so businesses in the UK have time to adjust

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1) David Steel 1776-1988 key interests domestic affairs and social policy. Support for much more federal Europe. Reducing the power of the executive

2) uk in EU monetary system and more political development of the Eu (General support of the EU)

3) emphasise the importance of an international community, sharing of social and economic burdens.

4) 1979 manifesto - Supporting closer integration of defence, security and weapons procurement policies within the Atlantic Alliance as the most effective way of utilizing scarce resources.

5) close relations with the middle east and US. Improving Britain's standing in the world. Improving international integration.

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In Ashdown's first general election as leader, he advocated pro-integration and the benefits of pooled sovereignty

The party has advocated a referendum on whether or not to join the Euro since the 1990s. This was for democratic purposes.

There was some right-wing Euro-scepticism from rural areas (but insignificant)

The 1997 manifesto focused on economic benefits of the single market which was a shift from their earlier beliefs

Supported the use of PR in EU elections as this was more representative and democratic. Also more likely to lead to lib dem success.

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2008- ditch promise to hold referendum over single currency. attempt to win votes

2009- Clegg pledges to hold EU membership referendum

2010- pledge to hold referendum if there are any more treaty changes . This is because of the lib dems commitment to democracy.

2014- coalition with conservatives causes a block to the EU referendum bill due to disagreement.Worried about leaving. Right wing press would provide misleading inappropriate stories which would corrupt the vote.

Lib Dems encourage coalition and federal systems. This prevents overly powerful governments. Strong rule of law also helps. You need a separation of powers. A constitution is also useful and the EU goes part of the way?

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- Campaigned to stay all throughout the referendum

- Against a hard Brexit, for economic reason wants to sat in single market and customs union.

- Campaign/petition to call for a second referendum in 2018

- Beveridge group like the positive freedoms provided by the union. This is done through social security rights.
- Orange book group like the economically liberal elements of the single market.

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- Thatcherism is a combination of neaoliberalism and neo-conservatism.
neo-liberals = Favour the free market. Maximises individual choice, drives down prices for consumers and creates and efficient system.
neo-conservative = hate it. Reduction in sovereignty.  Imposes a risk to British culture and ideals (Free movement/ Foreign judges)

- Thatcher was hung up over questions of sovereignty which she and her supporters
saw as a zero-sum concept, assuming that any growth of power to EC institutions
constituted an equal diminution of that of the member states.
- Thatcher substantially reduced UK influence within the EC by insisting that the UK
took a negotiative or minimalist position on the most proposals for new EC initiative.
- In 1980, Thatcher called for the UKs contribution to the then ECC to be adjusted
warning that otherwise she will withhold VAT payments. The battle lasted four years
and finally ended in victory for Thatcher but damaged relations with other EC
countries.
- 1988: Bruges Speech: Against the Single European Act as she felt it eroded British
sovereignty. Rejected on “European super state exercising new dominance from
Brussels”.

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1- Major's leadership brought new perspective on Europe- wanted to keep Britain at the very heart of Europe' (Bonn Speech). Considerably more co-operative than Thatcher.

2- Overall the party was still softly Eurosceptic, with Major negotiating Maastricht opt outs for the Social Charter and single currency in 1991

3- However the ratification of Maastricht was made more difficult when the UK was forced to withdraw from the ERM in 1992- Black Wednesday fuelled Euroscepticism and the belief that further integration would negatively effect the UK.

4- Having to balance different factions of his party, Major took a view of 'wait and see' regarding membership of the Single Currency

5- Major was in a no win situation- Eurosceptics such as Lamont believed joining would give too much sovereignty to ECB and accused him of 'sleep walking into monetary union'. Whereas pro-european integration members of his party such as Ted Heath (functionalists) supported the single currency to complete a true single market

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2008, MPs reject a Conservative call for a referendum on whether the Lisbon Treaty should be ratified.

2009, Cameron says he won’t be able to hold  referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

A new generation of more eurosceptic MPs is elected.

2013, Cameron says he will seek to negotiate UK’s relationship with the EU.

2005, David Cameron puts himself forward as a prospective Tory leader, promising to lead the party out of the European People’s Party.

Cameron went to Brussels to cut the EU budget and veto integrationist plans

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Thatcherites in particular do not want the ECJ/EU to have jurisdiction over the UK - as it infringes sovereignty

Neo-liberals are critical of the customs union preventing more free trade agreements for the UK around the world.

Majority of the party want to leave the single market/customs union. Neo-liberals are critical of the excessive EU regulation which prevents a free market.

One nation are more in favour of a softer style brexit ie with transition period, to prevent excessive disruption to business.

Post Brexit - free trade deal/special relationship

Before the referendum, May was against Brexit but said “now there's no turning back” - Tory’s now strongly support the UK Leaving.

May called for a general election in June 2017 to ‘strengthen her hand in EU negotiations.’

Sep 2017 - Florence speech: a pledge on a “smooth” Brexit has been made on several occasions, with May saying during the live debate that “no deal is better than a bad deal.”

Conservatives see Brexit as a way to no longer be bounded by EU law and the ECJ rulings.
2017 - Enforcement and dispute resolution - May wanting end of jurisdiction “to take back control of our laws” and “democracy” - May will make an agreement to ensure businesses still have confidence with trading across the EU.

Brexit - creation of a new immigration system to replace the free movement of EU citizens: aiming to bring total net migration below 100,000. David Davis - bring down to “sustainable levels as soon as it economically viable.”
However it is currently unspecified how they will control EU migration.