The British Conservative party’s initiation of the 2016 EU Referendum reflects a drastic change in the party’s attitude towards integration, contrasting greatly with the views it once held in 1973...Show moreThe British Conservative party’s initiation of the 2016 EU Referendum reflects a drastic change in the party’s attitude towards integration, contrasting greatly with the views it once held in 1973 when the Conservative party led the United Kingdom into the EU. Contemporary literature surrounding the growth of Euroscepticism within British political parties has largely maintained a focus on present-day and future developments, though little exploration has been conducted surrounding its historical maturation within the Conservative party, specifically asking why and how the Tories experienced a gradual shift towards an anti-integrationist attitude from the 1970s onwards. Consequently, this paper will seek to further more effectively understand why the Conservative party’s attitude towards European integration has lacked a high degree of consistency over time.Show less
