Britain and the EU: In or Out?

From the FT archive: An overwhelming YES settles the issue

By David Watt, Political Editor

Saturday June 7 1975

After 23 years of doubt and 14 years of bitter, fluctuating argument, the Common Market issue is settled. By their unambiguous vote on Thursday – the most overwhelming expression of popular will in the British electoral history, certainly since 1931 – the voters have solved the politicians’ dilemmas for them and banished the issue from the centre of British politics.

This does not mean that the battle is completely over. There will be skirmishes, perhaps for many years, over the details of British membership and the degree and manner in which British interests ought to be protected in Brussels.

But the sheer size of the majority and ...