Changes

The [[Conservative Party|Conservative]] government of [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]] took the UK into the [[European Union]] in 1973. The [[Labour Party]] under [[Harold Wilson]] won the 1974 general elections and due to splits within the party, called the only national [[referendum]] asking the people if they wanted to stay in the Union. The "yes" vote won by a margin of approximately two to one. The Labour and Conservative parties have since had deep divisions over Union membership. Labour's 1983 manifesto promised to leave the Union, and whilst the Conservative party have never pledged to leave the Union, a growing band of "Eurosceptics" threatened to tear the party apart in the 1990s. Labour, the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party wish to stay in the Union although disagree over the level of integration, but smaller parties such as the [[UK Independence Party]] and the Referendum Party campaigned on the single issue of sovereignty being lost to the Union.

The [[Conservative Party|Conservative]] government of [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]] took the UK into the [[European Union]] in 1973. The [[Labour Party]] under [[Harold Wilson]] won the 1974 general elections and due to splits within the party, called the only national [[referendum]] asking the people if they wanted to stay in the Union. The "yes" vote won by a margin of approximately two to one. The Labour and Conservative parties have since had deep divisions over Union membership. Labour's 1983 manifesto promised to leave the Union, and whilst the Conservative party have never pledged to leave the Union, a growing band of "Eurosceptics" threatened to tear the party apart in the 1990s. Labour, the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party wish to stay in the Union although disagree over the level of integration, but smaller parties such as the [[UK Independence Party]] and the Referendum Party campaigned on the single issue of sovereignty being lost to the Union.

The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, is scheduled to take place in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Gibraltar]] on 23 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2015-2016/0002/cbill_2015-20160002_en_2.htm#pb1-l1g5 |title=European Union Referendum Bill (HC Bill 2) |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |date=2015-05-28 |accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Rowena Mason , Nicholas Watt, Ian Traynor, Jennifer Rankin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/20/cameron-set-to-name-eu-referendum-date-after-cabinet-meeting |title=EU referendum to take place on 23 June, David Cameron confirms &#124; Politics |publisher=The Guardian |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> In accordance with a [[Conservative Party]] manifesto commitment, the legal basis for a referendum was established by the passage of the European Union Referendum Act 2015 by the British Parliament. It will be the third plebiscite to be held throughout the [[United Kingdom]], and the second time the British electorate has been asked to vote on the issue of European Union membership: the first was held in 1975, when it was known as the EEC. Membership was approved in that referendum by 67% of voters – but the nature of the EU has changed dramatically since then and the result of this referendum is expected to be significantly closer.<ref>Adrian Williamson, [http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/the-case-for-brexit-lessons-from-1960s-and-1970s The Case for Brexit: Lessons from the 1960s and 1970s], History and Policy (2015).</ref>

The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, is scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom and [[Gibraltar]] on 23 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2015-2016/0002/cbill_2015-20160002_en_2.htm#pb1-l1g5 |title=European Union Referendum Bill (HC Bill 2) |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |date=2015-05-28 |accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Rowena Mason , Nicholas Watt, Ian Traynor, Jennifer Rankin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/20/cameron-set-to-name-eu-referendum-date-after-cabinet-meeting |title=EU referendum to take place on 23 June, David Cameron confirms &#124; Politics |publisher=The Guardian |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> In accordance with a [[Conservative Party]] manifesto commitment, the legal basis for a referendum was established by the passage of the European Union Referendum Act 2015 by the British Parliament. It will be the third plebiscite to be held throughout the United Kingdom, and the second time the British electorate has been asked to vote on the issue of European Union membership: the first was held in 1975, when it was known as the EEC. Membership was approved in that referendum by 67% of voters – but the nature of the EU has changed dramatically since then and the result of this referendum is expected to be significantly closer.<ref>Adrian Williamson, [http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/the-case-for-brexit-lessons-from-1960s-and-1970s The Case for Brexit: Lessons from the 1960s and 1970s], History and Policy (2015).</ref>

==Defense and Foreign Relations==

==Defense and Foreign Relations==