Ever closer union?

Introduction

A new Europe
1945-1957

Britain shut out
1958-1969

Joining the
Community
1970-1979

The Thatcher era
1979-1990

Backing away
from Union
1990-1997

Blair and euroland
1997-2002

UK and Europe

300 million people will soon be using the euro As Europe takes the leap into a new, single currency across 12 nations, the UK has yet to decide when or even if it will join its European partners, and swap the pound for the euro.

Since the end of the first world war questions of whether to pursue economic and political union have divided the country, split cabinets and toppled prime ministers.

BBC News Online looks back over the last 70 years and charts the UK’s often stormy relationship with Europe.


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