Abstract
This chapter offers an overview of British history from a perspective of Brexit: the role of Parliament, the transition from Empire to Commonwealth, and the relationship between the UK and EU since 1973, under Heath, Thatcher, Major, and Blair. More recent British policies are examined, particularly cuts in transfers from central government to local authorities and how these drastic cuts prepared the ground for Brexit. Downing Street actions are discussed, from Cameron’s Review of Competences, UK negotiations with the EU prior to the referendum in 2016 (including on the UK–Eurozone relations and immigration) to the May government’s White Paper on the UK’s exit from the EU. This chapter concludes with a brief review of European disintegration dynamics and EU weaknesses.
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Welfens, P.J.J. (2017). Aspects of British History and Policy. In: An Accidental Brexit. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58271-9_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58271-9_4
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