Confronting Europe: UK Political Parties and the EU 2000–2005

Abstract

The unease at being part of the EU, as presently constructed at all levels of state and society in the UK, means that the main political parties have to wrestle with finding a clear policy direction towards the EU. Historical analysis of the UK's exceptionalism towards the EU is well documented. While it is perfectly acceptable to view the UK position as a pro and anti dichotomy, this fails to account for the nuances in the debate, and the strategies and difficulties that all three major UK political parties have in dealing with the EU issue. The approach of the main UK political parties towards the EU from the setting up of the European Convention to the first three months of the UK presidency of the EU in 2005 has shifted, with the EU issue being repackaged within the broader themes of political economy and internationalism. Through these, the UK government and Labour Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have found appropriate mechanisms for confronting Europe.