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The UK had joined the European Communities in January 1973. Even before joining the UK's membership was controversial. While the Conservatives were in favour, and took the country into the EC, Labour were wary of the effect membership would have on parliament and the electorate's democratic rights.

In a referendum in 1975, 67.2% of voters opted to remain within the European Communities. However, the UK's membership would continue to be the object of political debate for the following four decades, particularly after the European Communities became the European Union in 1993.

By this point, the political winds had changed. Labour were firmly in favour of membership, whereas the Conservatives had become divided. They were also wary of the rise of the Eurosceptic party Ukip, who had come first in the 2014 European election in the UK and won two parliamentary by-elections which had been called after Conservative members of parliament had defected to Ukip. As a result, the Conservatives called a referendum to put the question to voters.

51.9% of voters opted to leave the European Union. The process of leaving would come to dominate the political landscape for almost four years, leading to two changes of prime minister and two general elections, before the UK actually left the European Union in January 2020.