EU referendum
Who speaks for Europe? The UK referendum as a pan-European affair
The Brexit debate greatly affects Europe yet commentary from EU figures and European heads of state has been surprisingly muted. Andrew Glencross writes that this is is a significant part due to the fact the British in/out vote is understood as a manifestation of political exceptionalism. The Brexit vote will therefore ultimately be won or lost on British […]
How future UK European referendums might happen
Further referendums on Britain’s European question could happen whatever the result of June’s vote. In a recent report for the Federal Trust Tim Oliver sets out how the forthcoming referendum will not settle the European question and mapped out the different ways in which future referendums might come to pass. Similar PostsCan we really not […]
Death of a citizen: Britain’s referendum and EU nationals living in the UK
With the exception of individuals from Ireland, Malta and Cyprus, non-British EU nationals living in the UK will not be permitted to vote in the country’s referendum on EU membership. These eligibility rules are similar to the rules applying to the 2015 UK general election.Veerle Heyvaert writes that although it would have been counter-productive for […]
Heavy duty: what are the shortcomings of the BBC’s reporting of the EU?
With so much British media coverage of the EU biased, if not actively hostile, the BBC has a heavy responsibility to ensure voters have enough knowledge to make an informed decision on 23 June. Mike Berry analysed BBC reporting of the Lisbon Treaty and EU budget and found it focussed unduly on infighting between Labour and Conservative politicians. […]
To appreciate the importance of the Brexit referendum, we must consider the series of constitutional issues that it raises
The Brexit referendum, set to take place in June, has created open divisions in the Conservative Party, with many questioning the sustainability of two warring tribes within the same one-party government. Here, Andrew Blick argues that in order to understand the constitutional significance of the referendum, we must move beyond the politics of the situation, and […]
Debates around the relationship between senior civil servants and ministers are likely to evolve rather than settle
Sir Jeremy Heywood’s guidance to civil servants working for Brexit ministers, indicating that they cannot provide advice and support that could be used to campaign against the government’s agreed position, has been met with fury from the Vote Leave camp. Nick Pearce writes that the issue of the relationship between senior civil servants and Ministers is unlikely […]
Learning the lessons: What other referendums can teach us about the EU vote
While we’re nowhere near Switzerland or California in constantly using referendums, the UK is becoming accustomed to big constitutional votes. Katie Ghose discusses what the AV and Scottish referendums tell us about the likely shape of the EU debate. Similar PostsHow the major parties will face the EU referendumWe need a root and branch review of […]
A British exit would harm the EU’s global credibility – and it could rip apart the Conservatives too
A British exit would have a devastating impact on the European Union and relegate it to a second-rank world power in the eyes of the global community. John Ryan argues that the Union would see its diplomatic power greatly diminished, and that domestically a Brexit would also further divide the Conservative party. Similar PostsCan Scotland avoid Brexit? It depends on politics, not […]
The trouble with unequal partnerships? How UK governments’ views on representation in the EU have changed over time
This spring the EU is reconsidering, debating and reformulating its future foreign policy agenda. Drawing on her recent research, Rinna Kullaa outlines the role successive British governments have played in formulating common EU foreign and security policies in the past. She writes that if the UK votes to remain in the Union it can continue […]
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