2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
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Title	2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
Date	23 June 2016
Voting system	Simple majority
Turnout	30,019,461 (72.2% of eligible voters)

2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum was a national referendum held in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2016, in which a majority of voters chose to leave the European Union (EU). The European Union is a Treaty of Rome-founded European Coal and Steel Community successor, with European Commission and European Parliament at its core. The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), led by Nigel Farage, had long advocated for the UK's withdrawal from the EU, while Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron had promised to hold a referendum on EU membership if the Conservative Party (UK) won the 2015 United Kingdom general election.

● Background

The United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union has been complex, with the country joining the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973 under Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Edward Heath. The UK had previously held a referendum on EEC membership in 1975, in which a majority of voters chose to remain in the EEC. However, over the years, the UK's relationship with the EU had become increasingly strained, with many Britons expressing concerns about European Union law and the Maastricht Treaty. The Treaty of Lisbon and the Eurozone crisis further exacerbated these tensions, leading to increased calls for a referendum on EU membership. Key figures such as Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Iain Duncan Smith played important roles in shaping the debate, while Angela Merkel, François Hollande, and Jean-Claude Juncker represented the EU's perspective.

● Referendum

The European Union Referendum Act 2015 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in December 2015, paving the way for the referendum to be held. The Electoral Commission (United Kingdom) was responsible for overseeing the referendum, with Jenny Watson serving as its chair. The referendum question was: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" The BBC, Sky News, and ITN provided extensive coverage of the referendum, featuring interviews with key figures such as Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones, and Arlene Foster. The European Court of Justice and the Council of the European Union also played important roles in the lead-up to the referendum.

● Campaigns

The Vote Leave campaign, led by Matthew Elliott and Dominic Cummings, argued that the UK should leave the EU to regain control over its immigration policy and reduce its contributions to the EU budget. The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, led by Stuart Rose, Baron Rose of Monewden and Will Straw, argued that the UK should remain in the EU to maintain access to the European Single Market and protect the country's economy. Other notable campaigns included Leave.EU, led by Arron Banks and Richard Tice, and Labour In for Britain, led by Alan Johnson and Hilary Benn. The Scottish National Party (SNP), led by Nicola Sturgeon, and the Liberal Democrats, led by Tim Farron, also played important roles in the campaign. Key events, such as the 2016 London mayoral election and the 2016 Welsh Assembly election, influenced the debate, while figures like George Osborne, Theresa May, and Jeremy Corbyn contributed to the discussion.

● Results

The referendum was held on 23 June 2016, with a turnout of 72.2% of eligible voters. The results showed that 51.9% of voters had chosen to leave the EU, while 48.1% had chosen to remain. The Leave campaign won in England and Wales, while the Remain campaign won in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Gibraltar. The results were announced by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom), with Jenny Watson declaring the result. The BBC and Sky News provided extensive coverage of the results, featuring analysis from experts such as John Curtice and Paddy Ashdown. The European Commission and the European Parliament responded to the results, with Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz issuing statements.

● Aftermath

The result of the referendum led to a significant political upheaval in the UK, with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron announcing his resignation. Theresa May succeeded Cameron as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party (UK), while Boris Johnson became Foreign Secretary. The Labour Party (UK) also experienced a leadership crisis, with Jeremy Corbyn facing a challenge to his leadership. The Scottish National Party (SNP) called for a second Scottish independence referendum, citing the UK's decision to leave the EU. The European Union also began to prepare for the UK's withdrawal, with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk playing key roles in the negotiations. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union also contributed to the discussions, with figures like Guy Verhofstadt and Manfred Weber shaping the EU's position.

● Consequences

The UK's decision to leave the EU has significant consequences for the country's economy, immigration policy, and foreign policy. The UK's withdrawal from the EU's single market and customs union is expected to have a major impact on the country's trade relationships with the EU and other countries. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to implement the UK's withdrawal from the EU. The Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU are ongoing, with key figures such as Michel Barnier and David Davis playing important roles. The European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank will also be affected by the UK's withdrawal, while organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be involved in shaping the post-Brexit landscape. The United Nations and the G7 will also be impacted by the UK's decision to leave the EU, with leaders like António Guterres and Emmanuel Macron contributing to the global discussion.