The EEC referendum took place on 5 June 1975 and, on a 64% turnout, returned a result of 67% in favour of continuing membership. The United Kingdom remained a member of the EEC and its successor, the European Union, until 31 January 2020 when it withdrew from the Union following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. Letts noted there were no complaints in 1975 about the electorate not being well-enough informed to make a decision, unlike after the 2016 referendum. Letts also noted that Shore brought up the use of fear by the "yes" campaign to persuade the elctorate, similar to complaints of a "Project Fear" of economic ruin used by chancellor George Osborne in his pro-EU 2016 referendum campaign.