page_title: 1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum
section_title: 1974 Labour manifesto commitments
hierarchical_section_title: 1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum / Background / 1974 Labour manifesto commitments
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Premier Wilson gaf persconferentie na bespreking in Den Haag , Wilson (kop) 27 februari 1967
context_page_description: The United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum, also known variously as the Referendum on the European Community, the Common Market referendum and EEC membership referendum, took place under the provisions of the Referendum Act 1975 on 5 June 1975 in the United Kingdom to gauge support for the country's continued membership of the European Communities — often known at the time as the European Community and the Common Market — which it had entered two-and-a-half years earlier on 1 January 1973 under the Conservative government of Edward Heath. The Labour Party's manifesto for the October 1974 general election had promised that the people would decide through the ballot box whether to remain in the EC.
  This was the first national referendum ever to be held throughout the United Kingdom, and would remain the only UK-wide referendum until the 2011 referendum on the Alternative Vote system was held thirty-six years later. It was also the only referendum to be held on the UK's relationship with Europe until the 2016 referendum on continued EU membership, which began the process of the UK leaving the EU pursuant to Article 50.
context_section_description: At the February 1974 United Kingdom general election, the Labour Party manifesto promised renegotiation of the UK's terms of membership, to be followed by a consultative referendum on continued membership under the new terms if they were acceptable.
  Within one month of coming into office the Labour Government started the negotiations promised in its February manifesto on the basis set out in that manifesto.
  It is as yet too early to judge the likely results of the tough negotiations which are taking place. But whatever the outcome in Brussels, the decision will be taken here by the British people.
  This could be interpreted as including the option of an election in 1975.
  Labour managed to win a very small working majority, and had no need of another general election and the referendum was organised.
caption: Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson
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