The shift of the British Conservative Party in the contex of the Brexit Referendum

Abstract

In June 2016, the long-running relationship of the United Kingdom with the European Union underwent a dramatic change. Eurosceptics across the country voted for Brexit. The biggest dilemma of the British politics, the European Union, was for another time at the centre of attention. For more than two decades, the role of Britain in Europe has created one of the most important divisions within the British Conservative Party. Over time, the European Union membership has been a source of confrontation debates for the party leadership. This thesis delves into the relationship and position of the Conservative Party and the issue of Euroscepticism beyond the United Kingdom’s Referendum on EU Membership. Their ideology and traditions have influenced the Tories Party. Notwithstanding, the intra-party demurs from backbenchers in combination with the external pressure from UKIP had an effect on the European integration policy. The repercussion has been the shift to a further rise of hard Euroscepticism within the Conservative political domain.