Referendums in the UK
Referendums offer the entire electorate the chance to participate in decisions on specific issues. The UK has thus far held six referendums.
The first UK-wide referendum was held in the 1975 and was concerned with continued membership of the European Economic Community (EEC), also known as the Common Market. The poll, held on June 5th, 1975, commanded a high turnout (65%) and resulted in almost two-thirds in favour of continued membership. Every administrative area in the UK voted ‘Yes’, bar two small Scottish island regions.
The question put to the electorate was this: “Do you think the UK should stay in the European Community (Common Market)?”