Ever since the European Economic Community was founded in the 1950s, the United Kingdom has been an important neighbour and ally. Negotiations for Britain to join began in the 1960s and took more than a decade to bear fruit.
After the UK joined the EEC, the movement to take us out again soon began. Within three years, the first referendum on whether the UK should Leave or Remain was held. But public opinion was in favour of Europe and, for the next 40 years, Britain was most definately "In".
Throughout the 1980s European nations grew closer, linking their currencies and promoting free trade. But some in the UK were not happy. A significant portion of the electorate was becoming discontent - the road to Brexit had begun.