British Eurosceptic Voting in 2014: Anti-EU or Anti-Government?

Abstract

This chapter examines British eurosceptic voting at the 2014 European Parliament (EP) election, analyzing British party politics, party competition and the role of political entrepreneurs and public preferences. It shows that the 2014 EP election campaign did have a European dimension, although not the one intended by the EP. The campaign was dominated by the question of the UK’s continued EU membership and related issues, such as EU freedom of movement and UK borders. The analysis of United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) voting reveals both EU and domestic concerns. While voters opted for UKIP as they perceived it to be close to their anti-EU attitudes, that party’s supporters also voted to express disapproval of the government, especially as compared to Conservative and Liberal Democrat voters.