ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the political and ideological development of the three parties under study in order to make some sense of their actions during the 1979 direct election campaign. The British Labour Party was the last of the members of the Socialist Group participating in the 1979 direct election to send a delegation to the European Parliament, doing so in 1975, two years after the British Conservatives. Overall party policies, election manifestos and the like are drawn up by the National Executive Committee which is elected by and reports to the Party Conference. The European Community has been a difficult issue in British politics since the early 1960's, though it has never gained attention as the overriding issue in any election. The Community became a major divisive issue within the party after the Labour Government of Harold Wilson applied for membership in 1970 shortly before the General Election.
