Britain joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union) in 1973. Following the decision by Edward Heath to enter the EEC, the Labour Party narrowly won the Feb 1974 election and honoured their pledge to hold a referendum on membership. This referendum was held in 1985 and at that point 67.2% of Britons voted to remain in the EEC.

Following Britain’s accession into the E.E.C the organisation changed dramatically and so did Britain’s relations with it. However, Britain possessed a number of opt outs that left its particular relationship with the EEC unique to that of other states.

So how was Britain’s membership different?

Along with Parliamentary Sovereignty, the Victorian constitutional scholar A.V Dicey called the Rule of Law one of the ‘twin pillars of the UK constitution’. By this, he meant it was one of the things that was fundamental in making the UK constitution what it is. So, what is meant by the Rule of Law and why is it so significant?