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Brexit: A Love Story?

You know we’re leaving the EU but this is the story of how the UK got here. Mark Mardell uncovers the fractious yet intriguing story of Britain’s relationship with the EU.

Radio 4,27 episodes

Episodes

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1. Fanfare for the future
Mark Mardell navigates his way through the early days of the UK's love affair with the EU
29 Mar 2018,18 mins
2. Yes to Britain in Europe
Mark Mardell examines the 1975 referendum to remain in the European Economic Community
13 Apr 2018,18 mins
3. Battling Maggie's blues
Mark Mardell follows Margaret Thatcher's fight to reduce Britain's bill to the EEC
26 Apr 2018,18 mins
4. From Bruges to Bust
Mark Mardell explores the role of Europe in Margaret Thatcher's downfall
10 May 2018,18 mins
5. Up Yours Delors!
Mark Mardell considers the role of the press in influencing public opinion about the EU
24 May 2018,19 mins
6. Major’s Bastards and the Battle of Maastricht
Mark Mardell revisits the tensions in the Conservative party over the Maastricht Treaty
07 Jun 2018,18 mins
7. Major and the mad cows
Mark Mardell returns to a health crisis recast into familiar territory: a Brussels battle
22 Jun 2018,20 mins
8. The Most Successful Party That Never Won A Seat
Mark Mardell gets to grips with Sir James Goldsmith and his Referendum Party
05 Jul 2018,19 mins
9. Blair, Brown and a bike ride
Mark Mardell remembers the push and pull of Europe under New Labour
19 Jul 2018,21 mins
10. Pole position
Mark Mardell looks at how EU migration shaped the Brexit debate
02 Aug 2018,18 mins
11. Banging on about Europe
Mark Mardell charts the rise of UKIP and the effect it had on the Conservative party
24 Aug 2018,20 mins
12. Five miscalculations and a resignation
Mark Mardell asks whether David Cameron's decisions over Europe led to his own demise
06 Sep 2018,20 mins
13. An Island Nation
Mark Mardell finishes his journey through Britain's 45 year relationship with the EU
20 Sep 2018,20 mins
14. Inside May's Mind
Mark Mardell delves into what the Prime Minister really thought about the EU
22 Nov 2018,17 mins
15. Road to Conference
Mark Mardell considers the role of Mrs May’s chiefs of staff in her first months at No10
29 Nov 2018,18 mins
16. Article 50 and the Avatar of Hate
Mark Mardell unpicks how – and when – Article 50 was triggered
06 Dec 2018,17 mins
17. Lancaster House and red lines
Mark Mardell dissects Theresa May's infamous Lancaster House speech
14 Dec 2018,17 mins
Coming soon
Mark Mardell returns with new episodes of Brexit: A Love Story?
28 Mar 2019,1 min
18. Dexeu: Brexit from a broom cupboard
Mark Mardell delves into Whitehall and the new Department for Exiting the European Union
18 Apr 2019,20 mins
19. The election that broke Brexit
Mark Mardell dissects the 2017 general election
19 Apr 2019,20 mins
20. The path to a meaningful vote
Mark Mardell navigates MPs' journey to secure a meaningful vote on Bexit
22 Apr 2019,21 mins
21. Checkmate at Chequers
Mark Mardell revisits a hot and sunny day at the Prime Minister's country retreat
23 Apr 2019,21 mins
Brexit: How did we get here?
Mark Mardell recaps how Britain joined, and ultimately came to leave the European Union
31 Jan 2020,15 mins
22. The Spartans
Mark Mardell meets the European Research Group
31 Aug 2020,19 mins
23. Three Strikes and You're Out!
Mark Mardell explores heightened tensions as Mrs May's withdrawal deal fails to impress
02 Sep 2020,19 mins
24. The Centre Cannot Hold
Mark Mardell delves into the problems that dogged the centre ground
02 Sep 2020,19 mins
25. The Purge
Mark Mardell examines how revolution was afoot in the Conservative Party
04 Sep 2020,18 mins