The Conservatives and Europe: the pragmatism of power 1951–57

Abstract

With Churchill’s return to Downing Street in October 1951,Continental federalists had high hopes of a substantial shift in Britain’s attitudes towards European integration. They were encouraged by the presence of leading Europeanists within the Government; Sandys, Eccles and Thorneycroft were ministers, and Macmillan and Maxwell Fyfe held Cabinet posts.¹ Maxwell Fyfe was appointed to lead a strong delegation to Strasbourg and a further fillip came in the week before the Assembly’s meetings when, ‘despite strong opposition from the Foreign Office’, Churchill appointed Boothby to represent the Conservatives, and by implication the Government, in a debate in Strasbourg between members of Congress and a delegation from the Consultative Assembly.²