Evolution of the attitudes of leading British political parties towards EU enlargement (1997-2010)

In the presented article, the author consistently analyzed the approaches of the key British political parties (Conservative and Labor) in relation to the initiative to expand the EU during the period of the Labor Party’s rule (1997-2010). The stages of transformation of British politicians’ approaches to this issue were highlighted, the reasons for the change in their position were analyzed, and the consequences that demonstrated the divergence of the viewpoint of some political forces with the opinion of the electorate were revealed. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that the change in the political assessment of the EU enlargement by the key British parties became a significant component in the complex of reasons for the defeat of the Labor Party in the 2010 parliamentary elections, and also contributed to the development and consistent steps of the Conservative Party in the direction of protecting the rights of British citizens as part of European cooperation.