160623 – Britain votes, with a 71.8% turnout, with a 51.8% majority vote, to leave the European Economic Union. The original target date for leaving was March 30, 2019. Britain has been in the EU since 1973. Their original application, in 1963, was vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle. They had a referendum in 1975 to leave, but voted to stay in. In 1984 Margaret Thatcher re-negotiated UK payments to the EU from 20% of the total to 12%. Primary reasons given were immigration-no control over the border, economics-the EU has been a dysfunctional economic entity, and Sovereignty-the inability of the citizens to control what happens to their country.