Reposting this question because it has not been previously answered: looking at a map of the UK's referendum for EU membership in 1975, it seems like voters in nearly all regions were generally in favor of joining the EU, with the notable exception of the inhabitants of the Hebrides and Shetland Islands. Why was EU membership especially controversial in those regions, and how did opinions there change in subsequent decades?
Hebridean here, Fishing and the Seaweed industry.
True enough the islands collapsed in the late 80s 90s and now are a shadow of once they once where. European boats came in and destroyed fish stocks and the populations been in decline since, going up now but that's just retirees who are slowly corroding the culture of the area (all lovely people though).