The debate was held two days before the 1975 referendum, in which the electorate were asked if Britain should remain a member of the European Economic Community (EEC) which it had joined in 1973.

The debate was broadcast live on BBC1 with an introduction by Robin Day and Ludovic Kennedy; at the end of the programme David Dimbleby provided an update on other developments in the referendum campaign.

In 1961 Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan instructed the Lord Privy Seal, Edward Heath to enter negotiations to join the EEC.

[1] Harold Wilson's Labour Party won the October 1974 United Kingdom general election, with a manifesto promising a referendum on continued British membership of the EEC.

[7] The programme, entitled A Question of Europe, was introduced by Robin Day (who was a former president of the Oxford Union) and Ludovic Kennedy.

[11] Heath recalled, at the start of his oratory, that he had taken part in a Union debate as a student in which he opposed the Munich Agreement in the lead up to the Second World War.

[13] Heath went on to argue that the EEC was a vital institution to demonstrate that Europe had progressed since the two World Wars and to ensure continued peace.

[13] Castle described the EEC as too exclusive indirectly citing the then principle of Community preference and that it would compel Britain to provide favourable treatment to its members in all fields, not just trade.

[6] When Thorpe asked Castle if she would resign if the British public voted to remain a member, she replied that in such circumstances she considered that "my country will need me more than ever".

"[15] Roger Berthoud, writing in The Times, commended the standard of Shore's oratory and noted that he received applause even though most of the audience disagreed with his views.

[16] The BBC programme was concluded with a summary of other recent events in the referendum campaign presented by David Dimbleby from London.

[15] Heath stated in his 1998 autobiography that he received letters of congratulations on his performance from actor Kenneth Williams and comedian Dave Allen.

[11] Castle herself wrote on the night of the debate that she thought her performance "a flop" and noted that she "sat down to the thinnest applause of the evening".