There are many reasons why Britain had such a negative and sceptical attitude towards Europe. The main reason being European organisations such as the EEC and EDC. The motivation for Britain’s decline of the EEC, was because Britain politicians didn’t want British national sovereignty to be challenged. Britain was simply opposed to any supranational organisation. (Meaning “above the nation,” where nations, like Britain, give some national sovereignty, power, to European institutions.) The first possible supranational organisation was the EDC, European Defence committee. This was proposed by the French, along with the Schuman Plan, which led to establishment of the European Coal and Steal Community, ECSC. These were in a similar fashion to the Pleven Plan, which was a French solution to possible threat from Germany.
Above links directly to another reason why Britain was sceptical and not very interested by Europe. This being, that they didn’t share the same anxieties. The French felt threatened by the possibility of Germany becoming one of the strongest states in Europe, due to their great industry. France felt that Germany couldn’t be trusted with such a position, and instead need to be contained. They felt they could do this