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Ben Wright looks back at the drama and repercussions of the truly 鈥渕eaningful鈥� Commons vote that took the UK into the European Economic Community in 1971.

Prime Minister Edward Heath had secured a deal with Brussels but could not guarantee getting it through the Commons because of opposition within his own Tory party. The Labour front bench opposed EEC membership - but there were pro-European Labour MPs in favour and Heath needed their support.

The marathon debate was held over six days and was one of the great post-war parliamentary moments. In the end Heath, who described the parliamentary vote as a decision to take 鈥渙ur rightful place in a truly United Europe鈥�, won.

The victorious PM returned to Downing Street that night and played the first of Bach鈥檚 preludes and fugues on his clavichord. Harold Macmillan lit a bonfire of celebration on the cliffs of Dover. The Sun鈥檚 headline the next day was 鈥淚n we go!鈥�.

As Parliament votes again, this time on exit, could Theresa May learn anything from her predecessor鈥檚 triumph?

Producer: Adam Bowen