3.2 - Referendums and how they are used

Question 1

What are referendums and how were they used pre 1975?

Answer 1

• Referendums are a form of direct democracy that allows the public to decide on an issue presented to them by the gov
• Before 1975 referendums were almost unheard of in the UK – in 1975 a referendum was held on whether to join the EU

Question 2

How have referendums been used since 1975?

Answer 2

• Since 1975 a series of referendums under New Labour passed with little controversy
• However since 2011, the AV, Scottish Independence, and Brexit referendums have all been conducted with varying degrees of controversy

Question 3

Do referendums give sovereignty?

Answer 3

• Referendums do hold democratic sovereignty which means P is unlikely to ignore the result of a referendum even though it has the legal right to do so
• EG 80% of MPs favouring staying in Europe and 77% of MPs voting to trigger Article 50 and leave the EU

Question 4

Scotland devolution referendum - When and why?

Answer 4

• 1997
• A fundamental change in the system of gov (ie devolution) required popular consent

Question 5

Scotland devolution referendum - Turnout

Answer 5

60.4%

Question 6

Scotland devolution referendum - % Yes % No

Answer 6

• Yes - 74%
• No - 26%

Question 7

Welsh devolution referendum - When and why held?

Answer 7

• 1997
• A fundamental change in the system of gov (ie devolution) required popular consent

Question 8

Welsh devolution referendum - Turnout

Answer 8

50.1%

Question 9

Welsh devolution referendum - % Yes and % No

Answer 9

• Yes - 50.3%
• No - 49.7%

Question 10

NI Belfast Agreement Referendum - When and why held?

Answer 10

• 1998
• Devolution required popular support across the whole divided community

Question 11

NI Belfast Agreement Referendum - Turnout

Answer 11

81%

Question 12

NI Belfast Agreement - % Yes and % No

Answer 12

• Yes - 71%
• No - 29%

Question 13

AV Referendum - When and why held?

Answer 13

• 2011
• Coalition gov divided on the issue of reform so put the question to the people

Question 14

AV referendum - Turnout

Answer 14

42.2%

Question 15

AV referendum - % Yes and % No

Answer 15

• Yes - 32%
• No - 68%

Question 16

Scottish independence referendum - When and why held?

Answer 16

• 2014
• Fundamental question about who governs Scotland should be put to the people

Question 17

Scottish independence referendum - Turnout

Answer 17

84.6%

Question 18

Scottish independence referendum - % Yes and % No

Answer 18

• Yes - 45%
• No - 55%

Question 19

Brexit Referendum - When and why held?

Answer 19

• 2016
• Fundamental constitutional question - governing Cons split on the issue of Brexit - put to the people to decide - also done to meet the challenge of UKIP

Question 20

Brexit Referendum - Turnout

Answer 20

72.2%

Question 21

Brexit referendum - % Yes and % No

Answer 21

• Yes - 48%
• No - 52%

Question 22

When should a gov never call a referendum?

Answer 22

Govs should never call a referendum unless they are confident about what the answer will be

Question 23

Why is govs never calling a referendum unless they are sure of the outcome sensible? (2)

Answer 23

1) Govs normally use referendums as a way of securing direct consent for major policies they want to introduce – EG devolution by Blair in the late 1990s – Blair was confident his gov would win the three votes – he was right
2) If a gov supports one side of the referendum debate, it will be placed in a tricky situation if it loses as it will be a severe blow to its authority – EG Cameron resigning after the Brexit vote didn’t go his way – wider result was a complete change in the gov’s stance on Europe and many ministers losing their positions or resigning

Question 24

How did the 2014 Independence referendum boost the SNP and what has happened since then to affect this?

Answer 24

• 2014 Scottish Independence vote did go the way of the UK gov
• However the closeness of the referendum (44.7%-55.3%) did boost the SNP
• Since then, Scotland voted 62% to stay in the EU – but Scotland were dragged out as part of the wider UK
• This renewed calls for a second independence referendum, a call which has been only fuelled further by Covid and UK gov crises in recent years

Question 25

What happened in 2021 and since to affect the chances of Scottish independence?

Answer 25

• SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was denied a referendum by the UK SC in 2021 without the consent of Westminster
• It is highly doubtful that any UK gov will grant this as it will almost certainly result in Scotland leaving the UK
• Also Sturgeon resigned as leader of the SNP after scandal surrounding her husband - could affect voters’ views on the party at the ballot box

Question 26

Arguments for referendums (4)

Answer 26

• Referendums are the purest form of democracy – uncorrupted by the filter of representative democracy – they demonstrate the pure will of the people
• Referendums can mend rifts in society EG 1998 Belfast Agreement referendum
• Referendums can solve conflict within the political system and solve crises – EG EU referendums in 1975 and 2016
• Referendums are especially important when the expressed consent of the people is important so that the decision will be respected EG 1997 devolution votes

Question 27

Arguments against referendums (4)

Answer 27

• The people may not be able to understand the complexities of an issue EG the consequences of leaving the EU or adopting a new electoral system
• Referendums can cause social rifts EG 2014 Scottish Independence referendum and 2016 Brexit
• A referendum can represent the ‘tyranny of the majority’ – the majority that wins can use the victory to force the minority to accept the change – EG 2014 Scotland and 2016 Brexit – Scots who voted to stay in the EU in 2016 claimed they were being tyrannised by the English majority
• Voters may be swayed by emotion rather than rational appeals – could also be influenced by false information (Brexit??)