Debates over referendums

Question 1

Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 1

As a form of direct democracy, referendums conflict with Parliamentary sovereignty of representative democracy.
Seen in EU referendum, where the vast majority of Parlaiment supported Remain, whilst majority of electorate voted Leave, leading to complications in the passage of Brexit through parliament

Question 2

Political engagement

Answer 2

Recent referendums have had high turnouts, reflecting how they have engaged the population in politics when there is increasing dissatisfaction with political class in Westminster

Question 3

Referendums improve democracy

Answer 3

-Prevents ‘elective dictatorships’
-Often called due to public pressure and can reorient politics to issues important to the population

Question 4

Referendums legitimacy

Answer 4

Referendums settle and entrench reforms, as in the Good Friday Agreement.

Question 5

Political awareness

Answer 5

Referendums raise voters’ political awareness, e.g. Scottish Independence gave opportunity to air a wide range of issues relating to independence

Question 6

Referendums well regulated

Answer 6

The conduct of referendums has been subject to Independent supervision by the Electoral Commission since 2000. Expenditure on both sides and wording is subject to review by an independent body

Question 7

Referendums ordinary people

Answer 7

Referendums that ordinary people lack the expetise to make decisions on complex issues which are presented as simple by referendum questions
Can easily be misled by campaigns and political leaders
-2016 Electoral Commission found that the arguments used by leaders of both campaigns included a degree of disortion, and that there should be greater regulation of referendum campaigns; e.g. the level of EU immigration overstated by Leave campaign

Question 8

Referendums popular participation

Answer 8

Low turnout has been the norm, with the EU and Scottish referendums being the exceptions. Limits legitimacy of decision, as seen with the <50% turnout for the Welsh devolution referendum.

Question 9

Potential reforms

Answer 9

-Greater thresholds for constitutionall changes, use of a 55% threshold or a 2 stage referendum
-Greater use of referendums as in Switzerland, so the people play a more active role
-Regulating when referendums can be called, limits them being used for party political reasons