Democracy and Participation Examples

Question 1

Referendums Weakness?

Answer 1

Low participation
- 1997 Welsh Devolution: 50% Turnout
- 2011 AV: 42% Turnout (68% No, 32% Yes)

Undermines representatives
- Parties and MPs favoured EU during the Brexit referendum: 75% of all MPs campaigned for Remain (including 56% of Conservative MPs)

Results not clear enough
- 2014 Scottish Independence: 55% No, 45% Yes (85% Turnout)
- 2016 Brexit: 52% Leave, 48% Remain (72% Turnout)

Question 2

1997 Devolution Results

Answer 2

Welsh: 50.3% Yes, 49.7% No
Scottish: 74% Yes, 26% No

Question 3

E-petitions

Answer 3

• 2020, End Child Food Poverty: received 1.1 mil signatures, government responded with new policy to address the issue
• 2022, to call early General Election: received 900,000 signatures, topic debated but Government refused action

Question 4

Recall and By Election Example

Answer 4

Peter Bone (Conservative until 2023)
- Following allegations of bullying and sexual harassment, recall petition was successful with over 10,000 signatures an example of direct democracy
- 2024 Wellingborough by-election, Labour candidate Gen Kitchen won with 46% of the vote (Turnout was 38%)

Question 5

2024 Local Elections

Answer 5

Councillors
- Labour 1,158
- Lib Dem 522
- Conservative 515
- Green 181

Influence of Small Parties
- 3 Yorkshire party councillors in East Riding Council, they campaign for devolution for Yorkshire

Low Turnout
- Dudley Council election turnout was 32%

Question 6

Turnout Trends

Answer 6

Increasing gradually, 2001: 59%, 2019: 67%, but still lower than 20th century turnouts - 1992: 78%

Question 7

2024 Rochdale by-election

Answer 7

• Took place after death of Labour MP Tony Lloyd
• George Galloway of the Worker’s Party of Britain won with 40% of the vote beating Labour and Conservative candidates
• Turnout of 40%