Impact of Referendums Flashcards
impact of referendums:
Governments should not call a referendum unless they are confident about what the answer will be
impact of referendums:
Referendums secure direct consent from the public giving the needed backing and support for policies so they can be introduced without delay and be supported wholeheartedly
as seen in the votes for devolution of power to Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland in the late 1990s which were policies from labour that needed confirmation from referendums
This confirmation was achieved — for example in 1997 around 75% of people voted for powers to be devolved to Scotland
impact of referendums:
If a government supports one side of a referendum debate it will be placed in a difficult position if it loses the debate it is a severe blow to authority
which was seen in the 2016 EU referendum held by Cameron who campaigned to remain but lost and soon resigned
Many ministers also lost their positions as the government’s position and stance on Europe changed
It also impacted the Labour Party as Corbin lost the support of many of the parties MPs largely because he campaign so poorly in favour of remaining in the EU
impact of referendums:
The 2014 Scottish independence referendum had a major impact on the politics of devolution
The closeness of the outcome was a huge boost to the SNP, resulting in a major shift of power to Edinburgh
but in 2016 62% of Scots voted to remain in the EU and so are demanding a second referendum on Scottish independence so they can choose to stay in the EU
impact of referendums:
Referendums promote political change and also remove policies from the immediate political agenda once they have been decisively rejected
For example the 2011 alternative vote referendum
in what ways do referendums undermine the concept of representative democracy?
Representative democracy may be a better way to reach decisions because representatives are more likely to adopt a rational approach instead of letting emotions answer questions and cloud their judgement
For example in the 2016 EU referendum many people voted to leave because of fears and concerns of immigration and were responding to appeals to their ’patriotism’ and the perceived dangers to ‘British values’
Many also voted to leave in protest of the Cameron government as he campaigned to remain
Representatives would have weighed the costs and benefits of immigration to the UK in order to reach a more informed decision, not one based on emotion and personal prejudice
in what ways do referendums undermine the concept of representative democracy?
Representatives also have more information and knowledge to help them make decisions as well as advisors to ensure that the information that they base their judgement on is accurate
But the public has to rely on the media (print, broadcast, social) which is conflicting dubious and often inaccurate
This was also a problem in the EU referendum
in what ways do referendums undermine the concept of representative democracy?
Representatives have to concern themselves with both the interests of the majority and the minority while voters tend to look out for their own interests
For example people in Manchester and Edinburgh voted against congestion charges on motorists entering the city centre
Whereas congestion charges were introduced in London by the elected mayor in 2003 (Ken Livingstone) because he took into account the interests of motorists public transport users and the wider population in terms of air pollution
in what ways do referendums undermine the concept of representative democracy?
Elected representatives have better judgement than the public which is why referendums (a form of direct democracy) undermine representative democracy
It is the role of representatives to make decisions because they have more knowledge and will take into account a variety of views to reach the best decision
whereas voters often lack the correct information to make a rational decision
