In what ways is UK democracy in need of reform?

Question 1

What is the democratic deficit?

Answer 1

• a perceived deficiency in the way a particular body works, especially in terms of accountability & control over policy making
• i.e. some would argue there is a gap between what we expect of our democracy & how it actually operates

Question 2

What strengths are there to the democratic system in the UK?

Answer 2

• free, fair elections + referendums
• wide range of parties & pressure groups
• devolution
• independent judiciary (linked to civil liberties)
• free media/free press

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of the democratic system in the UK?

Answer 3

• arguments against voting age (i.e. should be reduced to 16)
• votes not representative
• lack of accountability for politicians (via the ministerial code)
• the risk of extremist parties
• the “unfair” voting system used in UK general elections
• House of Lords
• low voter turnout - this links to “the participation crisis”
• media is dominated by a handful of wealthy people
• lack of citizens rights
• under-representation of minorities

Question 4

How could we improve democracy in the UK?

Answer 4

• implement proportional representation
• lower to voting age to 16
• limit the amount of public spending each party receives in order to give smaller parties a chance of success
• further devolution
• House of Lords reform
• Reform of Westminster electoral system

Question 5

Describe arguments for people’s referendums

Answer 5

1) the idea for more referendums comes from the complaints that politicians are insufficiently accountable to the public. in this sense, a greater use of direct democracy is an appropriate measure in order for the people themselves to make choices

2) currently, referendums are called by the government when it decides that the people need to legitimise an important decision e.g. Brexit. consequently, critics claim that the public are being asked to vote on issues only when the government wants them to

Question 6

Arguments for people’s referendums: how has this been implemented?

Answer 6

1) according to the constitution of the Republic of Ireland (1937), any proposed constitutional change has to be endorsed by the public in a referendum. therefore, the legalisation of same-sex marriage (2015) & abortion (2018), were both endorsed by the public in a referendum
2) in Switzerland, if 100,000 citizens sign a petition demanding a new law then this must lead to a referendum. additionally, a referendum on whether to accept a law that the legislature has passed can also be held if 50,000 signatures are secured. supporters claim that this gives Swiss voters unparalleled influence over their lives & in turn could provide a powerful way of reinvigorating UK democracy

Question 7

Describe arguments against people’s referendums

Answer 7

1) the Irish model can lead to democratic overloads. for example, from 2000 to 2022, Ireland has had 19 referendums. the average turnout has been only 48.4% (compared with the 67.3% turnout in the 2019 UK general election), which hardly suggests that referendums have energised democracy. equally, some of the referendums, such as whether the age limit for presidential candidates should be reduced to 21 (2015), could be seen as insufficiently urgent for a public debate
2) critics claim that the Swiss model could create a conflict between the immediate priorities of the public & the long-term objectives of government

Question 8

How does the Swiss voting model show that people’s referendum are not effective?

Answer 8

• in 2021, Swiss voters rejected the government’s proposals for new green taxes to help it meet its Paris Treaty carbon commitments, leaving its environmental policies in disarray
• referendums are also a majoritarian form of democracy with no safeguards for the rights of minorities
• in 2009, the building of minarets (part of a mosque) in Switzerland was legally banned as a result of a referendum, & in 2021, a ban on face coverings in public was endorsed in another referendum, which then became law
• we need to be cautious about extending the use of referendums since they have the potential to be used in a divisive & populist fashion that could undermine rather than enhance liberal democracy