Referendums

Question 1

What is a referendum?

Answer 1

A yes or no vote handed to the public

Question 2

When have the Scotish referendums taken place?

Answer 2

1997 to create a Scottish parliament. 74% voted yes, 26% no, turn out 60%

Question 3

When was the referendum for Scottish independence?

Answer 3

2014

Question 4

How did the Scots vote for independence>

Answer 4

45% yes, 55% no, 85% turnout

Question 5

When did Wales vote to create a WElsh parliament?

Answer 5

1997

Question 6

How did Wales vote for the WElsh parliament?

Answer 6

50.3% yes, 49.7% no, turnout 60%

Question 7

When was the referendum for the Good Friday agreement?

Answer 7

1998

Question 8

How did N Ireland vote for the Good Friday agreement?

Answer 8

71% yes, 20% no. Turnout 81%

Question 9

When did London vote to create a London mayor?

Answer 9

1998

Question 10

How did London vote to create a London Mayor

Answer 10

72% yes, 28% no. Turnout 34%

Question 11

what did Wales vote for in 2019?

Answer 11

More devolved powers

Question 12

How many voted?

Answer 12

64% voted yes, 36% voted no and the turn out was 36%

Question 13

When did the UK have a referndum on whether to replce FPTP with AV

Answer 13

2011

Question 14

What were the votes when the UK had a referndum on whether to replce FPTP with AV

Answer 14

Yes 32%, No 68%, 42% turnout

Question 15

When did Scotland have the referendum for Scottish independence?

Answer 15

2014

Question 16

What were the votes when Scotland have the referendum for Scottish independence?

Answer 16

Yes 45%, No 50% and 85% turnout

Question 17

When did the UK have a referendum on the EU?

Answer 17

2016

Question 18

How did people vote in the EU referendum?

Answer 18

Leave 52%, Remain 48% and turnout 72%

Question 19

Why are refererendums held?

Answer 19

Public pressure e.g Scottish independence
To resolve controversial /divisive issues e.g EU - was a source of division in the Con party and wider public
Part of an agreement with political parties e.g the conservatives agreed to the AV referendum as part of their coalition with the Lib Dems
To legitimise constitutional changee,g extending devolution to Wals

Question 20

Are referenums advisory?

Answer 20

In the UK the result of UK referendums are not legally binding as parliament alwasy remains sovereign. So in theory any referendum can be overturned
The 2017 court case of Gina Miller v Secretary of state for exiting the EU the supreme court ruled that the govt could not trigger article 50 without parliamentary approval, The case was controversial becasue the govt was under pressure to abide by the result giving the oublic a choice and then ignoring the outcome lacks legitimacy

Question 21

What are the arguments or repeating a referendum?

Answer 21

A change in public opinion or circumstance
It is a democratic right - the people are sovereign and deserve another vote/to change their minds
Can provide more legitimacy to the final outcome esp if the first vote was close or controversial e.g claims that voters were misled over Brexit

Question 22

What are the arguments against repeatinga refererendum?

Answer 22

It goes against the democracy process
Can create too much uncertainty especially if the result is close
Referendums are costly financially and in terms of political resources

Question 23

What are the arguments that referendums are good for the UK?

Answer 23

Encourage participation and eductation . They have a higer turnout than general elections
They provide a final say on topics that parliament cannot agree on
The electoral commission can oversee and regulate the referendum
They ensure that govt policy refelcts the will of the people
Give people an opportunity to express their views between general elections
The results have mainly be successfully implemented e.g devolved parliaments
Parliament remains sovereaign and can decide how to implment the outcome

Question 24

Why are referendums bad for the UK?

Answer 24

The turnout has been low e.g in the AV referendum 42% turned out undermining legitimacy of the decision
Close results are divisive as with Brexit and Scottish devolution
Campaigns have been misleading leading some to question the results
The govt decides when to call the election giving them more power
They undermine representative democracy stopping MPs from acting in the interests of the electorate
The issues raised are too complex for voters to make an informed decision
Parliamentary sovereignity is undermined as there is major pressure from the govt to honour the result