Referendums - Case Studies

Question 1

Party Opinions on Brexit

Answer 1

• Despite Brexit not being a central discussion point in the 2024 election, people’s current position on Brexit is still associated with their political party support.
• Labour: under Corbyn - Remain, under Starmer - Leave
• Tory: Leave

Question 2

Party Alignement with Brexit

Answer 2

• This has become more marked among those who support leaving the EU, with 65% (up from 53% in 2016) supporting the Conservatives and Reform in 2023
• Compared to only 18% (down from 30% in 2016) supporting Labour, the Liberal Democrats or the Green Party.

Question 3

Outcome of Brexit

Answer 3

• Leave had won a victory gaining 51.9 percent of the votes.
• Throughout England and Wales the leave vote was victorious, with London being the only region where there were more remain voters.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland, the reverse was true, giving fresh impetus to the question of Scottish Independence.
• A majority of 18 to 24-year-old’s had also voted to remain in the European Union, with older voters more likely to have voted to leave.

Question 4

Economic Impacts/Costs of Brexit

Answer 4

• Brexit cost the Uk about £140 billion to go through with, with a further cost of nearly £130 million being spent of the referendum itself.
• EU membership, in contrast, costs about £19 billion a year and came with many benefits like free travel between EU countries and the EU common market., both of which can save or make money for the UK.
• London’s economy has shrunk by more than £30 billion.
• The average British citizen was nearly £2,000 worse off in 2023, while the average Londoner was nearly £3,400 worse off last year as a result of Brexit costs.

Question 5

Labour Impacts of Brexit

Answer 5

• The UK has been suffering from a labour shortage because it’s a lot harder for international workers from the EU to come because of travel restrictions.
• Can remove the protections and directives protecting rights and privileges like the self-employment that is protected under the Equal Treatment Directive

Question 6

Party Alignement with the 2011 AV Referendum

Answer 6

• Most of the Conservative Party did not want the Additional Voting System to replace First Past The Post. This is because it would disrupt the UK’s Two-Party system. In addition many Labour MP’s were reluctant to vote for the AV system as it would upset the status quo.
• The referendum was proposed by Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg after the coalition government formed following the 2010 General Election.

Question 7

Outcome of 2011 AV

Answer 7

• Only 42% of voters decided to vote in this referendum with 67.9% of voters arguing that FPTP should stay on as the voting system used in UK General Elections.

Question 8

Political Impacts of the AV Referendum

Answer 8

• This referendum was a key catalyst in the eventual downfall of the Liberal Democrats, losing 49 out of their 57 seats in the 2015 General Election.
• In addition this referendum also led to the vilification of Nick Clegg as he became a hated figure in UK politics and would lose his seat in the 2019 election

Question 9

Economic Impacts of the AV Referendum

Answer 9

Both the “Yes” and “No” campaigns had a combined total cost of £5.68 million.

Question 10

Turnout and Outcome - Scottish Ref

Answer 10

• Turnout - 84.59%
• NO - 55.3%