UK Politics 3.2 - Referendums And How They Are Used

Question 1

Eu referendum result

Answer 1

52% leave 48% stay

Question 2

3 impacts of Brexit referendum

Answer 2

1) national divisions
2) left EU in January 2019
3) Fall of the Red Wall

Question 3

Result of the 2011 Wales Devolution Referendum ‘Should Wales have full law making capability’

Answer 3

63% yes 36% no

Question 4

2 impacts of wales referendum

Answer 4

1) power to make primary legislation
2) strengthened wales devolution

Question 5

What was the 2023 NI protocol ‘referendum’

Answer 5

A series of local council votes that measured support for the Windsor framework which changed elements of the protocol (basically an agreement that NI keep EU regulations to ensure relation w rest of Ireland) - NOT LEGALLY BINDING

Question 6

4 reasons referendums are held

Answer 6

1) give legitimacy to constitutional changes

2) resolves internal government disputes

3) as a result of deals between parties - AV coalition referendum

4) public and parliamentary pressure

Question 7

3 impacts/ effects of referendums

Answer 7

1) Direct democracy conflicts with Parliamentary Sovereignty and representative democracy

2) High turnout to referendums reflects dissatisfaction with Westminster

3) Deeply divisive (Brexit)

Question 8

3 Pros of referendums

Answer 8

1) includes people in key decision making creating a check on ‘elective dictatorship’
2) gives legitimacy to and entrenches key reforms
3) increases political awareness

Question 9

3 cons of referendums

Answer 9

1) Challenges Parliamentary sovereignty and representative democracy
2) Often held for political reasons
3) Results influenced by general dissatisfaction

Question 10

3 potential reforms to referendums

Answer 10

1) Use more often
2) Greater threshold to implement change - more than simple majority
3) Regulation of when that are held