Referendums in the UK

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Referendums in the UK

  1. Source A illustrates the fact that UK referendums have typically been on issues of constitutional importance – a Parliament with taxing powers for Scotland, a Welsh assembly and a Major and Assembly for London.

There has also been a referendum on a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland. In the past there have been referendums on devolution in Scotland and Northern Ireland and, most controversially on Britain’s withdrawal from the ECC. Referendums can also be used to resolve issues which, whilst being of constitutional significance are matters which divide parties. Europe is such an issue which is why Tony Blair is promising a referendum on the single currency (when the government will recommend entry). He did promise a referendum on electoral reform, also a matter of constitutional change.

  1. There are many reasons for and against referendums. Supporters of the use of referendums have made the following points in their favour. First, they encourage political participation which, as shown by the lowest turnout ever in the 2001 election (at 59% - the lowest since 1918), is in dire crisis. Referendums also act as an education devise and mobilise consent, interesting the public which will also increase the turnout. Secondly, referendums provide a single answer to a specific question that the Government cannot answer with a majority vote of the commons and thirdly, referendums can strengthen the constitution when they are used as a means of confirming changes in the way we are governed. Not only are the public consulted on their views before changes are made but referendums are a way of exercising direct democracy within a system of representative democracy.

                Against this, however, opponents of referendums have used the following arguments. First, their use undermines the sovereignty of Parliament. After all, the people vote for their representatives at elections, and by doing so, they pass responsibility for decision making onto these representatives. Since the people’s consent is given to the party of government at election time, there is no need to hold referendums between elections. Secondly, the phrasing of the question is very important. If the government chooses the wording it might well be able to determine the outcome it desires. Voters lacking sufficient judgement would be unable to comprehend the difference. Lastly, there is the problem of public apathy. Low turnout might mean that the result of a referendum lacks credibility, and potentially lack of conform to the result. The more referendums that are held the lower the turnout is likely to be since people tend to suffer from voting fatigue.

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  1. In September 1997 the Scottish people voted in a referendum to back the setting up of a devolved Scottish Parliament, with a new voting system, of the Additional member system. Using this system the country was divided into single member constituencies and into regions. The same number of representatives is elected by each. Voters have two votes – one for a constituency candidate and one for a party. In each constituency, a candidate is elected by a simple majority. The remaining seats are then allocated from regional party lists of candidates on a proportional basis. The share of ...

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