Referendums

• Referendum statistics

  • 1975: Should the UK remain in the EEC = 67.2% YES.
  • 1998: Should the Belfast Agreement be implemented = 71.7% YES.
  • 2014: Should Scotland be an independent country = 55.3% NO.
• Advantages of referendums

  • Demonstrate the pure and popular will of the people.
  • Referendums can mend societal rifts, such as in Northern Ireland.
  • Referendums can resolve political questions, such as the UK's status within the EU.
  • Can serve as a 'litmus test' to gain the expressed consent of the people such as the devolution referendums in 1997.
  • Arguably voters are much more well-informed now due to social media and political education.
• Disadvantages of referendums

  • Voters lack the political knowledge to understand complex issues like leaving the EU.
  • Referendums can ignite social rifts; such as in Scotland after the failure of the 2014 IndyRef and the 2016 Brexit Referendum.
  • Excessive use of referendums can undermine representative democracy.
  • Referendums represent 'tyranny of the majority' ; in 2016, Scottish voters argued they were being taken out of EU against their will by the English majority.
  • Voters can be manipulated by the media and politicians by emotions.
  • Referendums reduce complex issues to binary questions.
• Advantages of representative democracy over referendums

  • Representatives more likely to adopt a rational approach to questions; many voters worried about immigrants harming 'British values' whereas MPs could weigh up the benefits of immigration.
  • Elected politicians have an army of expertise; MPs have advisers, think-tanks, pressure groups, and select committees to gain information whereas voters rely on the media which can be biased.
  • Elected representatives have to balance the interests of minority and majority; Ken Livingstone introduced congestion charge in 2003 taking into account many.