Democracy And Participtation - Direct Democracy

Question 1

2016 EU Referendum (Brexit)

Answer 1

• Should the UK remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?
Result: 52% Leave, 48% Remain.
• Turnout: 72.2%
• Major constitutional change decided directly by the people. It led to the UK leaving the EU in 2020.

Question 2

2011 Alternative Vote Referendum

Answer 2

• Should the UK adopt the Alternative Vote system for general elections?
Result: 68% No, 32% Yes.
• Turnout: 42%
• Rejected electoral reform, keeping First Past the Post.

Question 3

1998 Good Friday Agreement Referendum (Northern Ireland)

Answer 3

• Do you support the multi-party agreement?
Result: 71.1% Yes
• Turnout: 81%
• Approved the peace agreement and power-sharing arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Question 4

1997 Scottish Devolution Referendum

Answer 4

• Should there be a Scottish Parliament?
• Should it have tax-varying powers?
Result: Yes to both.
• Led to the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Question 5

6. 1997 Welsh Devolution Referendum

Answer 5

• Should there be a Welsh Assembly?
Result: 50.3% Yes.
• Very narrow victory. Established Welsh devolution.

Question 6

1998 Greater London Authority Referendum

Answer 6

• Should there be a Mayor and Assembly for London?
Result: 72% Yes
• Turnout: 34%
• Created the Greater London Authority and the elected position of London Mayor. Boosted regional democracy in England.

Question 7

2004 North East England Devolution Referendum

Answer 7

• Should there be an elected regional assembly?
Result: 78% No.
• Strong rejection halted plans for English regional devolution.

Question 8

2011 Welsh Referendum on Assembly Powers

Answer 8

• Should the Welsh Assembly gain more primary legislative powers?
Result: 63.5% Yes.
• Increased legislative autonomy for Wales.

Question 9

2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

Answer 9

• Should Scotland be an independent country?
Result: 55.3% No, 44.7% Yes
• Turnout: 84.6%
• Settled (for now) the independence question. Huge public engagement. Raised issues about future referendums and political mandates. (16 year olds could vote).

Question 10

2019 petition to Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU gained over 6 million signatures.

Answer 10

• If an official petition receives over 100,000 signatures, it is considered for debate in Parliament.
• Although not binding, this is a modern form of direct democratic input into the legislative process.

Question 11

Recall of MPs act 2015

Answer 11

If an MP has been convicted of a criminal offence which would make them eligible for recall, they are not subject to recall until all of their appeals have been exhausted. In such a case, the courts are obliged to inform the Speaker of any progress made during the appeal.

Once one of the conditions outlined in the act is fulfilled, the Speaker informs the petitions officer of the constituency; in most cases this would be the returning officer or acting returning officer. The petitions officer is then required to make the practical arrangements for the petition so as to open the proceedings within ten working days after the Speaker’s notification. This involves selecting up to ten signing locations where petitioners can sign in person, in a similar manner to election polling stations. As with votes in elections, voters are able to sign via post or proxy.Campaigning for or against recalling the MP is regulated by spending restrictions