Referendums

Question 1

What was the turnout in the 1997 scottish devolution referendum?

Answer 1

74% yes

Question 2

What is a referendum?

Answer 2

They ask the electorate directly a question to establish which decision/direction the government should take on an issue. They are the purest form of democracy, known as direct democracy.

Question 3

How did Atlee describe referendums?

Answer 3

Alien to British tradition

Question 4

What do referendums enhance in democracy?

Answer 4

Popular sovereignty

Question 5

What is direct democracy?

Answer 5

Electorate has a say directly on issues affecting them.

Question 6

What type of issues are referendums held on?

Answer 6

Constitutional issues where the electorate should have a say because they impact their lives significantly

Question 7

What is popular sovereignty?

Answer 7

This is where the electorate can exercise sovereignty as they are the ones who have the power to elect representatives and decide on major issues by voting in referendums.

Question 8

The government doesn’t have to act on referendum results, why is this?

Answer 8

results are not legally binding as parliament is sovereign

Question 9

The government often does legitimise the outcome, how and why do they do this?

Answer 9

By voting for the outcome in parliament. They do not want to go against the democratic will of the people as that would be illegitimate. Delegate model of representation

Question 10

Why did the use of referendums increase significantly under Blair?

Answer 10

Democratisation agenda, enhancing participation in politics.

Question 11

What changes did the Elections Act 2022 bring in?

Answer 11

Photo ID required to vote, changed the electoral system for mayoral and PCC elections

Question 12

Why do governments hold elections?

Answer 12

To gain a mandate for changes they wish to make

Question 13

What is a mandate?

Answer 13

Having the permission (from the electorate) to govern/make decisions. Winning an election by a large margin provides a mandate, as does a clear decision from the electorate on a referendum

Question 14

1975 referendum, what was the issue? why was it held? what was the turnout and result? What did it allow Wilson to claim?

Answer 14

Membership of the EEC, division in the Lab party over EEC membership, 64% turnout, strong yes vote, Wilson claimed a mandate for decision to join EEC in 1972.

Question 15

1979 referendum, what was the issue? why was it held? what was the turnout and result? What was the issue ith the outcome?

Answer 15

Scottish devolution, Callaghan needed support of nationalists in the Commons as he lost majority, 64% turnout, 51% yes vote, but fell short of 40% threshold

Question 16

1997 Wales - issue, turnout, outcome, issues highlighted in this referendum?

Answer 16

Welsh devolution, 50% turnout, 50.3% yes vote, tyranny of the minority as 25% made decision to create a Welsh Assembly

Question 17

1997 Scotland - issue, turnout, outcome, issues highlighted in this referendum?

Answer 17

Scottish devolution, 60% turnout, 74% yes vote, two questions asked that were vague - should there be a new parliament, should it have tax varying powers? Unclear what electorate voted for/what tax varying powers would be

Question 18

1998 Northern Ireland - issue, turnout, outcome

Answer 18

Devolution to northern ireland after signing the Good Friday agreement. 81% turnout, 71% yes vote.

Question 19

1998 London - issue, turnout, outcome, issues highlighted in this referendum?

Answer 19

Creating a London assembly and mayor. 34% turnout, 72% yes vote, clear tyranny of minority

Question 20

2004 North East - issue, outcome, what was significant about this referendum?

Answer 20

North East assembly creation after democratisation agenda under New Labour. 79% no vote, clear vote from the electorate ended Labour’s plans for further devolution

Question 21

2008 Manchester - issue, outcome, issues highlighted?

Answer 21

Conegestion charge in Manchester, 78|% no vote, campaign was negatively impacted and the charge was painted as a tax to the electorate rather than funding for the region.

Question 22

2011 Alternative vote - issue, outcome, issues highlighted?

Answer 22

Compromise from the 2010 coalition however Lib Dems didn’t want AV as their PR system of choice. 42% turnout, 68% no vote. Negative campaign, voters used the referendum to express upset with LD after tuition fees promise was scrapped.

Question 23

2014 Scotland - issue, turnout, outcome, issues highlighted?

Answer 23

Scottish independence, all major leaders campaigned for the union, SNP and Scottish greens campaign against in favour of independence. 84% turnout, 55% no vote. Unclear what was offered,; independence, devo max, same relationship with around 1/3 wanting each. Neverendum, Indy has been raised since bvy SNP - won 56/59 seats in 2015 GE.

Question 24

what happened for the first time in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum? Give %

Answer 24

16 & 17 year olds can vote. 75% voted, 97% of those who did said they would vote again, boosting participation

Question 25

2016 Brexit - issue, turnout, outcome, issues highlighted?

Answer 25

Exiting the EU. 72%, 52% Leave. Issues with campaigns and fake news from both sides questioning the mandate from the Leave vote by some. Neverendums, opinion polls in Oct 2023 showed a majority would not vote for Brexit if 2nd referendum was held, referendums don't always solve constitutional issues

Question 26

Why was the 2016 referendum held?

Answer 26

Solve division in the Conservative party and prevent further defection to UKIP.

Question 27

what is a referendum?

Answer 27

an example of direct democracy where the electorate is asked a question directly to establish the government's stance on an issue

Question 28

what sort of issues are referendums held upon?

Answer 28

major constitutional issues which may affect the lives of all

Question 29

how many times have referendums been used in britain?

Answer 29

13, with only 4 of these being before New Labour in 1997

Question 30

why was there an increase in the frequency of referendums under new labour

Answer 30

part of their 1997 manifesto included democratisation policies such as devolution so the government hoped to gain consent for devolution in regions

Question 31

issue in 1975 EEC Referendum

Answer 31

Wilson's entering of the EEC through the European Communities Act proved divisive with 7 of his ministers threatening to resign so he held a referendum to gain permission from the people and a mandate to enter the EEC

Question 32

turnout of 1975 EEC Ref

Answer 32

63%

Question 33

result of 1975 EEC Ref

Answer 33

67% yes

Question 34

issue in 1979 Scottish Parliament Ref

Answer 34

James Callaghan was lacking in support so used the ref as a way to gain support from scottish nationalists going into the 1979 GE - set up a minimum 40% threshold

Question 35

turnout of 1979 Scottish Parliament Ref

Answer 35

64%

Question 36

result of 1979 Scottish Parliament Ref

Answer 36

52% yes - did not meet 40% threshold

Question 37

issue behind 1997 Welsh Devolution Ref

Answer 37

New Labour's 1997 manifesto included democratisation policies which they had a mandate to pursue due to their 179-seat majority so proposed a welsh assembly

Question 38

turnout for 1997 welsh devolution ref

Answer 38

a little over 50%

Question 39

result of 1997 welsh devolution ref

Answer 39

50.3% yes

Question 40

what is the 1997 welsh devolution ref a clear example of

Answer 40

tyranny of the minority 25% actually voted for Welsh devolution

Question 41

what was wrong with the question in the 1997 scottish devolution ref?

Answer 41

too vague: unclear what 'tax-varying powers' actually meant

Question 42

turnout of 1997 scottish devolution ref

Answer 42

60%

Question 43

result of 1997 scottish devolution ref

Answer 43

74.3% yes

Question 44

what was the issue behind the 1998 ni assembly referendum

Answer 44

came at the end of the troubles after the good friday agreement to solidify the peoples desire for the end of the fighting and entrench peace

Question 45

turnout of 1998 ni assembly ref

Answer 45

81%

Question 46

result of 1998 ni assembly ref

Answer 46

71% YES

Question 47

issue behind 2004 ne regional assembly ref

Answer 47

following previous success at devolution in the last 90s, new labour wished to expand further

Question 48

result of 2004 ne regional assembly referendum

Answer 48

79% no

Question 49

what does the 2004 ne regional assembly ref result show?

Answer 49

that referendums provide a clear voice to the people with the resounding 79% no vote.

Question 50

issue behind 2011 av ref

Answer 50

part of the coalition deal between cons and lib dems - lib dems hoped for electoral reform and campaigned on that promise

Question 51

turnout of 2011 av ref

Answer 51

42%

Question 52

result of 2011 av ref

Answer 52

67.9% no

Question 53

what is one reason why the no vote from 2011 av ref may have been so resounding?

Answer 53

public wanted to give nick clegg a 'bloody nose' over tuition promises which he went against

Question 54

what was the issue behind the 2014 indyref

Answer 54

cons wanted to calm scottish nationalism for a generation

Question 55

what made the 2014 indyref unclear?

Answer 55

many were unsure what they were voting for - devomax, staying the same, or leaving the union

Question 55

who was also allowed to vote in 2014 indyref and what impact did this have

Answer 55

16 and 17 y/o were also allowed to vote - 75% of them chose to vote and 97% said that they were likely to vote again in the future

Question 56

results of the YouGov poll about devomax

Answer 56

24% wanted independence, 33% wished to remain in the union, 36% wanted devomax

Question 57

turnout of 2014 indyref

Answer 57

84%

Question 58

result of 2014 indyref

Answer 58

55% remain in union

Question 59

did the 2014 indyref solve the issue the conservatives attempted to solve

Answer 59

arguably no - the next ge saw snp win most scottish seats of 56/59 when they campaigned on the eventual promise of scottish independence, showing independence to still be a popular idea with the electorate

Question 60

what were the issues of scottish independence coined as?

Answer 60

Neverendum, unclear what the increased powers looked like

Question 61

what did SNP pass in 2017 alongside help from Greens regarding independence

Answer 61

legislation for a second Indyref

Question 62

what issue was the 2016 brexit ref about

Answer 62

remaining or leving the EU - was legally non-binding but Cameron promised to honor the wishes of the people and follow through with the decision

Question 63

why did the Cons offer up the promise of a brexit ref

Answer 63

offered in their 2015 manifesto to gain back swaying tory support from voters who may have voted for UKIP instead - maintaining party base.

Question 64

who campaigned for which side in 2016 brexit ref

Answer 64

who campaigned for which side in 2016 Brexit ref Cons were allowed to campaign freely, with Johnson and Michael Gove championing the leave campaign. labour campaigned for remain, even though corbyn was a devout eurosceptic

Question 65

turnout of 2016 brexit ref

Answer 65

72%

Question 66

Brexit result

Answer 66

52% yes

Question 67

which age group was most and least likely to vote remain

Answer 67

73% of 18-24 y/o voted remain whereas only 40% of 65+ voted remain, showing clear ideological divides due to age

Question 68

which regions were most and least likely to vote remain

Answer 68

scotland had strong Remain (62%), rural areas with a larger older population were much more likely to vote leave, Red wall seats predominantly Leave

Question 69

What was the 2008 manchester referendum about?

Answer 69

Congestion charge

Question 70

What was the 2008 manchester referendum outcome?

Answer 70

78% no vote

Question 71

What issues did the 2008 manchester referendum highlight?

Answer 71

Campaigns - congestion charge was framed by the No campaign as an increase in taxation, and led to the region not securing vital funding for public transport.