referendums

Question 1

positives of referendums

Answer 1

• check on elective dictatorship
• involve the people:direct democracy; Swtizerland
• give legitimacy to key reforms
• increase awareness/education

Question 2

negatives of referndums

Answer 2

• indicate representative system is failing
• challenge P sovereignty
• opportunity to mislead
• tool to defuse opposition/resolve division in party
• held in the parties interest rather than peoples

Question 3

potential reforms to referendum use

Answer 3

• higher majority threshold required
• higher turnout requires
• 2 stage referendum

Question 4

which body exposed misleading of Brexit campaign

Answer 4

Electoral Commission (est. PPERA 2000)

Question 5

when has a referendum sorted internal party divison

Answer 5

1975 (first ever referendum) on EEC membership

2016 - Brexit

Question 6

referendums in Scotland

Answer 6

(devolution)
1979 - Scotland - no
1997 - Scotland - yes
(independence)
2014 - no (55%)

Question 7

referendums in Wales

Answer 7

1979 - NO (79%)
1997 - yes (50.03)
2011 - yes - legislative powers

Question 8

referendums in Northern Ireland

Answer 8

1979 - Border Poll … Should Northern Ireland remain in the UK or join the Republic of Ireland?
99% yes (boycotted by nationalists)

1998 - Good Friday Agreement - turnout 80%
yes - 70%

Question 9

local use of referendums

Answer 9

1998 - Greater London Authority

2005 - Edinbrugh congestion charge

Question 10

AV ref

Answer 10

2011
turnout - 42%
no - 68%

appeased Clegg in coaliton, subject to lack of promotion, large parties argued against

Question 11

Scottish indpendence ref

Answer 11

2014
turnout - 85%
no - 55%
“Better together” - Cameron

Question 12

Brexit ref

Answer 12

2016
48 / 52 %%%
appeased UKIP
promised in the 2015 manifesto, tho purely advisory

76% MPs supported remain

Question 13

popular issues of Brexit

Answer 13

’ Take back control ‘

• immigration
• national sovereignty
• membership fees