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Evaluate the view that referendums enhance democracy A* essay plan

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Evaluate the view that referendums enhance democracy A* essay plan. UK Government Politics Edexcel A Level.

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  • July 16, 2023
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Evaluate the view that referendums enhance democracy

Thesis – they do enhance democracy

Point 1 – direct democracy – purest form of democracy, direct voice of the people + encourages political
participation and engagement
 2014 Scottish Independence referendum: 84%
 2016 EU Referendum: 72%
 The last UK general election to have turnout this high was in 1950 (83.9%)
 Holding of referendums between GE gives the people an opportunity to have their say more
frequently, preventing the government from becoming remote an unaccountable
 They are a check on 'elective dictatorships'
 Turnout low in GE: voters living in safe seats + supporters of third parties, are unheard
 Few people join political parties because members have little influence over policy decisions and
candidate selection
 In contrast, referendums give everyone an equal voice, without concerns about broken manifesto
promises or wasted votes

COUNTER – not always high turnout, not a good mandate
 1997 Welsh Assembly referendum – low turnout of 50.1%
 ‘Yes’ campaign won by the extremely narrow majority of 50.3%
 Only 1/4 of the electorate endorsed this substantial constitutional reform
 Should London have an elected mayor? -> turnout of 34%
 Referendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ‘yes’/’no’ vote – too
uninformed, regretting their choices

LINK – referendums often provide a strong popular mandate on controversial topics + educational
 Alternative Vote referendum in 2011 produced a clear ‘no’ majority (67.9%), which proved that there
is no need to change the Westminster electoral system
 Referendums increase participation, increases political awareness around important constitutional
issues: 2014 Scottish one praised for giving opportunity to air issues related to independence, like
impact on economy and future of Trident
 No need for tactical voting


Point 2 – Referendums can settle controversial issues in a more decisive way than Parliament could alone
 2011 Welsh Devolution Referendum had a decisive decision of 63.49% for yes – a clear majority
 North East England devolution referendum, 2004: 77% no – issue has been settled with a clear
majority
 By comparison, the controversial Lisbon Treaty, which made substantial changes to our relationship
with the EU, wasn’t approved with a referendum and was challenged + criticised ever since

COUNTER – Referendums don’t provide a resolution to highly divisive issues
 The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 serves as a prime example
 Despite the highest turnout (84.6%) since universal suffrage was introduced in 1928 and a clear
majority (55.3%) voting ‘no’, the movement for Scottish independence continues to thrive
 The SNP even built their 2017 election campaign on the promise of a second referendum – led the
press to dub the whole process as a ‘neverendum’

LINK – referendums still give the electorate a say in big constitutional issues, referendums can’t solve things
straight away but can help things evolve, aiding democracy
 When the first referendum was defeated, Westminster introduced another one due to popular
support
 Referendums on creating a Scottish Parliament and Welsh Parliament were both defeated in 1979 –
didn’t settle issue
 Referendums were held again in 1997 and this time the devolution plans were approved. But again,
this did not settle the issue – Wales still fighting for more power

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