Advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy

Advantage: What was the ratio for the 2016 eu referedum

52:48 win by 3 million votes. Clearest form of democracy and people’s voice is clearly heard

Advantage: 1975 eu referendum

The labour gov was split and PM Harold Wilson wanted to break the deadlock, so can avoid delay and deadlock within the political system

Advantage: 1999 NI referendum

1999 NI referendum on the peace deal. This was accepted by both sides and created peace. So this gives great legitimacy due to the fact that people are making the decision

Advantage: Scottish referendum

Scottish referendum had an 85% turnout which means it improves participation

Advantage: Scottish referendum 16 and 17 year olds

In every election since 16 and 17 year olds voted their turnout has been higher ever since and it improves political engagement and education

Disadvantage: Turnout for welsh devolution

50.1% and 49.9% this referendum result was extremely close and hard to distinguish winning side

Disadvantage: ‘Hard Brexit’ from referendum

Result was just 52:48 but UK still ended up with ‘Hard Brexit’. Leads to ‘tyranny of the majority’ whereby the winning side simply ignores the interests of the loser

Disadvantage: Misinformation in EU referendum

It was advertised by leave campaign that they would give 350 million to the NHS which never happened so people can be easily swayed by short term emotional appeals

Disadvantage: 2011 AV referendum

The AV referendum proved that the public didn’t understand what AV was so some issues are far too complex for the public to understand

Disadvantage: Article 50 and parliamentary sovereignty

Majority of MPs wanted to remain but they triggered Article 50 in order to be in favour of the public and went with leave. Refs undermine parliamentary sovereignty

Disadvantage: Brexit chaos with numerous MPs

From 2016-2022 there were 6PMs in 6 years and Brexit destabilised UK politics. Harmed the conservative party and led to rise of Reform UK

What did Margaret Thatcher (Conservative former PM) say about referendums

‘They are used by dictators and demagogues’

What did Clement Attlee (Labour former PM) call referendums

‘A device alien to the British Constitution’