Referendums have a positive impact on D+P

Thesis Point 1 - Increases political education

Campaigns in the run-up peak interest = more info and knowledge. In the 2011 AV referendum David Cameron headed the NO campaign by posting YouTube videos outlining why FPTP should be retained instead of AV. Having such a large profile campaign allowed voters to make a more informed and educated decision ,as the resounding result was 67.9% in favour of retaining FPTP.

Anti-Thesis Point 1 - remove accountability for the Govt

goes against the principle of a representative democracy - ppl electing MPs cos they have more expertise. This undermines parliamentary sovereignty as the sole decision maker as it makes the government appear indecisive and inept. Cameron was criticised for Brexit cos it deflected responsibility to the public.

Thesis Point 2 - Increase political participation

in the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum turnout was around 84% and in the 2016 Brexit referendum turnout was around 72%.Can yield high turnout and participation because they offer the franchise the capability to have an effective input into the political system.

Anti-Thesis Point 2 - Voter turnout is inconsistent

Skews the outcome of referendums and is unrepresentative of the public. The 2011 AV referendum, where the turnout was only 42% of the electorate. Low turnout can threaten the stability of UK democracy and politics if the outcome isn’t representative of the opinions of the majority of the nation.

Thesis Point 3 - Increase political representation

bypasses the limitations of representative democracy, and the faults of many feeling unrepresented by MPs due to FPTP’s disproportionality. Gives them a direct voice. 2014 Scottish Independence.

Anti-Thesis Point 3 - Oversimplifying complex issues leads to populism

Reduces it binary choices which fail to capture the nuances behind it = leads to voting on emotion and populist rhetoric (misleading claims and deepened political divisions across the UK like the "£350 million for the NHS" bus slogan/ 2016 changed from Yes or No to Leave or Remain)