Devices of direct democracy in the UK

7 devices of direct democracy used in the UK

1. Referendums

2. E-petitions

3. Consultative exercises

4. Open primaries

5. Political party leadership elections

6. 2015 Recall of MPs Act

7. Citizen’s jury

Referendums - usage and 2 examples

• Allow public to directly express views on single issues

• 2014

  • Scottish independence

• 2016

  • Brexit

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 independence Y/N

44.7/55.3

Brexit Y/N

52/48

Referendums - 2 advantages

1. Settle controversial issues

2. More legitimate decision due to public having voted directly

Referendums - 2 disadvantages

1. Needs detailed understanding of issue, often lacked by public

2. Don’t conclusively resolve contentious issues

   1. Brexit and Scottish independence are still debates today

E-Petitions - requirements for engagement + example

• If a petition on the govt website reaches 100 000 signatures, it’ll be considered for a debate in Westminster Hall or the HoC

  • Doesn’t guarantee legislation, but Plmt have to engage with issues felt strongly by the public

• 2021

  • E-petitions raised issues like making it a legal requirement for nightclubs to search guests on entry

E-petitions - advantage + example

• Publicity important to inform and progress public debate

• 2020

  • Rashford 1.1m+ signatures to end child poverty

  • Govt commited to FSM for low-income families during school holidays

E-petitions - disadvantage + 2 examples

• Can raise false expectations or consume Plmtary time

• 1m+ signatures to revoke Blair’s knighthood

  • Cannot be done as bestowed by the Monarch

• 2019 - 6.1m signatures to stop Article 50 being revoked

  • Plmt will not legislate

Consultative exercises - usage + 2 examples

• Governing bodies want to assess likely reaction to their proposed policies

• Affected communities consulted re.

  • Heathrow expansion

  • HS2

Consultative exercises - advantage

• Important to engage with public on directly-affecting issues

Consultative exercises - 2 disadvantages

1. Not binding

2. Unrepresentative - those most in need and most socially disadvantaged least likely to engage

Open primaries - explanation, intention, 3 examples

• Public directly decides the candidate

• Encouraged by Cameron to open up politics

1. 2009 - Sarah Woolaston first Tory candidate to be selected by OP - was very independently minded and later joined the Lib Dems

2. 2015 GE - 13 Tory candidates selected by OP

3. 2019 GE - 1 Tory candidate selected by OP

Open primaries - both advantage and disadvantage

• Public’s direct influence over candidates means those less closely affiliated with parties more likely to enter politics

Political party leadership election - usage and importance

• All main parties allow members to decide leader

• Important as could decide next PM

2022 - Truss/Sunak

57/43

2020 - Starmer’s total vote share

56%

Political partiy leadership election - advantage

• Leadership acountable to whole party (esp. in Labour as both a politicial party and popular movement)

Political partiy leadership election - disadvantage + 2 examples

• Too much influence to party activists (more radical than electorate)

1. 2016 - Corbyn re-elected as leader by 61.8% of members despite previous no confidence vote of 172/40 votes

2. Truss popular with members but incredibly divisive among MPs, only spent 45 days in office

2015 Recall of MPs Act - explanation

• Constituents can trigger a by-election if their MP has been imprisioned/suspended from the HoC/convicted of making false expenses claims

• Has to have a petition signed by a minimum of 10% of their constituents

2015 Recall of MPs Act - 2 examples of use

• 2019

  • Fiona Onasanya sentenced to 3 months in prison for perverting the course of justice

  • 25% of registered voters demanded her recall - she didn’t run in the by-election

• 2019

  • Chris Davies convicted of making fraudulent expenses claims

  • 19% of constituents signed petition for recall - he still ran in the by-election but lost

2015 Recall of MPs Act - advantage

• Makes MPs accountable to constituents in matters of serious misconduct/illegal behaviour

2015 Recall of MPs Act - disadvantage

• Circumstances have to be so extreme that the impact has been negligible

Citizen’s jury

• More nuanced than polling

• Helps inform MPs and the debate, so is not pure. direct democracy

Citizen’s jury - example

• Used in 2024 to gauge public perspective on assisted dying

  • 20/28 jurors backed assisted dying