Evaluate the view that referendums since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Weak: Undermines Parliamentary Sovereignty

Weak: Referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty and representative democracy - they put a notion towards the populus in which they directly answer/ do not appoint anyone with exceptional political knowledge/degrees to represent them. 20% of Mp’s are Oxbridge graduates compared to 1% of the general public.For example 2016 saw the Brexit referendum in which 52% of the general public voted to leave the European Union, whereas only 24% of MP’s declared support for the leave campaign.

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Weak: Vulnerability to misinformation and echo chambers

Weak: There is a vulnerability to misinformation and possibility that households will create an echo chamber ensuring there is a central view. This is because the general public may not think to fact check every political social media post they see or may automatically accept the views of their friends. They may also be unfamiliar with the topic at hand, show more confirmation bias and may be trapped in an echo chamber, either online or within the household. Weak because of party whips

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Weak:Can be used offensively

Weak: Refrendums are subject to being used for appeasement/ being used tactically. For example the Lib Dems historically championed STV, but the conservatives rejected it, so AV was a fallback option. AV is a majoritarian system, rather than a proportional one, which meant minimum threat to the two party system. Moreover, Cameron especially campaigned against the introduction of AV- 68% opposed it.

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Strong: Purest form of democracy and allow consent for significant changes

Strong: referendums are the purest form of democracy - they provide an indisputable public mandate (which is almost impossible to ignore in modern times) which allows major constitutional shifts. For example, 71.1% of the populus were in favour of the unionist and nationalist coalition, which was part of the Good Friday Agreement 1998.

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Strong: empowered local people through devoloution

Strong: Referendums have empowered local people and have allowed greater decision making for a nation over its people, which can help them feel more heard and appreciated. For example, Following 75% in favour of a Scottish parliament in 1997 - created 1999, Scotland now has free personal care for the elderly ( for those who qualify) and no tuition fees for Scottish residents studying at University.

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages - Strong: Can help mobilise voters + reduce participation crisis

Strong: Referendums are great at mobilising voters - they present often simple binary questions to a populous and consistently have higher turnouts than general elections. For example, the 2014 Scottish independence referendum had a turnout of 85% altogether with 75% of those 16-17 voting, whilst Brexit/EU referendum had a turnout of 72% - way higher than the preceding 2015 general election which had a turnout of 66.2%