Referendums
Referendum = a vote on a particular issue - usually, a yes or no response, a form of direct democracy and is rarely
called at the discretion of the government
- First national referendum was held in June 1975 - Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, gave electorate a
chance if they wanted to stay in European Economic Community
- Since the New Labour government in 1997, national referendums have become more likely
- 2000 - conduct of referendums have been carried out by the Electoral Commission - checks the wording of the
question posed, ensuring it is objective, also, monitors the expenditure by the rival campaigning groups and
designates one approved lead campaign organisation - these receive a determined amount of public funding
How referenduns have been used?
- Legitimising a major government initiative - demonstration of public support for a important,irrevserible
constitution change - e.g: devolution for Scotland and Wales referendums in 1997 and 1998 Good Friday
agreement
- Getting a government out of a difficult situation - internal disagreement in government can lead to handing
the decision to the people in order to rally behind the popular vote while maintaining unity within the government
- e.g: 1975 EEC referendum, if he had made the decision himself, he would have faced resignations
- A result of a deal between political parties - for example, inorder for the Liberal Democrats support during
the 2010 coalition, Cameron agreed to hold a referendum on changing the electoral system
- In response to pressure - one may feel pressure from their own MPs thus threatening a loss of support so
they would hold a referendum in order to maintai support - for example, the EU referendum talks came as early
as October 2011, although Cameron (with the help of Labour and Lib Dems) was able to defeat the conservative
backbenchers press for a referendum, the matter did not go away, leading to his promise in January 2013 that
he would hold a referendum if he won the election in 2015 due to the threat of UKIP taking conservative votes
Examples of referndums since 1997:
Referendum = a vote on a particular issue - usually, a yes or no response, a form of direct democracy and is rarely
called at the discretion of the government
- First national referendum was held in June 1975 - Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, gave electorate a
chance if they wanted to stay in European Economic Community
- Since the New Labour government in 1997, national referendums have become more likely
- 2000 - conduct of referendums have been carried out by the Electoral Commission - checks the wording of the
question posed, ensuring it is objective, also, monitors the expenditure by the rival campaigning groups and
designates one approved lead campaign organisation - these receive a determined amount of public funding
How referenduns have been used?
- Legitimising a major government initiative - demonstration of public support for a important,irrevserible
constitution change - e.g: devolution for Scotland and Wales referendums in 1997 and 1998 Good Friday
agreement
- Getting a government out of a difficult situation - internal disagreement in government can lead to handing
the decision to the people in order to rally behind the popular vote while maintaining unity within the government
- e.g: 1975 EEC referendum, if he had made the decision himself, he would have faced resignations
- A result of a deal between political parties - for example, inorder for the Liberal Democrats support during
the 2010 coalition, Cameron agreed to hold a referendum on changing the electoral system
- In response to pressure - one may feel pressure from their own MPs thus threatening a loss of support so
they would hold a referendum in order to maintai support - for example, the EU referendum talks came as early
as October 2011, although Cameron (with the help of Labour and Lib Dems) was able to defeat the conservative
backbenchers press for a referendum, the matter did not go away, leading to his promise in January 2013 that
he would hold a referendum if he won the election in 2015 due to the threat of UKIP taking conservative votes
Examples of referndums since 1997:
