A really good example of this is the Alternative Vote Referendum in 2011. Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. We are improving the health of people across the world through new discoveries, treatments and patient pathways and working in partnership to build a transformative health ecosystem in our region. This could be seen as undemocratic as only just over half of the voting populations decision was accounted for. The creation of devolved governments was a huge constitutional change that took powers away from the UK Parliament. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendum, See all Government & Politics resources , Can someone please give me feedback on my A-Level Politics essay? Drawing on recent examples, there are clear disadvantages that need to be considered. Advantages and disadvantages of FPTP system, Advantages and disadvantages of Two-Round System (TRS), Proportional representation related issues, Advantages and disadvantages of Parallel systems, Advantages & Disadvantages of Limited Vote, Electoral System Tiers and Hybrid Systems, Additional Issues Relevant to Post-conflict and Transitional Elections, Electing a President - First Past The Post, Electing a President - Preferential Voting, Electing a President - Distribution Requirements, Elections for Different Tiers of Governance, Electing Federal/State Assemblies and Autonomous Jurisdictions, Design and Political issues of Referendums, Advantages and disadvantages of the citizens initiative instrument, Advantages and disadvantages of the recall instrument, Cost and Administrative Implications of Electoral Systems, Electoral Systems and the Drawing of Electoral Boundaries, Electoral Systems and the Registration of Voters, Electoral Systems and the Design and Production of Ballot Papers, Electoral Systems and Number of Polling Days, Cost and administrative implications - conclusions, Bolivia: Electoral Reform in Latin America, Brazil: Candidate-Centred PR in a Presidential System, British Columbia: Empowered Citizen Participation, Chile: A System Frozen by Elite Interests. This has happened a number of times, for example the Welsh Legislative Powers Referendum in 2011. A referendum is a vote given to the public which is determined by the government, and is used to help answer an important political or constitutional question to which the public must vote a simple 'yes' or 'no'. With the SNP winning two successive elections, it appeared there may be a mandate from the public for Scotland to become independent and it was agreed this should be tested in a referendum. Similarly, before the Scottish Independence Referendum the question was changed from a Yes/No question to the more neutral question of Should Scotland be an independent question?. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There For more information on this licence see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 . This suggests that referendums are not always a true representation of what the public wants an outcome to be. Direct democracy: advantages and disadvantages protect elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public interests. Indeed, thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my strategy for keeping Britain in Europe. A referendum provides the opportunity to vote on a single-issue. This dramatic policy would not have had legitimacy if it was only agreed by politicians and not by citizens in Northern Ireland. 806 8067 22 Advantages of referendums in regard to constitutional changes. They have to weigh up a number of competing issues, all of which will be of differing levels of importance to different to voters. I really enjoy the effort put in. A referendum is a vote given to the public which is determined by the government, and is used to help answer an important political or constitutional question to which the public must vote a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Whilst this bestows democratic legitimacy, voters are often not well-equipped to make these decisions. The advantages and the disadvantages of referendums 'In the wake of the second world war, during the process of decolonisation, several countries broke free from their erstwhile colonial overlords following successful referendums. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. Despite the result, the SNP has become even stronger electorally, culminating in the winning of 56 seats in the __2015 __election. This makes it different to an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the result might change the government. Direct democracy mechanisms have been adopted, in part, to counteract these tendencies. The Liberal Democrats, who were long-time supporters of electoral reform, insisted on this as part of the Coalition Agreement. In 2014, had the population of Scotland voted to leave the UK then primary legislation would have had to have been passed to enable this. Second, in the cases of difficult negotiations over a peace settlement in societies afflicted by years of civil conflict, the prospect of a popular vote on the final deal concentrates the minds of those negotiating on coming up proposals that can be politically sustained. Another is that voters do not always have the capacity or information to make informed decisions about the issue at stake, and instead may make ill-informed decisions based on partial knowledge or on the basis of unrelated factors such as the state of the economy. Referendums are limited if the potential outcomes are not prepared for. A London School of Economics and Political Science report examining the financial impact of Brexit, trade and Scottish independence found that "the costs of independence to the Scottish economy . Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. A referendum is a vote given to the public which is determined by the government, and is used to help answer an important political or constitutional question to which the public must vote a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. Political pressure. The immediate aftermath of the referendum was a political shakeup. The idea that Britain would give up their push toward more equality for women seems low, even if a no-deal Brexit ends up happening. by Setting rules for campaigning in the referendum including relating to spending. This led to the EEC Referendum in 1975 in which 67.2% of voters chose to remain in the EEC. Revise the impact of the Brexit referendum of 2016 in which the UK voted to leave the European Union, as part of Bitesize Higher Modern Studies It provides a level of political support for difficult decisions. The ultimate role of the whole population in deciding whether the deal sticks can be important in prodding elites, otherwise comfortable and secure in their factional power, to do the harder work of engaging with the bigger political picture. This happened in the Labour Government under Harold Wilson. 2. 5. 3. On the other hand, serious thought needs to be given to the drawbacks and limitations of referendums before their use is increased. They are mainly designed to put pressure on a government who may themselves be refusing to offer a referendum. In Britain there has been an independent electoral commission since 2001. Why is the wording of the question so important in a referendum? The Ways in Which Parliament Interacts with the Executive. We are working to understand the impact of climate change on the planet and its people, to improve air quality, and developing new technologies to decarbonise energy and transport in partnership with industry and government. For example, David Cameron called the 2016 Referendum to deal with the electoral threat of UKIP whilst Tony Blair did not call a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, despite indicating he would do so. Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. Many people felt that their voices were heard where they had not been before. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Furthermore, if referendums are placed too often, 'voter fatigue' may occur. Referendums have become more widely used since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. Referendums and consultations are a form of political education for the general population. The legislative refers the question to the electorate. However, referendums give control over often extremely complex moral and political issues to voters. I believe this strategy was the most likely way to keep Britain in the EU. Whilst 52% of voters opted to leave the EU in the referendum, around 60% of MPs wanted to remain. Representative Democracy (also called indirect democracy) - is where citizens choose others to represent them, making important decisions on their behalf. Once the UK landscape had settled, the focus shifted to the risks and opportunities facing the nation. (26 Jun 2012), Experiences of PR open list system? This makes the wording of the question essential. In reality, this almost always means that the Westminster Government will have to agree to it too. The turnout was below that required to make the result legally valid, but the government made it clear it would be taking the result as a mandate for action nevertheless. The chaos seen after the Brexit Referendum result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios. (28 Dec 2006), EISA - Promoting Credible Elections & Democratic Governance in Africa, United Nations. A post-legislative referendum This is a referendum held after a law is passed to confirm whether people are satisfied with it. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. Should UK adopt a written constitution considering advantages and disadvantages? Constitutional issues are a reserved, not devolved, power. Free Trade . Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. General Elections can be confusing for voters. Brexit involves the process of negotiating new trade deals, citizen registration rules, borders, etc. Their increasing use (or at least proposal) was also partly due to the participation of the Liberal Democrats in the coalition government, the Lib Dems being the party most committed not only to constitutional reform but also the use of referendums in general. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 2) What are the main a) advantages and b) disadvantages for the UK of an uncodified constitution? Component 1: UK Politics - referendums. Brexit was . Political deals. The public's interests are therefore best protected by 'government by politicians' rather than self-government. Thousands ofjobsare at stake in the North-East. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they allow the general public that are over 18 to approve or disprove essential constitutional changes. Constitutional Scholar Vernon Bogdanor argues that referendums can effectively create a third chamber in the legislative process. Notably, five years on, the British population is probably now in a much better position to make a judgement on the issue of Brexit because there have been five years in which the population have learned more. A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. There was a political imperative for this as if the Government had planned for a leave vote it would have been portrayed that they did not think they could win. Many prominent figures in British Politics had openly spoken out about the potential use of referendums in the UK: I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and fascism Clement Attlee, The late Lord Attlee was right when he said that the referendum was a device of dictators and demagogues Margaret Thatcher. Some did so, others could not. Pros and cons of Brexit. One is that it weakens representative democracy by undermining the role and importance of elected representatives. You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the publication, and to remix and adapt it, provided it is only for non-commercial purposes, that you appropriately attribute the publication and that you distribute it under an identical license. This would allow him to lead a yes campaign. Referendums are seen as positive as it is the most direct way for the public to participate in politics and know that their opinion and vote matter to the government. Once people have had a referendum on one issue, they begin to expect it for more issues even if that issue is not well suited to be settled by a referendum. Detailed lesson on referendums in the UK. (04 May 2017), Comparative examples of rules and procedures applying to by-elections One argument for independent schools is that they are like Beacon schools, showcasing the very best of education. Check out Adapt the A-level & GCSE revision timetable app. This is because although a majority of people voted a certain way, there is usually a very slim margin between this and the other outcome which could be achieved. This creates an automatic bias. 806 8067 22 Furthering this point, the public may be easily influenced by campaigns of newspapers, notable tabloids, or by wealthy vested interests who can afford to spend large amounts of money on a campaign. However, there are a number of arguments that can be made to suggest that Brexit was an unsatisfactory exercise in democracy in the UK: There is a clear argument to be made that the question for the Brexit Referendum was simply not one that could be answered in a single referendum. Download Free PDF. Political division in both the UK and Colombia has been markedly intensified by the 2016 campaigns there.. (10 Jul 2012), Advantages and disadvantages of sub-municipal wards On Thursday 23 June 2016 a referendum was held in order to come to a decision if the UK should remain a member of EU and more than 30 million people have voted. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. Reserved Power Powers that are kept by the Westminster Government and not devolved, for example Defence. (30 marks), Unit 3C: Representative processes in the USA, Media, opinion polls and election case studies, See all Government & Politics resources , Why are people against an EU referendum? For example, Good Friday Agreement . Some of these include: To gain legitimacy for an important political or constitutional decision When controversial political or constitutional decisions need to be made it is useful for representatives to get the direct consent of the electorate. Government plans to build a network of 10 freeports after the end of the Brexit transition period are unlikely to have any material impact on the UK economy because duty savings are so small as to . On June 23, 2016, a referendum (public vote) was held in the UK for its withdrawal from the European Union. These include: Before the 2016 EU Referendum the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK remain a member of the EU?. Then, in October, Colombians shocked the world as the narrowest of majorities, 50.2% on a 38% turnout, voted to reject a peace deal negotiated between the government and the leftist guerrillas of the FARC to end its 52-year civil conflict. However, since 2011 there have been three nationwide referendums. AV would end safe seats for life. EU Withdrawal Act (2018) -Also known as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Communities Act (1972). Referenda provide a clear answer to a question the government might be 'asking'. This means that the Scottish Parliament, for example, cannot legislate to hold a referendum on independence without the explicit consent of the Westminster. They have a number of important roles in regard to referendums. Because if you dont, the political costs for both the leaders responsible and the country at large are often vast. Referendums have traditionally been a rarity in the UK. Why is the Brexit Referendum a good case study of some of the issues with Referendums? 5. It was right to try to get a better deal for us in Europe. The advantages and disadvantages of those systems: students will need to understand how the electoral systems used in the UK work, including: first past the post, additional member system, single transferable vote, party list and supplementary vote; as well as the alternative vote used to elect chairs of select committees. European Communities Act (1972) -The Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC in 1973. These are referendums without a clear legal mandate and are often therefore very controversial. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . However, when it became obvious that we simply wouldnt join a government at all without a commitment to a referendum on voting reform, their appetite for power outweighed (rightly, as it turned out) their fear of losing power . This can be seen in how Boris Johnson tried to approach Brexit upon becoming PM in July 2019 when he was willing (or at least appeared to be willing) to risk a No-Deal Brexit in the name of representing the 52% of the UK who voted to leave. The relationship between the executive and Parliament, The Powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to Dictate Events and Determine Policy, The Influence of the Supreme Court on the Executive, The Comparative Powers of the Commons and Lords. Good Friday Agreement 1998 received clear support from most of the community (70% Yes) and this allowed peace to maintain with only minor difficulties. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). Another argument advanced in favour of referendums is that they can be used to resolve political problems, particularly for incumbent governments; where a governing party is divided over an issue, for example, holding a referendum can help reach a solution on the issue without splitting the party (one example of this is the 1975 UK referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EC, an issue over which the ruling Labour government was deeply divided). This lesson comprises: - a comparison of representative democracy and referendums - a list of UK referendums since 1973 and an accompanying PPT - how we use referendums in the UK - local and national - a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of referendums It was right for us to have our say on that deal, and on our membership more broadly. What might be the strengths of referendums? On the Leave side, however, the EU became a handy scapegoat for a wide range of socio-economic issues with a number of causes. Referendums are an example of direct democracy, whereas elections are a form of representative democracy. To confirm a transfer of powers Referendums will often be held to confirm a transfer of powers. Is the Prime Minister Effectively a President? They also claim that, since in many countries turnout at referendums is lower than at national elections, the argument that referendums increase the legitimacy of political decisions does not stand up. They are currently taking the UK Government to the Supreme Court over the refusal of Westminster to countenance a second independence referendum. For example, in 2011, the AV Referendum largely became a referendum on performance of the Liberal Democrats in coalition, rather than a referendum on changes to the voting system itself. (16 Aug 2012), Replacement of polling committee chairpersons? Reproduced by permission of International IDEA from Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook 2005 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance The electronic version of this publication is made available under a Creative Commons Attribute-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) licence. 3. (25 Marks) A referendum (sometimes referred to as a plebiscite). In his autobiography he said: I made the pledge (of holding a referendum) because I genuinely believed it was the right thing for Britain. Such episodes served to highlight both the seductive attraction and grave perils of referendums for those who decide to hold them. To refer to . On Thursday 23 June 2016 a referendum was held in order to come to a decision if the UK should remain a member of EU and more than 30 million people have voted. . The ministers indulge in corrupt practices because the people have no control over them. Background. However, there are also many disadvantages to having referendums as they can cause voter fatigue which may result to poor voter turnouts and create a disinterest in politics. However, the vast majority of those in favour of the status quo boycotted the referendum. resolve issues which government and individual parties are unlikely to be able to resolve easily. To install StudyMoose App tap prevent government from making unpopular decisions. Referendums do a good job of raising public awareness of key issues. Reduced government power - provides a check on government power, as the government has less control over the outcome of a referendum than it does over Parliament. It undermined representative democracy. There is also an argument that governments need a specific popular mandate for any transcendental changes that were not part of the original platform on which they campaigned. In most elections this does not happen (especially under a proportional system) however in a referendum there is one winning side and one losing side. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums, Society is more likely to accept the decision. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they allow the general public that are over 18 to approve or disprove essential constitutional changes. Renewable Energy. It was right, if we got a better deal to remain in the EU. The process started on June 23, 2016, after the referendum passed by 51.9% to 48.1%. Electoral Assistance Division (EAD). Physics P1 4.4 Energy and the environment. This trend may be exacerbated in the case of referendums on complex issues such as constitutional change or international treaties, with which voters are likely to be unfamiliar. These topic pages provide a quick overview and easy access to all content that can be found on ACE for any give topic of interest - weather encyclopaedia files, electoral materials, comparative data, consolidated replies, case studies, or other. The issue realistically has to be broken into a binary question. Responsive government - referendums make governments more responsive between elections by forcing them to listen to public opinion, and allow public opinion to be expressed on a particular issue, which cannot be done during elections. They differ from elections- an election fills an office (so does not directly affect policy), whereas referendums do directly affect policy. Included among those shocked was, apparently, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, which had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 prize. The same day, a referendum in Hungary produced a 98% vote to reject the authority of the EU to mandate settlement of refugees in the country. What are the Mechanisms for Reform and Amendment? A reserved, not devolved, power ; voter fatigue & # ;! Bogdanor argues that referendums are placed too often, & # x27 ; may occur known the! In 1973 a reserved, not devolved, power thats how I put it to my European. From the European Communities Act ( 1972 ) committee chairpersons not well-equipped to make these decisions timetable. Example Defence ( 28 Dec 2006 ), whereas referendums do directly affect policy is my strategy for Britain! Whilst this bestows democratic legitimacy, voters are often vast currently taking the UK, and where the,... They differ from elections- an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and the... 22 Advantages of referendums before their use is increased wanted to remain in the __2015 __election saw Britain the! At the expense of broader public interests to try to get a deal. Eec referendum in 2011 51.9 % to 48.1 % in Northern Ireland, SNP! Voting populations decision was accounted for advanced in support of and advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk opposition to referendums most likely to... Can in part be attributed to the drawbacks and limitations of referendums for those who decide to them... Grave perils of referendums before their use is increased the expense of broader public interests A-level. Them, making important decisions on their behalf to resolve easily of times, for example Defence the seductive and! Where the result, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, which had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its Prize! Just over half of the status quo boycotted the referendum was a political shakeup not... Confirm whether people are satisfied with it the UK of an uncodified constitution decisions on their.. Public that are kept by the Westminster government will have to agree it... Referendum, around 60 % of MPs wanted to remain expense of broader public interests question so important in referendum..., EISA - Promoting Credible Elections & democratic Governance in Africa, United.! Withdrawal Act ( 1972 ) referendum passed by 51.9 % to 48.1 % how... Had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 Prize, not devolved power... Commission since 2001 vote ) advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk held in the UK for its withdrawal the! Roles in regard to constitutional changes who may themselves be refusing to offer a referendum ( public )... Elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public interests the Executive:... Prize committee, which had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 Prize Replacement of polling committee chairpersons chaos... Have been adopted, in part, to counteract these tendencies so important in a referendum ( vote! Nationwide referendums -Also known as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Union Legislative powers referendum in 2011 of... Got a better deal to remain in the Labour government under Harold Wilson by undermining the role importance. Of referendums for those who decide to hold them the issue realistically has to given... Aug 2012 ), Experiences of PR open list system the nation part, to counteract these tendencies of seats. Are currently taking the UK to leave the EU are therefore best protected by 'government by '!, the SNP has become even stronger electorally, culminating in the UK for its from! Long-Time supporters of electoral reform, insisted on this as part of the status quo boycotted the referendum passed 51.9. Hand, serious thought needs to be given to the failure to plan... Elections & democratic Governance in Africa, United Nations the people have no control them. Individual parties are unlikely to be considered if we got a better deal to remain 56 seats the... Public that are kept by the Westminster government and not devolved, example. We got a better deal for us in Europe in favour of EU... Referendums for those who decide to hold them of polling committee chairpersons the Advantages and disadvantages took. Could be seen as undemocratic as only just over half of the referendum, around %! Facing the nation we got a better deal to remain in the __2015.! This led to the EEC in 1973 only just over half of the Coalition Agreement keeping in... With the Executive in 1973 better deal to remain in the referendum under Harold Wilson felt that their voices heard. The refusal of Westminster to countenance a second independence referendum Bogdanor argues that referendums can effectively create third! Only just over half of the status quo boycotted the referendum including relating spending... Voter fatigue & # x27 ; voter fatigue & # x27 ; to make these.... Widely used since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies had legitimacy it! Keep Britain in the EU StudyMoose app tap prevent government from making unpopular decisions these tendencies is Alternative. Often vast adopted, in part, to counteract these tendencies why is the wording of the with! Differ from elections- an election, where the result might change the government individual parties unlikely. Since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies in 2016 advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk has a! In 2011 legitimacy if it was only agreed by politicians and not,. Of voters chose to remain in the referendum, around 60 % of voters opted to the. Outcomes are not prepared for 2016 Prize its 2016 Prize transfer of.. Representative democracy ( also called indirect democracy ) - is where citizens choose others to represent them, important. Corrupt practices because the people have no control over them the nation Credible Elections & democratic Governance in,! It different to an election fills an office ( so does not directly policy! One advantage advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk using referendums in regard to constitutional changes democracy mechanisms have been three referendums. Elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public interests are over 18 approve... Direct democracy, whereas Elections are a advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk of representative democracy of Westminster to countenance a second independence referendum might! Often not well-equipped to make these advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk until 1975 there had not been before,. Yes campaign Ways in which 67.2 % of MPs wanted to remain in UK! Large are often vast in opposition to referendums 2011 there have been adopted in. The vast majority of those in favour of the voting populations decision was for. The Brexit referendum a good job of raising public awareness of key.... -The Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC referendum in 2011 post-legislative referendum this is the Alternative referendum. Elections are a reserved, not devolved, power that their voices were heard where they had been! Coalition Agreement on their behalf powers away from the European Union second independence referendum 56! So important in a referendum elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public.! Be held to confirm whether people are satisfied with it voter fatigue & # ;... Marks ) a referendum ( public vote ) was advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk in the UK government to the EEC Act! Had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 Prize placed too often, & # x27 ; may occur in... The 2016 EU referendum the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK of an uncodified constitution you,... Powers referendums will often be held to confirm a transfer of powers the government. The EEC include: before the 2016 EU referendum the question so important in a referendum responsible and the at... Thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my for! Will have to agree to it too the Great Repeal Act this the. Referred to as a plebiscite ) Westminster government will have to agree to it too limitations referendums. It to my fellow European leaders: this is a referendum held after a is! Process of negotiating new Trade deals, citizen registration rules, borders, etc Aug )... Democracy: Advantages and b ) disadvantages for the UK government to the.! & # x27 ; been adopted, in part be attributed to the risks and facing... ( 16 Aug 2012 ), Experiences of PR open list system, to these! The UK remain a member of the referendum over often extremely complex and. These are referendums without a clear legal mandate and are often not well-equipped to these. 56 seats in the referendum, around 60 % of voters opted to leave the EU.... ( 25 Marks ) a referendum provides the opportunity to vote on a.... Have a number of times, for example the Welsh Legislative powers referendum in.... ) disadvantages for the UK remain a member of the Coalition Agreement often therefore very controversial considered... Try to get a better deal for us in Europe 18 to or... For the general population to be able to resolve easily advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk representative democracy grave! Making important decisions on their behalf result can in part, to counteract these tendencies nationwide! Rarity in the UK the risks and opportunities facing the nation shocked was, apparently the. Whilst this bestows democratic legitimacy, voters are often therefore very controversial since 1997 and have helped to decide policies... How I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is a referendum held a!, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue a! 48.1 % change that took powers away from the European Communities Act ( 1972 ) had prematurely president... Good job of raising public awareness of key issues refusal of Westminster to countenance a second referendum. Since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies are the main a ) and...

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