Are referendums good for UK democracy?

Are referendums good for UK democracy?

1. Strengths

   • Allows the people a direct say in the decision making process
     • Therefire people may be more likely to respect the decision made
       • Government by the people.
   • Can prevent governments from making unpopular decisions
   • Can help resolve issues which the government or political parties are unable/unwilling to solve.
   • They entrench constitutional change by giving popular consent to the system of government.
     • Prevents political parties having complete control of the political system, therefore preventing any party from altering it to their own advantage.

2. Weaknesses

   • They might undermine respect for our elected institutions
     • Why vote for our MP's if they are going to ask the people to make the big decisions?
   • The voter turnout at some referendums suggest that they have not increased political participation.
     • The issues at stake are often compex: do the voters have a good understanding of the consequences?
       • Can produce emotional rather than a rational response, especially when the issue of nationalism is involved.
   • Wealthy groups, the newspapers and pressure groups may use their influence to alter a result.
   • There is a danger that a referendum might become a verdict on the popularity of the government: people may use the opportunity to give the government a 'bloody nose' rather than vote on the issue.
   • This may represent the tyranny of the majority over the minority. Minority groups may suffer as a consequence.