Referendums are a popular vote where the people are asked to determine the outcome of an important political or constitutional issue directly. The popular question that has been raised many times is whether the UK should use more referendums or not. I agree with having referendums to resolve issues, but I believe that the UK should not use more.
Referendums are a useful thing to have in the UK because they offer a more direct form of democracy by allowing citizens to have a real input into key decisions that matter to them; this leads to an increase in political participation. Referendums focus on, or renew the mandate on a particular issue or legitimising a major constitutional issue. This particularly becomes useful when Parliament cannot agree on a clear and final answer on issues. Referendums not only increases participation in democratic action, but it also educates and informs the public on particular issues. Referendums also checks on the power of the Government in between the General Elections; so each Government does not take too much power over the decision making as the public are given a voice.
All these elements of referendums are useful to the UK, however there are also some flaws of referendums that make them a disadvantage to Britain. For instance, referendums are inconsistent with representative democracy and undermines the doctrine of Parliamentary Sovereignty. This shows that, although referendums gives the public a voice and opinion of issues, they are only doing what the tax payer pays their MP to do; this makes MP's look weak as they can't resolve these issues themselves. Excessive use of referendums can possibly result in voter fatigue and a declining turnout because if they have to vote on every issue, they are going to get bored and will no longer see the point in voting. Also, referendums are not only expensive to hold, but different levels of funding and media influence could lead to a biased, unfair result. This is also seen when people vote on the popularity of the current Government more than the issue. For example, Nick Clegg was in favour of the Alternative Vote referendum, but as the voters began to dislike Clegg, they voted again the Alternative Vote. This shows that some people don't think about the question itself or what would happen under each outcome. Although referendums give people a voice, they don't actually have a choice what the topic of the referendum will be (politicians only have this power). How is this democratic and fair? Another disadvantage of referendums, is that they may result in a tyranny of the majority where the majority of the voters get what they want but the minority is left behind and left with a result they did not want! This also is not fair, but what democratic action is? This links with the next disadvantage: Referendums are also dangerous actions to take place because the future of important, controversial issues are in the hands of the people who may not be educated in the subject. Their choice may be based on what the newspapers think, which is usually not the best result.
To conclude, referendums are essential to the UK's democratic system as they give the public a voice now and again, in matters that matter to them. However, they shouldn't be used more because they give the public too much power (there's a reason why we have politicians who are educated in politics), to choose the outcome of controversial issues. I also don't see the point of referendums because the Government still has the right to make the final decision.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Is the UK really a Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. Britain is stated as a democracy but when you dig deep into the democratic system, is the UK a true democracy?
The UK is a democracy because everyone, in Britain, over the age of 18 are eligible to vote for the Party they want to run the country in General Elections and they don't have to vote; the choice is theirs. These elections are held every 5 years which makes sure there is a fixed term Parliament. This stops corruption and makes sure the Prime Minister does not have all the power as the people participate in politics. This shows true democracy as the British public also have power as they can join pressure groups, protest and sign petitions if they disagree with the Parties' proposals. They can use their vote to disagree also as they don't have to choose any of the Parties in the Election. The electorate has a voice as they can vote for the MP they want to represent their constituency in the House of Commons; so their views and opinions are being heard in Parliament when laws are made or changed. However the argument to this, is that the public cannot propose the laws and the petitions signed against the Acts are usually ignored by the so called 'interested' Prime Minister.
The UK is democratic as the public has the right to make their own decisions based on politics, as the government does not censor the media or press when it comes to politics (like North Korea does despite it calling itself a democracy). Some would say we aren't a democratic country as we have to pay taxes and obey the law which they would say is not freedom. They are right in a way as why should we have to pay taxes and obey the law if we are free? However, there are many British citizens who don't pay tax or obey the law and get away with it. Taxes help pay for our privileges, such as the NHS and education, and without the law, the country would be running riot.
The UK is not so democratic in situations like coalition governments because, although we can vote for the party to run the country, we don't have a say in who the Prime Minister teams up with, if they don't get an overall majority (remember when David Cameron teamed up with Nick Clegg...). 'Tyranny by the majority' quoted by John Stuart Mill meant that the majority of the country is protected but the minority is not. For example, the people that voted for the Conservatives are considered more than the people that voted for Labour, or the smaller Parties as fewer voted for them; nothing came out of their vote. If the UK wants to be more democratic, the voting system needs to change to be more fair for the smaller Parties. In addition, the UK is not very democratic in regard to referendums because, although people can vote in them, the government has the power to turn down the result, so the vote is a waste of time.
Despite the UK having its democratic flaws, it is far from a dictatorship as the general public of Britain have Human Rights and the freedom to elect who runs the country. If Britain was a dictatorship, we would not have these powers or rights. The UK is a democracy through freely elected representatives.
The UK is a democracy because everyone, in Britain, over the age of 18 are eligible to vote for the Party they want to run the country in General Elections and they don't have to vote; the choice is theirs. These elections are held every 5 years which makes sure there is a fixed term Parliament. This stops corruption and makes sure the Prime Minister does not have all the power as the people participate in politics. This shows true democracy as the British public also have power as they can join pressure groups, protest and sign petitions if they disagree with the Parties' proposals. They can use their vote to disagree also as they don't have to choose any of the Parties in the Election. The electorate has a voice as they can vote for the MP they want to represent their constituency in the House of Commons; so their views and opinions are being heard in Parliament when laws are made or changed. However the argument to this, is that the public cannot propose the laws and the petitions signed against the Acts are usually ignored by the so called 'interested' Prime Minister.
The UK is democratic as the public has the right to make their own decisions based on politics, as the government does not censor the media or press when it comes to politics (like North Korea does despite it calling itself a democracy). Some would say we aren't a democratic country as we have to pay taxes and obey the law which they would say is not freedom. They are right in a way as why should we have to pay taxes and obey the law if we are free? However, there are many British citizens who don't pay tax or obey the law and get away with it. Taxes help pay for our privileges, such as the NHS and education, and without the law, the country would be running riot.
The UK is not so democratic in situations like coalition governments because, although we can vote for the party to run the country, we don't have a say in who the Prime Minister teams up with, if they don't get an overall majority (remember when David Cameron teamed up with Nick Clegg...). 'Tyranny by the majority' quoted by John Stuart Mill meant that the majority of the country is protected but the minority is not. For example, the people that voted for the Conservatives are considered more than the people that voted for Labour, or the smaller Parties as fewer voted for them; nothing came out of their vote. If the UK wants to be more democratic, the voting system needs to change to be more fair for the smaller Parties. In addition, the UK is not very democratic in regard to referendums because, although people can vote in them, the government has the power to turn down the result, so the vote is a waste of time.
Despite the UK having its democratic flaws, it is far from a dictatorship as the general public of Britain have Human Rights and the freedom to elect who runs the country. If Britain was a dictatorship, we would not have these powers or rights. The UK is a democracy through freely elected representatives.
Sunday, 13 September 2015
The General Election 2015
As we now know the result of the General Election 2015 was a win for the Conservative Party placing David Cameron back into Number 10 for another five years. They won a 12 seat majority in the House of Commons. This was not the expected result as many forecasters predicted a slim Labour majority or a hung Parliament.
The Conservative Party gained 35 seats and lost 11 seats. They took the seats from the Liberal Democrats in the South West of the country. Many areas in the South of the country, excluding London, have become Conservative seats. Despite this strong showing, in Scotland they only managed to secure one seat. In total, the Conservatives have 331 seats in the House of Commons.
The Labour Party came second in the total number of seats in Parliament as they now have 232 seats; gaining 22 seats and losing 48 seats. In Scotland, usually there was a Labour strong hold however in this election, they gained 1 seat and lost 40 seats. Many traditional Labour voters switched their allegiance to the Scottish National Party (SNP). This was seen by many as the Scottish people believing the SNP a better protest against a Conservative Government. When viewed on a map, London in red (Labour) looks like an island isolated by a sea of blue Tory seats. Despite Ed Miliband kept his seat in Parliament, he resigned as leader of the Labour Party.
The recent General Election proved a disaster for the Liberal Democrat Party as they lost 49 seats; gaining nothing. In total, they have 56 seats in Parliament and in Scotland, they gained just 1 seat and lost 10 seats. The Liberal Democrats did not do very well because Nick Clegg had broken a promise he had made which concerned getting rid of the tuition fees in the 2010 election because he had to compromise in the coalition Government. As a result of his broken promise, the Lib Dems were crushed at the polls in the recent election. Nick Clegg resigned as leader the day after the 2015 General Election.
As previously stated, the SNP replaced Labour as the dominant Party in Scotland; gaining 50 seats. In the House of Commons, they have a total of 56 seats. Another Party of protest UKIP, failed to live up to expectation as they only have 1 seat. The leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, resigned but he was told that they did not want him to resign. Currently, it is uncertain whether he is still leader of UKIP. The Green Party did not gain or lose seats in the House of Commons and its leader, Natalie Bennett remains leader. Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Party) did not gain any seats but lost a seat in the House of Commons. In Wales, the political map shows that all parties are represented. Sinn Fein (the Irish Republican Party) did not gain any seats and lost 1 seat. However, this is not significant as their MPs refuse to attend Parliament, thus preventing them from taking part and voting in debates. The Democratic Unionist Party gained 1 seat and lost 1 seat and have a total of 8 seats in Parliament. The Ulster Unionist Party gained their 2 seats in Parliament.
In May, the number of female MPs rose by 1/3: in the 2010 election, 23% of MPs were women but in the 2015 election there is now 29% of female MPs. The Labour Party have now got the most female MPs in Parliament (99 women).
As the Labour Party did worse than predicted, it can be seen as an indication, that the electorate was not prepared to vote for Ed Miliband as Prime Minster and much rather preferred David Cameron to stay as PM.
The Conservative Party gained 35 seats and lost 11 seats. They took the seats from the Liberal Democrats in the South West of the country. Many areas in the South of the country, excluding London, have become Conservative seats. Despite this strong showing, in Scotland they only managed to secure one seat. In total, the Conservatives have 331 seats in the House of Commons.
The Labour Party came second in the total number of seats in Parliament as they now have 232 seats; gaining 22 seats and losing 48 seats. In Scotland, usually there was a Labour strong hold however in this election, they gained 1 seat and lost 40 seats. Many traditional Labour voters switched their allegiance to the Scottish National Party (SNP). This was seen by many as the Scottish people believing the SNP a better protest against a Conservative Government. When viewed on a map, London in red (Labour) looks like an island isolated by a sea of blue Tory seats. Despite Ed Miliband kept his seat in Parliament, he resigned as leader of the Labour Party.
The recent General Election proved a disaster for the Liberal Democrat Party as they lost 49 seats; gaining nothing. In total, they have 56 seats in Parliament and in Scotland, they gained just 1 seat and lost 10 seats. The Liberal Democrats did not do very well because Nick Clegg had broken a promise he had made which concerned getting rid of the tuition fees in the 2010 election because he had to compromise in the coalition Government. As a result of his broken promise, the Lib Dems were crushed at the polls in the recent election. Nick Clegg resigned as leader the day after the 2015 General Election.
As previously stated, the SNP replaced Labour as the dominant Party in Scotland; gaining 50 seats. In the House of Commons, they have a total of 56 seats. Another Party of protest UKIP, failed to live up to expectation as they only have 1 seat. The leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, resigned but he was told that they did not want him to resign. Currently, it is uncertain whether he is still leader of UKIP. The Green Party did not gain or lose seats in the House of Commons and its leader, Natalie Bennett remains leader. Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Party) did not gain any seats but lost a seat in the House of Commons. In Wales, the political map shows that all parties are represented. Sinn Fein (the Irish Republican Party) did not gain any seats and lost 1 seat. However, this is not significant as their MPs refuse to attend Parliament, thus preventing them from taking part and voting in debates. The Democratic Unionist Party gained 1 seat and lost 1 seat and have a total of 8 seats in Parliament. The Ulster Unionist Party gained their 2 seats in Parliament.
In May, the number of female MPs rose by 1/3: in the 2010 election, 23% of MPs were women but in the 2015 election there is now 29% of female MPs. The Labour Party have now got the most female MPs in Parliament (99 women).
As the Labour Party did worse than predicted, it can be seen as an indication, that the electorate was not prepared to vote for Ed Miliband as Prime Minster and much rather preferred David Cameron to stay as PM.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)