Using recent events in A Level Politics: The EU referendum Part 2

All exam boards require A Level Politics students to use specific examples to prove their points. Textbooks often include some examples, but there have been lots of crucial developments in UK politics since many of the books were written. In this series of posts, I hope to identify recent events relevant to the A Level courses, and identify how they may be of use in exam answers. I hope that the analysis may be of interest to the casual reader too! NB: This series will cover British politics, and therefore will be relevant to AQA Papers 1 and 3, and Edexcel Components 1 and 2.

The EU referendum: What happened?

On 23^rd June 2016, a referendum was held in the UK. The electorate was asked whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union (EU), or leave, an option popularly known as ‘Brexit’. The result was a victory for ‘Leave’, 52% voting in favour of Brexit.

How is it relevant to A Level Politics?

Participation

AQA paper 1: The government and politics of the UK

• The politics of the UK
• Democracy and participation/Elections and referendums

Edexcel component 1: UK politics and core political ideas

• UK Politics
• Democracy and participation/Voting behaviour and the media

Sample question: ‘Disenchantment with the political class has led to a crisis of participation in UK politics.’ Discuss.

Many commentators have concluded that the vote in favour of leaving the EU was an expression of discontent by those who felt ignored by mainstream politicians. Key figures in the Leave campaign, particularly Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, presented themselves as ‘anti-establishment’ (opposed to the existing groups who wield power and influence). London voted strongly for ‘Remain’, but rural areas and small towns, particularly less well-off ones, tended to favour ‘Leave’. This furthers the impression that this was a vote against the UK’s political and economic leaders. Many may have felt that successive governments had for too long dismissed their fears about rising immigration, a key issue in the campaign. The EU became symbolic: voting against membership, for many, was a way to send a message to the liberal, multicultural, metropolitan politicians who many people felt did not listen to their concerns. The result, therefore, demonstrates disenchantment with the traditional political system. Perhaps for this reason, the referendum campaign engaged more people than the debates between political parties over domestic issues. Turnout in the referendum was 72%, higher than in every general election since 1992. This picture was reinforced by a survey shortly after the referendum, which found that a majority of people identified more strongly with ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain’ than with any political party. This suggests that a significant proportion of the population of the UK is not apathetic, but resents all established political parties equally.

Direct democracy

AQA paper 1: The government and politics of the UK

• The politics of the UK
• Democracy and participation

Edexcel component 1: UK politics and core political ideas

• UK Politics
• Democracy and participation

Sample question: ‘There is no need to reform the UK’s political institutions to bring greater democracy.’ Discuss.

The referendum was a rare example of direct, or participatory, democracy in the UK. It highlighted some advantages and disadvantages of putting decisions directly in the hands of citizens. Advantages

1. The referendum increased participation, with a turnout of 72%. Many people felt that their voices were heard where they had not been before.
2. Direct democracy allows the power of an established elite to be challenged. Systems in which a small group hold a great deal of power may sway towards authoritarianism, or at the least may tend to ignore marginal groups in society. The EU referendum may have discouraged this, by giving voters the chance to vote against the leaders of all the largest political parties.
3. Instances of direct democracy can help break deadlocks between and within political parties. The Conservative Party had been divided over the issue of Europe for decades. The referendum provided an opportunity to resolve party in-fighting, by making voters the judge between the two sides.

Disadvantages

1. It is questionable whether a majority of people understood the economic arguments for and against remaining in the EU. Direct democracy takes power away from those whose knowledge and skills may make them best placed to make decisions.
2. Direct democracy may encourage campaigners to appeal to emotions, rather than rational argument. Both sides in the referendum campaign were accused of scare-mongering, stirring up unnecessary fears.
3. Direct democracy gives absolute power to the majority, regardless of the basis on which the decision is made. Campaigners in the EU referendum have been criticised for making false claims, notably that £350 million more would be spent on the NHS is the UK left the EU. In a direct democracy, the only ‘judge’ is the will of the people; if the people vote for one point of view, that point of view gains legitimacy, regardless of how truthful it is.

Minor parties

AQA paper 1: The government and politics of the UK

• The politics of the UK
• Political parties

Edexcel component 1: UK politics and core political ideas

• UK Politics
• Political parties

Sample question: To what extent does the UK have a two-party system?

 The EU referendum may highlight the impact of UKIP in British politics. Nigel Farage, leader of the party at the time, has claimed that UKIP became the most influential party in Britain, despite the fact that it had only one parliamentary seat. Arguably, the Conservatives pledged to hold the referendum out of fear of losing votes to UKIP. Once the campaign began, UKIP members may have influenced the outcome. However, the referendum raised the issue of how ‘single-issue parties’ respond when their cause seems to be won. UKIP was formed specifically in order to bring about Brexit. Once this goal seemed to have been achieved, the party descended into chaos: it went through several leaders in a few weeks, and performed disastrously in elections in 2017, both local and general. This suggests that minor parties may gain influence, but only temporarily, and cannot survive when their purpose seems to have been fulfilled.

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