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Quick thread on Parliamentary (representative) democracy versus direct (referendum) democracy.
The EU Referendum was sold initially as subordinate to Representative democracy. It was to be purely advisory to Parliament.
The EU Referendum was sold initially as subordinate to Representative democracy. It was to be purely advisory to Parliament.
But once it was passed into legislation the Tory Govt (and others) started behaving as if it was superior to representative democracy - whatever the outcome it would be a mandate Government and Parliament could not ignore.
So we now have a dilemma.
If we really live in a representative (Parliamentary) democracy Parliament in sovereign and can decide regardless of the referendum result.
If we really live in a representative (Parliamentary) democracy Parliament in sovereign and can decide regardless of the referendum result.
If the referendum is sovereign, and can only be overturned by another referendum, we no longer live in a Parliamentary democracy.
Those saying the 2016 Ref can only be overturned by another Ref are saying precisely this - Parliament is no longer sovereign.
Those saying the 2016 Ref can only be overturned by another Ref are saying precisely this - Parliament is no longer sovereign.
It might seem politically expedient to say only another Referendum can reverse the first one, but be aware of what you are saying.
I might even agree on expediency grounds - but never as a matter of principle. Representative government is the best we have. Trash it at our peril.
I might even agree on expediency grounds - but never as a matter of principle. Representative government is the best we have. Trash it at our peril.
