It all started with the last Scottish Indy referendum. Somebody in their wrong mind decided to make 50% the winning vote. To do this creates an anti-democratic system.
But surely, I hear you say, 50% is the will of the people. Almost, I quip, it is actually the will of the people who voted at that particular point in time. Unfortunately you can create one way gates in a referendum, decisions that are hard to reverse.
Take BREXIT for example. For years old Nige called for a referendum to leave. So we had one and the majority decided to leave. We triggered the leave clause. First, is Nige still asking for another referendum – no – he has got his answer – he doesn’t want people to be asked again. Even if the will of the people at this point in time is different there is no system to test it – there is no political party of significance pushing for another vote. And anyway – there is no re-entry clause, so a vote to re-enter would not simply depend on us.
This is why I predict we would be required to take the Euro and drop our hard earned exclusions from parts of the treaty if we ever did re-enter Europe.
And what about the SNP call for yet another referendum, if they got one and won then would they accept another one 5 years later just in case people changed their mind. Of course they wouldn’t – because it isn’t the will of the people they want to follow – they only want to follow the will of the people if it matches their will.
This is why sensible countries that have legislation governing how to run a referendum set the “pass” criteria way up at something like two thirds of those voting. They recognise the need to have a large majority so that there is little chance that a reverse would be called for in a few years.
A referendum can be an important tool, but it those that continually campaign for a referendum until they get one that gives them the answer they want are not interested in democracy or the will of the people – they are interested in getting their way at at any cot – even the cost of democracy.
And if you think that is a bit strong then go check on why referendums were banned in Germany after 1945.