Referendums in the United Kingdom

There have also been numerous referendums held by local authorities on issues such as temperance and directly elected mayors.

Historically, referendums within the United Kingdom were opposed on the supposition that they violate the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.

In May 1945 the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill suggested holding a referendum over the question of extending the life of his wartime Coalition until victory was won over Japan.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee refused, saying "I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum, which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and Fascism."

In March 1975 Margaret Thatcher also quoted Clement Attlee that referendums are "a device of dictators and demagogues" as Napoleon, Mussolini and Hitler had exploited their use in the past.

The act also permitted the appointment of a "chief counting officer" (CCO) to oversee all future UK-wide referendums which would be held by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

To date three pieces of primary legislation has been passed by the UK Parliament to enable the holding of the following UK-wide referendums.

Seven of the twenty-three members of the cabinet opposed EC membership and the party was formally neutral on the issue.

The voters were asked to vote "Yes" or "No" on the question: "Do you think the United Kingdom should stay in the European Community (the Common Market)?"

The referendum concerned whether to replace the present "first-past-the-post" system with the "alternative vote" (AV) method.

The voters were asked to vote yes or no on the question "At present, the UK uses the "first past the post" system to elect MPs to the House of Commons.

It was the first time a UK-wide referendum result had gone against the preferred choice of the UK Government, which had officially recommended a "Remain" vote, and it led to a period of political turmoil.

As a direct consequence of losing the referendum, David Cameron announced his resignation as Prime Minister on the morning after the vote.

He left office three weeks later on 13 July, and was succeeded by Theresa May who later resigned in 2019 due to the issue remaining unresolved.

Following the vote there was frequent public discussion as to whether the result of the referendum was advisory or mandatory, but the High Court stated on 3 November 2016 that, in the absence of specific provision in the enabling legislation (and in this case there was none), "a referendum on any topic can only be advisory for the lawmakers in Parliament".

Since 1973 there have been ten other referendums held by the UK Government within the constituent countries related to the issues of sovereignty, devolution and independence in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in parts of England (in the North East and London).

Principal authorities in Great Britain have the ability to hold an advisory referendum on any issue relating to its services, financial provisions, and other matters that are relevant to the area.

These plans included a congestion charge which would have required motorists to pay a fee to enter the city at certain times of the day.

Strathclyde Regional Council held a referendum in 1994 on the plans of the Conservative UK government to privatise water services within Scotland.

Although the referendum had no legal effect, the plan to privatise Scottish water services was eventually dropped.

Legislation in England and Wales obliges local authorities to hold and abide by the results of referendums in certain circumstances.

[13] In England, raising Council Tax above a level proscribed by the Local Government Secretary requires approval in a referendum.

Only one council tax referendum has been held, on behalf of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and the rise was rejected.

[13] A referendum can be held by three methods; by a resolution of the council to hold one, under an order from the government, or upon receiving a petition signed by five per cent of registered voters within the local authority area,[20] in the only example of the initiative process in the United Kingdom.

In Wales, a council must hold a referendum to change between a mayor and leader and cabinet, with the minimum period between votes set at five years.

[20] Fifty-three referendums have taken place in local authorities to establish whether there is support for directly elected mayors.

Sixteen were successful and a mayoralty was established; in thirty-seven local authorities an elected mayor was rejected by voters.

An additional six referendums have been held on removing the post of elected mayor, with three mayoralties being retained, and three disestablished.

[20] Ten referendums were held in 2012 as part of the government's manifesto to introduce elected mayors in the largest cities in England without the position.

Two referendums have been held in response to a petition on moving to a committee system, in the Borough of Fylde and in West Dorset.