Tag: Matt Qvortrup
Book Review | Government by Referendum by Matt Qvortrup
In Government by Referendum, Matt Qvortrup makes the case that rather than pose a challenge to democracy, referendums are a force for good and can work to enhance it, provided they are not exploited opportunistically by governments and politicians. This concise book contains many thought-provoking observations and factual details, finds Chris Stafford, that serve to underscore its key message that referendums should be embraced by the public and demanded more regularly.
Book Review: The British Constitution: Continuity and Change – A Festschrift for Vernon Bogdanor
Despite the efforts of the Liberal Democrats in Government, the movement for constitutional reform is at a nadir in the wake of the defeat of the AV referendum and the abandonment of democratisation of the House of Lords. As a result, awareness of the constitution has never been higher, making Matt Qvortrup’s Festschrift for Professor Vernon Bogdanor […]
It’s the question, stupid: Democracy experts respond to the EU referendum question proposals
The Electoral Commission has this week set out its advice on the wording of the question in a proposed referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. In this post, leading democracy experts share their views on the alternative questions, considering the implications for the campaign and drawing on evidence from previous referendums in […]
The iPod generation demands a more bespoke version of democracy
Voters are no longer content with the package deals offered by political parties in elections, argues Matt Qvortrup. Like music fans who prefer individualised playlists to pre-packaged albums, citizens want to choose individual policies that reflect their views – not just the party platform. This, he suggests, is a reason to move toward direct democracy […]
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