The Independent Commission on Referendums was established by @ConUnit_UCL to review the use and conduct of referendums in the UK.
London, England
Joined August 2017
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.@martinkettle mentions the work of @ICReferendums in his latest column. theguardian.com/commentisfre…
Listen to the Commission's Research Director, @alanjrenwick talk referendums on @BBCWestminHour last night. bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bd6xz… (from 51.28)
This piece by @RSAMatthew draws heavily on the on the conclusions of the Independent Commission on Referendums, which he concludes 'has some well thought through proposals on regulation' thersa.org/discover/publicat…
We welcome @CommonsCMS 's report & recommendations that concur with our own:
- Imprints for online campaign material
- Faster spending returns for large orgs
- Categories for digital campaigning in spending returns
- public register of political adverts
publications.parliament.uk/p…
Interesting blog by @ja_sheldon on the lessons of 1979 referendums for a possible further referendum on Brexit. It highlights the work of @ICReferendums and the need for careful thought on the rules for future referendums. #referendumreform
bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/b…
.@alanjrenwick tells @CommonsPACAC that legislative changes that the @ICReferendums. @CherylGillan says that current legislation is not fit for purpose.
.@CommonsPACAC asks what recommendations @ICReferendums has made to improve regulation of online campaigning. @alanjrenwick says we need
- imprints on online material
- a repository of online ads to end ‘dark ads’
- a inquiry into paid political advertising across all media.
.@alanjrenwick talks about the commissions recommendations to improve financial transparency and accountability
He also talks about the need to extend restrictions on governments publications during referendum. Supporting @CommonsPACAC and @ElectoralCommUK recommendation. The restrictions should also be narrowed in scope to cover campaigning.
Meg Russell points out that if there is a void left about would happen in the event of a vote for change, parliamentarians have to fill that void. And that puts them in a very difficult position.
.@CommonsPACAC asks how we could organise citizens’ assemblies. @alanjrenwick talks about @UKAssemblies and how they were run. They should not replace existing mechanisms of decision making but can provide an insight into informed public opinion.
Meg and Alan say that the Commission does not support referendums on moral issues as they can be damaging for those whose rights are at stake. Moral issues are dealt with free votes in the UK but citizens’ assemblies can also facilitate public input on these issues.
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.@CommonsPACAC asks whether referendums have undermined public trust in representive institutions. Meg says that in some cases (1997 Scottish devolution, 1998 GFA) they can be positive experiences, giving legitimacy to decision.
.@alanjrenwick tells the committee that wherever possible referendums should be post-legislative. Where this is not possible, there should be a white paper that sets out the proposals as clearly as possible.
.@CommonsPACAC asks about the constitutional function of referendums. Meg Russell says use of referendums has developed in a pragmatic ad-hoc way. Out of this conventions have developed for referendums to be held on certain constitutional issues, but not all.
Meg says that if the role of referendums is unclear, it will be difficult for the public and politicians to understand their role. This is one of the things @ICReferendums tried to answer.
.@ConUnit_UCL Director, Meg Russell and @ICReferendums Research Director @alanjrenwick are about the five evidence to @CommonsPACAC
.@PTylerLords called @ICReferendums 'remarkable' ans says that its membership 'high-powered and cross-party, and included important leavers and remainers'. He then went on to pick out key recommendations of the report, such as the need for clarity & high quality information.
In yesterday's @UKHouseofLords debate, @LordNortonLouth urged the government to take @ICReferendums recommendations seriously 'so that, in future, we can argue over the merits of a case and not muddy debate with arguments that cannot be resolved over process and motivation.'
Excellent debate on the Impact of referendums on parliamentary democracy in the UK in @UKHouseofLords yesterday. Thank you to all those who spoke about the @icreferendums report: Lord Higgins, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, @bricksilk, @LordNortonLouth, @PTylerLords, @LadyBasildon
And of course, Lord Eames who was a member of the Commission. You can watch the full debate here: goo.gl/oBkadj
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Commission members @CherylGillan and @SeemaMalhotra1 write for @theHouse_mag on the findings of the Independent Commission on Referendums and the need for urgent need for #referendumreform
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In today's Guardian, @martinkettle says @ICReferendums Report 'one of the very few serious attempts to get to grips with the question that remains at the root of our present political discontents' #referendumreform theguardian.com/commentisfre…