Up to now we have had a system of representative democracy that by and large enabled the educated ruling classes to water down the excesses of far more populous ignorant and prejudiced elements of society. Universal suffrage gave the illusion of power but in practice this was limited.
Referendums remove this "softening" process and expose us to the raw wishes of the majority however barmy they be. Those that allowed the referendum geni out of the box are surely regretting it. It will be a very long time before the government proposes another one
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