This is a repository copy of Whose mandate is it anyway? Brexit, the constitution and the contestation of authority.
White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/120218/
Version: Accepted Version
Article: Matthews, F. orcid.org/0000-0002-3248-5386 (2017) Whose mandate is it anyway? Brexit, the constitution and the contestation of authority. Political Quarterly, 88 (4). pp. 603-611. ISSN 0032-3179 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12419
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[email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Whose mandate is it anyway? Brexit, the constitution and the contestation of authority
Manuscript prepared for submission to The Political Quarterly
by
Dr Felicity Matthews Department of Politics University of Sheffield
Abstract
Over the past year, a seemingly relentless barrage of Brexit-related challenges has besieged the constitution, which together have called into question the legitimacy of the British political system. Yet although it is tempting to regard the decision to hold a referendum on B E U acute constitutional crisis, this article argues that political and democratic dilemmas arising from Brexit are symptomatic of a wider constitutional malaise, the roots of which extend far beyond 23 June 2016. Flowing out of this, the article contends that the current crisis is one of adequately address democratic disengagement; and that the EU referendum and its aftermath have merely exposed the extent to which the foundations of the constitution have been eviscerated.
Key words
Parliamentary sovereignty, constitutional reform, referendum, devolution, direct democracy, majoritarianism
Representative democracy, parliamentary sovereignty, strong government: it is clear to any observer of British politics that the cornerstones of Westminster democracy are under severe stress. Over the past year, a seemingly relentless barrage of Brexit-related challenges has besieged the constitution, which together have called into question the W B relationship with Europe was explicitly framed by then Prime Minister David Cameron as bitter conduct of the campaign has instead exacerbated widespread dissatisfaction with the way in which Britain is governed. Moreover, the outcome has starkly revealed the profound divisions that exist within British society, pitting remainers against leavers, liberals against 1