An important recent development (summer 2010) in UK democracy was brought in when the coalition stated that any petition with over 100,000 signatures on the No.10 website would be automatically "trigger consideration" for debate in the Commons. The No.10 website has hosted epetitions since 2006 but the rule about a debate in the Commons is new. Recent instances include a debate on the release of the Hillsborough papers.
However, tomorrow's (Monday 24th Oct 2011) debate on the possibility of a referendum on EU membership ("to withdraw from the EU completely; retain the status quo; or negotiate to repatriate a number of powers") was called for by Conservative backbench MPs, backed up by an epetition and a campaign by UKIP who hope to exploit the erosion of credibility of the EU in the wake of the Eurozone crisis.
All 3 major parties are imposing a "three-line whip" on their MPs which means affected MPs must vote in the way their party leadership requests or face potential damage to their future careers prospects or ultimately deselection (though this is rarely used). Government ministers will have to resign from government (but stay as MPs) if they decide to rebel. This raises important questions about representation in the UK. How should MPs vote in Parliament? In accordance with their party leadership, their constituents, their voters, their financial backers, their gender, their class, their ideology, their moral conscience or their best mate (see Dr Fox)? Edmund Burke would surely argue that MPs should vote in line with their own ideas and indeed this was common in the 1800s (the so-called "golden age" of Parliament). However, modern political parties have developed stricter management structures over the last century that call into questions the strength of democracy in the UK. Surely, there will be those that argue that party discipline is democratic as it allows parties to stick to what their leadership promised before the election in their manifestos.
What is certain is that many MPs will be voting against their 'party line'. In any case, nothing will happen because of the vote as it is only a debate, not a step in a legislative process. Nevertheless, if the motion for a referendum on EU membership is passed, those in favour will be able to claim that legislation for a referendum should be brought before the house soon.
