Editors' Introduction: Referendums: special edition

Many untoward and unanticipated consequences have arisen since the Brexit referendum in 2016 which led to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The referendum was the latest in the United Kingdom since the first national referendum in 1975 to affirm the nation’s continuing membership of what was then the European Economic Community. In the 40 or so years between these two events, multiple referendums were held on several other contested matters, namely devolution, the voting system, and Scottish independence. Given the conduct of the Brexit referendum campaign and the unexpected result, it may be some time before the People are trusted again with the responsibility of making such a major decision.