The phrase "a negative referendum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a referendum that results in a rejection or disapproval of a proposed measure or policy.
Example: "The recent vote resulted in a negative referendum, leading to the cancellation of the proposed tax increase."
Alternatives: "a disapproving referendum" or "a rejecting referendum".
And Twitter's tumbling share price (it's now down more than sixty per cent since its first day of trading) has served as a constant negative public referendum on its prospects, which has eaten away at its employees' morale, a problem compounded by the fact that Twitter relies so heavily on stock-based compensation to pay its workers.
Given the serious crisis Ireland and the entire eurozone finds itself you can hardly blame Noonan and the rest of the cabinet for signalling that the next referendum will be a negative campaign.
The EU referendum may have had a negative impact, but its effect has been marginal.
Joe Grice, chief economist at the ONS, said there was little evidence that concern about a possible Brexit vote had a negative impact on the economy before the referendum.
And, after a referendum last September delivered a negative answer to that question, what has driven so many Scots to abandon Labour for the separatist Scottish National Party (SNP)?
The CBI has said uncertainty about the outcome of a future referendum is already having a negative impact on inward investment.
After taking office as Labour leader in December 2011, Lamont urged First Minister Salmond to set a date for the referendum, arguing in her leadership acceptance speech that uncertainty over the referendum's timeline was having a negative impact on Scotland.
And if Labour are, in part, being punished for too negative tone during last year's referendum campaign they will have to mix a negative attack on Ms Sturgeon's plans with a positive vision of Scotland's role in the UK.
Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of advertising company WPP, said companies faced a difficult choice between the "pro-business" Conservative party, which wants an EU referendum, and Labour, which he said had "taken a negative attitude to business".
