pressure groups and other influences 1.3

Pluralist democracy

- No one group dominates politics

- Both elected and non-elected groups compete for influence of policy

What does pluralist democracy allow public to do?

Participate in politics past voting - e.g., through supporting pressure groups or campaigning

What are key aspects of a pressure group?

- Made up of people with similar opinions and political goals

- Usually have a 'narrow-issue' focus

- Do no want to gain position of power in government system, instead influence

types of pressure groups

• sectional/ interest

• cause/ promotional

• insider

• outsider

sectional/ interest

• Interests of a particular group within society e.g., Muslim Council of Britain, NEU

• They lobby the government on behalf of a clearly defined social group

Cause/ Promotional:

• Cause pressure groups promote/ raise awareness and put pressure on the government to act on particular issues

• Members united by a shared interest/ concern e.g., Greenpeace, Just Stop Oil etc..

insider

- Are regularly consulted by government
- Regular access to government ministers
- High or low profile
- Aims are broadly in line with the government's (have influence)
- Can restrict their activities

- e.g., BMA The British Medical Association, The Howard League for Penal Reform

outsider

• No access to political decision making

• Have to gain the attention/ support of the public in order to pressure the government to change

How do pressure groups exert influence?

1. Insider status
2. Public opinion
3. Direct action

How does insider status work?

- Have consultations with govt officials

- Gain insider status as a result of the political climate (depending on what issues are pressing) - contacted to form policy together

what methods are used by insider groups?

• Working with minsters and civil servants

  • stalk ‘corridors of power’ under both L and C governments - objective- get involved in gov early thinking + draft proposal -easier- apply influence before gov has taken public position

• working with parliament

  • Asking MPs + peers - introduce amendments to leg, + working w them to draft amendments; Influencing way MPs + peers vote on a bill; Drafting private member bills (annual ballot of MPs - if win, get chance to present a PMB); Contributing to departmental reports

• working with political parties

  • through funding/ donation; close ties - help inform process of developing pols - relies on party sticking to promises; could risk in other parties pushing away - want neutrality?

insider groups effective

• influence w ministers, civil servants - most effective- where power lies

• parliament become more powerful + lobbying more sophisticated

• influence inside pol party - can result in impact on policy, when party wins

• insider status w EU + devolved assemblies - become more powerful

• less confrontation

insider groups not effective

• gov still dominates parl, especially when large maj - more likely to gain media coverage than change law

• insider status w one party can reduce influence w other parties

• power remains concentrated in Westminster and UK left EU 1/2/20

• exclusivity - policymakers often limited to well-funded groups/ well-connected - privileged

• compromise - dilute original goals

Trade Unions' insider status:

- Have a link with the Labour Party
- Provide substancial funding
- In return, can influence policy AND party leader elections

Example of trade party influence:

- 2010
- Ed Miliband surprisingly defeated his brother David in becoming Labour leader
- Large chunk of his votes came from TU members (he had promised reform)

Which groups try to influence public opinion, and why?

- Outsider groups
- To try and indirectly influence government policy

How do outsider groups indirectly influence government policy?

- If enough public support for a particular issue is garnered, this will pressurise government into taking action
- May be electoral consequences if don't

what methods do outsider groups use?

• public petitions, marches, and demonstrations - indirect influence of gov

• shows of public support - gov pay attention -fear electoral consequences

• civil disobedience - non violent but disruptive e.g., just stop oilu

• use of modern technology - social media focus #climateemergency from XR on social media -

• use the courts - increasing judicial review - e.g., Dying in Dignity 2014(breaching, pressured gov to change ) - but using courts- normally shows attempts to convince the gov to change course have alr failed

outsider groups effective

• engaging public opinion - can shift political agenda + force gov out of fear

• direct action- more common - can be used to set agenda for 24/7 media

• arrival of new technology - media attention - force political change

• judicial review - media coverage

outsider groups not effective

• shaping pub opinion - can be done over long term, but hard to shift gov pol in short term

• gov unlikely to change pol from direct action - view as mob rule, outside democratic politics

• coalition conservative Govs - dismissive of 38 Degrees - see as aiming to block elected gov

• judicial review - only used when all other methods failed - too costly

• can cause negative attention

• risks of alienation

• legal consequences - arrests/ fines - strain resources - divert from goal

what is green peace and what impact?

• Outsider pressure group

• Influenced the decision by Michael Gove to ban bee harming pesticides 2017 (however, this ban was repealed in 2023) - but did work with policy change

• Regular demonstrations, publicity campaigns, civil disobedience, digital campaigning

• celebrity endorsement - Emma Thompson

Recent years - outsider group example:

- Public protests against student tuition fees and cuts to welfare budget

How is direct action taken by outsider groups?

Strikes, boycotts, blockades - disrupt the running of a country
- Examples of civil disobedience
- Pressurise the govt into acting

Example of present day direct action:

Just Stop Oil Coalition - outsider pressure group - garner attention through boycotts, striking, closing roads, vandalising Van Gogh paintings - Oct-Dec 2023 Scotland Yard said that 630 arrests were made in this time of activists

was this effective (just stop oil)

possibly deterred from the issue and in fact made it less popular but did stimulate lots of attention (positive or not?)

15th Feb 2003: who organised the demonstration and why?

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament & Stop the War Coalition & Muslim Association of Britain
- expressed opposition to the Iraq War

How many people attended?

BBC estimated approx. 1 million
- largest political demonstration in city's history

what is a think tank?

- A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social or political issues
- Try to influence public policy and debate through research results, not campaign
- Use media and direct contacts with politicians to gain influence

Adam Smith Institute

A think tank which focuses on Free Market Issues
- Far right
- Extremely popular during Thatcher's premiership - were the primary intellectual force between privatisation of state-owned industries

what’s the Fabian Society

Left-wing think-tank
- Want to increase equality of power, wealth and opportunity
- Usually made up of ex-Labour members

limitations of think tanks

- Only popular if correlate with government's intentions
- Adam Smith Institute only popular during Thatcher's time
- Left-wing think tanks like The Institute for Public Policy only influence left wing parties

how do think tanks uphold democracy?

• e.g., Policy Exchange; founded in 2002, right wing

  • policies taken on by gov– Free Schools, Police+Crime Commissioners

• research strengths, detailed and bespoke research

  • resources that gov may not have access to; based off facts - more transparent? – but can become more politically leaned and motivated – not neutral, more influence?

• range of groups – pan across the political spectrum

  • variety of competing groups put forwards range of policy alternatives

• when significant reports published by major think tanks – ignites wide ranging public debate

• keeps population informed – able to understand and form an educated opinion

how do think tanks undermine democracy?

• funding may lack transparency - can undermine credibility

  • E.g., Adam Smith Institute does not disclose annual income, name donors/ declare the amount given by donors

  • Chatham House does show annual income (£18 180 000), does disclose all donors, + how much they donate

  • Centre for Social Justice only shares annual income (£2 689 735)

• If unknown who behind think tanks, can undermine objectivity of the policies enacted on their advice

• Can be considered undemocratic - Often given special access to gov based on background of ministers

• Special advantage when it comes to access to govs – unfair adv on pol

• Inherently biased – appearance of neutral policy investigation, but often politically aligned – lack of objectivity over policies they recommend

What is lobbying?

- The attempt by business, charities, individuals and pressure groups to influence politicians to allow certain policies or loosen regulation
- Firms who are specialised at lobbying do this on their behalf

who was Bernie Ecclestone?

• Lobbied on behalf of Formula 1 before the 1997 election

• Donated £1 million to Labour, so that tobacco advertising taxes wouldn't be placed on Formula 1

• Strange considering that Labour were previously pushing for the smoking ban

what does this tell us about lobbying in the UK?

• sheds light on the significant influence of lobbying in various sectors

• shape government decisions and policies, particularly in matters and industries concerning substantial financial interests

• bribes and corruption have the ability to change matters for the public in a disloyal way

what does this tell us about reputation of lobbyists?

• To the public - Rising controversy and potential corruption of Ecclestone - contribute to a negative perception of lobbyists- influential individuals who only aim to use their power to mould policies for their own, selfish benefit

• Validity and trustworthiness with corporations - diminish credibility with corporations who seek lobbying services

• Credibility to the gov – raise questions and suspicions about transparency of political process

• spark more rigorous regulations in relation to activity of lobbyists

who was Owen Patterson

- Conservative MP
- Left Commons in Nov 2021
- Had lobbied continuously for 2 companies which both paid him over £100,000/year

What was the Greensill scandal? (lobbyists)

- Greensill - financial company which wanted to be a part of the government's corporate finance scheme (CCFF)
- Aim was to help small businesses gain gov aid, whilst making a lot of money simultaneously
- 2020 Cameron lobbied cabinet ministers on their behalf, for example, taking Health Sec Hancock out for a drink and sending multiple 'informal' messages to Chancellor Sunak
- Controversial as although this happened more than 2 years after Cameron had resigned, looked politically corrupt

Will lobbying be made illegal?

• Very unlikely as MPs like the security of knowing that they will potentially have a lobbying job in the future

• need for more strict regulations and more transparency in lobbying

• Perhaps -should be a requirement to disclose clients and financial arrangements and intentions

• Banning lobbyists in specific sectors where there is a large conflict of interest would highly impact public policy

• It is an ongoing debate and discussion

What is the Liberty and what impact have they had?

-challenge injustice, defend freedom and campaign to make sure everyone in the UK is treated fairly

- works to promote human rights and protect civil liberties through a combination of test case litigation, lobbying, campaigning and research.

What is the BMA and what have they done?

British Medical Association - insider pressure group
- Advise the government and lobby on private and public health issues
- Successfully convinced government to have plain packaging for cigarette packets in order to stop attracting people

Why are insider groups limited?

- Only have power if the government of the time is interested in their legislative ideas
- Means no radical legislation can be passed
- Narrowed further in recent years, as catch-all parties mean parties no longer want to appeal to just a certain group

What are factors of successful pressure groups?

The organisation, insider status, wealth, large membership (CBI employs 7 mil), the strategic importance of the group, celebrity endorsement (Emma Thompson Greenpeace), expertise

What are factors of unsuccessful pressure groups?

Group alienates the public, goals of group act against public opinion, goal contradicts with gov policy, the gov can resist pressure from the group (e.g., Blair)

Example that employing online tactics can gain significant influence for a pressure group:

Mobilising opposition through petitions. An example of this would be the 38 Degrees group collected 321,437 online signatures in 2016, helping to persuade the government not to privatise the Land Registry. - procedures were taken to follow this through

OR XR - trending hashtag #climateemergency

What is an example of a campaign which was successful due to public support?

The Snowdrop Campaign was a success largely because of public reaction to the 1996 Dunblane Primary School massacre, when a gunman killed 16 children and their teacher - as a result of a petition with over 750,000 signatures, Firearm Act passed in 1997 which led to the banning of handguns

What did Iain Duncan set up and what is a limitation to it?

Set up the Centre for Social Justice to better advise his party whilst he was Tory leader
- Unlikely to gain support whilst Labour gov, as is too closely linked with their opposition

what is extinction rebellion?

• global movement - uses peaceful protests to demand action on climate change and ecological issue

• believe urgent action is needed to address these problems and often organise protests and demonstrations to raise awareness and push for change

• outsider pressure group

how does extinction rebellion enhance democracy?

• aim to create safer, accessible spaces

• Aim for regenerative culture – healthy, resilient, adaptable

• Want to mitigate power – break down hierarchies, more equitable participation, based on autonomy

• Avoid blaming and shaming – more people will be comfortable sharing their opinion

• People - not members – come and join events when promoted - not exclusive

• ‘Holacracy’ - spread power across employees by ditching traditional management hierarches in favour of semi-independent “circles”

• Encouraging governments to be led by the decisions of, a citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice 

how does extinction rebellion hinder democracy?

• Lack of political engagement - focuses more on protest and disruption than democratic processes, e.g., voting or engaging with elected officials

• Disruption- civil disobedience and direct-action tactics, e.g. blocking streets/ disrupting public order -undermine democratic processes by obstructing functioning of institutions + inconveniencing public. 

• Resistance to compromise -inflexibility + inability to find common ground with other stakeholders, - necessary in democratic processes. 

• Lack of internal democracy - internal decision-making processes do not always adhere to democratic norms- informal consensus-building - may not provide adequate opportunities for dissenting voices

• Predominantly white and middle class – time to attend protest without worrying about prospect of arrest – can walk back into job after

tesco corporation - what is it?

- Tesco is a giant UK supermarket chain, recognisable as it has stores in towns and cities across the United Kingdom.

- Tesco has a huge range of interests that it needs to advocate on as so many areas of UK law affect the company including tax and company, law, farming, and food standards policy as well as employment law and employee rights.

significance of Tesco corporation

• people don't think of them as political organisations.

• However- 2018 papers - Tesco's Chief Executive, Dave Lewis, calling for an 'Amazon Tax' of 2% on online sales to prevent high street chains from going under.

• part of wider campaign to catch eye of Chancellor over their concern that online sales, increase in business rates + introduction of the national living wage - lead to death of the British high street.

• key target - business rates- (tax raised on most non-domestic properties like shops); Tesco was paying >£700 million annually

• 2019, Tesco went to Treasury Select Committee making case for 20% cut

• pointed to fact that retail in the UK employed 3 million people but saw 7,500 store closures in the previous year

• campaigning by Tesco, other retailers and the British Retail Consortium caught the eye of the Government

• 2019, at the CBI Conference, the PM Boris Johnson announced promise - reduce burden of business rates + launch full review into rates

• During COVID, shopping moved online; part of recovery programme, - an online tax, similar to the Amazon Tax put forward by Dave Lewis. aim -bring people back onto the high street to do their shopping.

• Tesco's contribution was further enhanced when in June 2020 - announced - Tesco Chairman, John Allan, (previously served as President of the CBI) would head Covid Recovery Commission, an apolitical panel of corporate leaders; aim was to develop policy -rejuvenate economy + deliver concrete proposals for Government to consider. Although the Commission was not set up by the Government, its establishment was welcomed by Chancellor Sunak

is this democratic?

• Present evidence and place their views onto government

• Undemocratic because no one voted for Tesco – so what is there right to go be meddling with - unelected and unaccountable

• Democratic because many people were backing them – this type of level of change is necessary with the involvement of a big institution like Tesco - like an unregulated political party?

• Just because it's beneficial does not mean it's democratic

• financially have a large influence - shows how pressure groups need connections and wealth

How do lobbyists and corporations have an impact on democracy

• Provide valuable input to policy makers, sharing expertise and advocating for polices they think will benefit the population 

• Issue of ‘revolving doors’ where individuals move between the government and jobs in the private sector which can create exclusive relationships between corporations and government officials, potentially leading to policies that prioritise corporate interests at the expense of public interest 

• can often lack transparency and be hidden from the public  

what is CBI?

• Insider group which prioritises rights of workers

• In 2019 it was reported that it was able to ensure the 60% median wage target was prioritised so the wage worked for both businesses and people was satisfactory

• employ 7 mil

how does cbi enhance democracy?

• Strictly politically neutral – voice of business in UK

• Powerful lobbying force

• Government frequently approaches them to discuss advice on businesses

• Complete surveys to create awareness of important British issues

• Uses platform to speak out on issues that concern British businesses

• Strong links w gov representatives – attends conferences and dinners – strong dialogue due to attendance

• good at using the media to put out messaging to attract government attention

• insider

how does cbi hinder democracy?

• closeness in gov – clear alliance of values (conservative) - not neutral

• Powerful not bc of dialogue but bc of similarities with party in power 

• Neo-liberal - 2017 general election, statements were made that strongly favoured policies of conservative parties

• Places pressure on political parties

  • E.g., 14^th of Oct 2022– published research - claimed that Labour’s nationalisation plans (e.g., BP and Shell) – uncovered - would cost the UK 200 billion – favour conservative

  • 2014 Scottish independence referendum – officially registered themselves as a ‘no’ – not politically neutral

• Called for all candidates to put business first

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