Pressure Groups

Politics Paper 1

What is a pressure group?

An organisation that seeks to influence policy through political means without seeking political office itself.

How are pressure groups split?

Aims and willingness to work with Government

What are sectional pressure groups? with examples…

Aim to promote interests of members and represent a certain section of society

• Such as the National union of mineworkers

• National education union

• National farmers union

What are promotional pressure groups?with examples…

Aim to promote values of members, believe will benefit society + have an open membership

such as Just stop oil - promote the environmental cause + anyone can join

• Campaign for real Ale

What pressure groups are considered both sectional and promotional?

Stonewall, Countryside alliance

What is an insider pressure group? with examples…

A group that works with the government and is consulted on government decision making

• National Farmers union - 1947 agriculture act = must be consulted on all agricultural policy

• The British medical association

What is an outsider pressure group? with examples…

A group that doesn’t work with the government: ideological reasons/methods can’t be endorsed by Gov

• Just stop oil (method) - direct action - blocking M25

• Amnesty international

What is a dependant factor on the status of a pressure group?

Who is in government

eg:

Stonewall worked closely with Tony Blair but Rishi Sunak’s Gov refused to work with them

What pressure groups started as an outsiders and are now insiders?

ASH - action on smoking and health:

• set up in 1971 by doctors (smoking was popular)

• idea didn’t align with public or government

• used expertise as doctors to educate public

Stonewall - formed for protection of gay rights after 1988, C gov passed section 28

• public + Gov disagreed initially

• Stonewall used courts to change legislation

• Labour 1997 - worked with stonewall to repeal section 28, introduce civil partnerships

• criticised atm for extreme stance on transgenderism - sued by lesbian barrister Allison Bailey

What legislation were stonewall able to change?

Age of consent for homosexual acts and banning homosexuals in the military

What are the methods used by Pressure groups?

• Legal action (courts)

• endorsements

• education + expertise

• media + social media

• Direct media

How have pressure groups used legal action and what are the limits?

Use courts to change legislation - argue legislation is incompatible with ECHR + HRA

• Stonewall

• liberty - reduced power of ‘stop and search‘ from police

Limits

• for outsider groups

• can only get so far using courts - parliament are what allow laws to be changed - christian institute

How have pressure groups used endorsements and what are the limits?

Celebrity endorsements can bring more attention

• 2020 Marcus Rashford - free school meals

• Joanna Lumley - justice for Gurkha’s in 2009

Limits:

• celebrities on both side of cause: Olly alexander backed stonewalls campaign to make transition and self - ID easier - BUT JK Rowling supported the opposing side

• dismissed by Gov - Celebs ‘out of touch‘

How may people signed Marcus Rashfords petition?

1.1 million by november 2020

How have pressure groups used education and enterprise and what are the limits?

Use expertise to educate either Part or public

• Automobile association + Royal automobile club - critical of BJ smart motorway plan

• provided specialist evidence to transport select committee and managed to delay building for 5 years

• Educating public: ASH + stonewall

limits:

doesn’t always work:

• Confederation of British industry, expertise provided over consequences of Brexit ignored by Gov

How have pressure groups used Media + social media and what are the limits?

Liberty 2008 - persuaded national newspapers of their position against a 42-day terrorist charges - led to lords blocking attempts to increase days

38 degreed - email campaigns tp prevent Gov plans to sell off public lands

• free

• spreads petitions - campaign to stop Brexit - 6.1 million signatures

Limits:

• media campaigns aren’t always favourable:

• sky news interview of just stop oil member Indigo Rumbelow

How have pressure groups used direct action and what are the limits?

creates immediate attention

create disruption, forces gov to back down + negotiate

• March 1990 poll tax riots = Thatcher backed down

Industrial action:

• 1972 National union of minors - given pay rise of 21% by health government

Limits

• groups such as just stop oil + blocking M25 causes public anger - harming the cause?

• trade unions now have lower participation - less power: teaching union unable to stop cuts to school by coalition Gov

Is wealth a key factor in determaning success of pressure groups?

Yes:

• CBI have annual budget of 24 million and can afford 11 full - time lobysists - able to campaign agaisnt tax cuts (have been 6 in the last 12 years)

No:

• Association of British Bookmakers (revenues of 2 million a year, gives MPS £20,000 a year in tickets to sporting events) - public mood against them over FOBTs, = 2019 maximum stake on FOBTs to £2

Is expertise the key factor in determaning success of pressure groups?

Yes:

league against cruel sports( outsider group):

• employed former police to research into dog fighting, politicians + civil service rely on them as experts… 2017 sentence for dog-fighting went from 6 months to 5 years

No:

national education union - expertise on educational issues

• however 0 success since 2010

• opposed GCSE + A level reforms but had no impact

Is public opinion the key factor in determining success of pressure groups?

Yes:

Age UK

2017 Gov stated minibus drivers need licence + 34 hours of training

Age UK - said it harmed community services + gained support of daily mail

2018 - Gov backed down + allowed volunteer drivers to not have licence

No: public attention doesn’t help, you need public sympathy…

Extinction rebellion:

63% public thought UK should declare a climate emergency after 2019 protest

BUT only 33% public supported direct action, most found it annoying

Is membership size the key factor in determining success of pressure groups?

Yes:

National trust - 4 million members

2011 sent letter to all members with petition against governments loose planning laws - very impactful/Gov altered their proposals

No:

Unison - public sector workers union - 1.3 million members

• 2010 campaign against gov ‘austerity’ had little effect - public sector pay has fallen by around 15% in real terms since 2010

How are pressure groups good for democracy?

• provide gov with expertise and information that improves decision making (ASH, BMA)

• Improve pluralism by representing minorities (stone wall)

• Promote healthy public political participation + educate public (stonewall ‘some people are gay, get over it‘)

  Help the Gov realise what public views on matters are (LGB alliance)

• Hold politicians to account (taxpayers alliance, if gov is wasting money - Scottish gov + Gaelic lessons)

How are pressure groups bad for democracy?

• Provide gov + public with one sided information - warp decision making (institute of economic affairs - advised Truss on mini budget)

• worsened elitism by securing influence for only well funded + insider groups (CBI)

• Promoted ineffective and ill informed public participation (clictivism - 38 degrees website )

• Misrepresent public popion in their own interests

• Avoiding accountability themselves - theyre not elected (NFU aren’t held accountable even if they make poor farming decisions even though they are consulted with for policy)