pressure group influence gov policy

Theme 1

Insider status

Insider status not important

-influence depends on the governing party of the day

NFU- influential under Tories (align with ideology) not influential under Labour (couldn’t water down inheritance tax scheme)

Insider status important

Insider groups exert significant influence in policy drafting stage as they hold specialist knowledge and expertise which aid gov in developing quality legislation

-NFU often consulted by gov ministers, esp DEFRA and during inheritance tax lobbying they presented evidence of impact of inheritance tax on farmers esp small family based farms shutdowns

-President of NFU Bradshaw met with Keir to convince him

→access point, expert information, and respected recognition enable them to exert significant influence in policy decision making

-Labour increasing the tax free threshold for inheritance tax in the budget 2025

Theme 2

Public campaign

Public campaign not important

Public campaign may raise public profile on the issue but it doesn’t often lead to tangible legislative outcome

Youth demand: lack financial resources so don’t have insider status. operate under membership fees and youth advocates with public demonstration to advocate to their cause often using disruptive tactics such as blocking road.

-disruptive tactics resulting in arrests makes them radical groups that Gov don’t want to associate with, alienate public from their cause by shifting public discourse from their cause to their tactic method

-with lack of public pressure and no gains for gov, they just ignore the demonstrations, attempt to curb them through police crime sentencing and courts act 2022

Public campaign important

public campaign which generate mass public support, often with endorsement of celebrity result in significant public pressure forcing Gov to make concessions.

Marcus Rashford’s free school meal online petition generated mass support from public with media presenting Gov decision to curb on welfare as depriving the poor children, forcing u turn.

Dame Esther Rantzen’s assisted dying petition raised public profile on the issue resulting in significant legislative advancement.

→ when public campaign manage to generate mass support from the public, can pressure Gov to change policy bc not doing so could alienate public, reduce trust, erode mandate legitimacy of their decision making, potentially worsening chances of electoral success in next GE

-trade union strikes: often successful seen with BMA junior doctors strike 22% increase in pay in 2 years. ASLEF train driver strike increase pay by 15%

→ disruptive tactics: withdrawing essential labour give them significant leverage as gov make concession to prevent further public harm, successful in determining public sector pay.

Theme 3

legal route

Legal route not important

Many lack financial resources to take case to court.

Even with access to court, sc decision can be overridden by the gov legislation due to parliamentary sovereignty.

-amnesty international played vital role in providing SC with evidence regarding to impact of Rwanda bill which contributed to the ruling -

R v Secretary of State for home department 2023. SC declaration of incompatibility with ECHR in regards to potential for refoulement of asylum seekers sent to Rwanda.

-but gov passed new legislation safety of Rwanda act 2024 to circumvent the decision. Limited legislative impact.