UKPOL 1.3DP Pressure groups

What is a pressure group?

a membership based association, whose aim is to influence policy-making WITHOUT seeking power

What are the functions of pressure groups?

• To represent and promote the interest of certain (usually marginalised) sections of the community who feel they're underrepresented by Parliament

• To protect interests of minority groups

• To promote certain causes that have not been taken up by political parties

• To inform and educate the public

• To call government to account over its performance in particular areas of policy

• Occasionally pass key information to government and influence policy

• To give citizens other political participation opportunities

What are some advantages of pressure groups?

• legal and peaceful (majority)

• Hold governments to account between elections

• Membership statistics shows they’re currently the most successful form of participation in the UK

• Minorities that are underrepresented in parliament can have their voices heard

• politically educate the public

What are some disadvantages of pressure groups?

• leaders of pressure groups are unaccountable

• methods can be criticized, especially when they’re violent and illegal

• typically, only the well resourced ones are successful

• tyranny of the majority - unelected group can impose their will on democratically elected gov

• digital slacktivism

What % of people in the UK are part of pressure groups

40%

What % of the public are part of Political parties

1%

What are the strategies of pressure groups

• campaigning

• litigation

• lobbying

• direct action

Why is a pressure groups choice of strategy important?

• impacts the way the government and the public view them

• therefore impacting their success

Describe the strategy of campaigning

• using traditional media and advertising to change public opinion

• use events and media to force change

Describe the strategy of lobbying

• groups use their expertise or membership base to gain access to members of government

• two way relationship - gov also need specialist knowledge for politics

Describe the strategy of direct action

• political action that is designed to disrupt or influence the function and work of government

• strikes, boycotts, blockades

• can be violent, non-violent, legal, illegal

• can influence young people in particular

Describe the strategy of litigation

• use the courts to challenge government actions or perceived injustices

Why could a pressure groups use of direct action not result in substantial success?

• alienate the public

• public illegal or disruptive action will result in the government wanting to distance itself from a group

• push groups into becoming outsiders

What are think tanks?

privately funded, non profit organisations that conduct research with a view to changing political parties

Name a think tank

• Centre for Social Justice

• Adam Smith Institude

• Center for Policy studies

Who are the center for social justice

• independent center right think tank

• founded in 2004

• one of the most influential on the conservatives under Cameron in 2014

Example of the Center for Social Justice’s influence on policy

• 2018 - A Woman-Centred Approach called on the government to scrap plans for up to 5 new women's prisons and put funds towards community-based alternatives

  • Ministry of Justice subsequently announced this initiative

• 2017 - Housing First recommended placing homeless people suffering with addiction in permanent accommodation and giving them access to care and training

  • CSJ called for nationwide rollout, Government announced and allocated £28 million of funding for a pilot series in the west midlands

What are lobbyists?

 distinct organisations or individuals that sell expert knowledge of the political process to those who can afford to hire them. Sometimes referred to as public relations groups

Why are lobbyists questionable

• Often employ ex-politicians, who know how to access decision makers

  • Ethically questionable, as its very cash for influence style

Examples of how lobbyists operate

At an advanced level, lobbyists will arrange events for their clients to have an opportunity to meet with those in power, through corporate hospitality - offering free tickets to sporting or cultural events, where they'll be sat with the clients who paid for it .

• For example:

  • Former foreign secretary Jack Straw claimed that in 2015 he used his contacts in the EU to change sugar regulations on behalf of ED and F Man Holdings, who paid him £60,000 a year

How much is spent on lobbying in the UK a year

• 2 billion GBP

Name a prominent lobbyist in the UK

• The cicero group - financial services, infrastructure, energy, transport

• Adam Smith - former SpAd who lobbies for Paddy Power

• PLMR - political lobbying and media relations

Do pressure groups enhance or threaten democracy ENHANCE

• give the public more opportunities to participate in politics, improves democracy

• counters tyranny of the majority by lobbying on behalf of minorities

• holds the government to account on issues between elections

Do pressure groups enhance or threaten democracy THREATEN

• pressure groups are not accountable to the public despite having a large influence on policy

• finance and influence are a big factor in the success of a pressure group, which makes it hard for outsider groups (minorities usually) to be influential

• pressure group methods are often criticized for being violent

What factors influence pressure group success

• resources

• support

• government attitude

• tactics

• leadership

Who are the Royal College of Nurses

• insider pressure group

• aims to protect nurses at work, as well as their pay and their numbers

• use direct action and campaigning

• have had some success in 2019/20 in Northern Ireland , where pay and staff increased, but none in the UK yet

• 64% public approval of a strike , 75% sympathetic to their position, get lots of media attention