UK Politics: Democracy & Participation: Pressure Groups and other Groups

What are the main groups which exert political influence?

Pressure group, think tanks, lobbying

What is a pressure group?

An organised interest group with similar beliefs which aims to influence the policies or actions of a government- not to gain political power

What are the different types of pressure group?

Interest group, causal group, insider group, outsider group, social movement

What is an insider group?

Has close relations and regularly communicated directly with the government (E.g The British Medical Association)

What is an outsider group?

Not close to or in regular communication with the government ( E.g Extinction Rebellion, BLM)

What is a sectional pressure group?

A group that represents the needs of a specific sector of society, usually a profession. These normally have closed/exclusive membership (E.g BMA/ Confederation of British Industry)

What is a causal pressure group?

A pressure group comprised of members which campaign for issues on the behalf of others, they are not necessarily impacted by it. Normally charities (E.g Oxfam, Prison Reform Trust)

What are the methods used by pressure groups?

Lobbying, protests/demonstrations (strikes), legal challenges, public speaking (e.g at rallies)

Example of a pressure group posing a legal challenge?

Snoopers Charter- In 2016, the government tried to pass an act allowing data to be obtained from mobile service providers, Pressure group Liberty took the government to supreme court because the act infringed of privacy rights and won

Example of a pressure group protesting?

BLM June 2020 protest in Nottingham, 3,000 participants

Factors effecting the success of pressure groups?

Finances, ideological alignment with the government, celebrity endorsement, organisation/leadership, size

Example of a successful pressure group?

Rashford free school meals during covid 2020

Pressure Group: The Political Animal Lobby (1999)

Blair announces that he intends to ban animal hunting after receiving an additional £100,000 donation from the PAL (anti-hunting), Labour received £1 million before the 1997 from the PAL

What is hyperpluralism?

When there are too many sources of opposing opinions in the political discourse and it becomes difficult to truly understand or hear any of them

What is tyranny of the minority?

When pressure groups cause the needs of the minority of society to take precedence at the expense of national interest

What is a think tank?

A research organisation that seeks to influence/reform government policy

Are think tanks non-partisan?

Yes, but they can identify themselves as left or right wing

Where do think tanks get funding?

From wealthy business people or corporations

Example of corrupt funding of think tanks

The Adam Smith institute received funding from a tobacco company and subsequently released research opposing stronger anti-smoking regulations

Who normally employs lobbyists?

Businesses and corporations

How do lobbyists influence?

Provide research, develop relations with MPs, verbally persuade MPs votes on legislation/policy, some lobbyists fund MP' campaigns to ensure future influence

What policies have the think tank 'Policy Exchange' help introduce?

The introduction of free schools which are less beholden to government control, the introduction of elected police and crime commissioners

Example of an unsuccessful think tank (resolution foundation)-

Resolution foundation is a left wing think tank, they proposed raises in tax for the highest earners and introducing a windfall tax (they were unsuccessful because they were under a right wing government)

Example of unsuccessful lobbying (Greensill)-

Cameron lobbied on behalf of Greensill for them to be part of the CCFF, essentially allowing them to loan out to small businesses for support during Covid. --> The government declined to do this because it would look bad

Example of successful lobbying (Dyson)-

Dyson lobbied for lower tax for his workers in the UK, he did this over text to Boris Johnson lols

Example of the Resolution Foundation having impact-

They are involved in the calculation of the national real living wage since 2018

What is the Fabian Society (think tank) ideologically?

They are socialist, supporters of gradual change towards democratic socialism, they are heavily associated with Labour as they were involved in its origins

Example of successful lobbying (National Farming Union)-

2015 the NFU lobbies the government so workers in plant nurseries receive the same exemptions for business tax that other agricultural workers receive

What are the main factors in pressure group success?

Size, organisation/leadership, government alignment, financial support, public support

How has the Adam Smith institute's ideological position limited its success?

It has remained firm in its neo-liberal ideas and therefore was v successful under Thatcher but no really influential on governments since

Which centre-right think tank was involved in the policy of Universal Credit?

The Centre for Social Justice (this aligned ideologically with the Conservatives)

Why is the success of the Centre for Social Justice uncommon or specific to this group?

It was set up by Duncan Smith a former Conservative party leader who obviously had influence over Conservative governments

How much is spent on lobbying per year?

£2 billlion

Has Extinction Rebellion's significance membership and following translated into influencing government policy?

No

Which act did the National Autistic Society successfully get MPs to vote for?

2009 Autism Act-- this ensures that the government regularly reviews its measures for protecting adults with autism (minority voices)

Example of a racial equality think tank?

Runnymede Trust

How has the BMA exhibited evidence of tyranny of the minority?

Their stances on healthcare have widely conflicted with the public's-- e.g GP policy for access to the NHS

Which 2023 policy did the BMA stop from being implemented despite it being popular with the public?

The BMA opposed shadow health secretary Wes Streeting's suggestion that patients be able to refer themselves to NHS facilities without needing a GP to act as gatekeeper.

Who are the main financiers for the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank?

Entrepreneurs and businesses

What did the Runnymede Trust do to influence the Education Select Committee?

The presented evidence to the Education Select Committee around bias in grade calculations.

Evidence of trade unions influencing government policy successfully- (National Union of Teachers)

In 2017 they campaigned to raise awareness and scrutiny of cuts to education spending, this led to the government raising education spending

How many protests were there in 2007 vs in 2019? What does this show?

2007: 83 protests

2019: 280 protests-- shows increased public engagement with politics due to interest groups

Example of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil not achieving their governmental aims?

They have failed to cause government to declare a climate emergency and est a people's assembly + Labour had u-turned on its environmental pledges

How has the UK Spirits Alliance and Scotch Whisky Association played an obstructive role in parliamentary politics in 2020?

Their lobbying was part of the reason why there was gridlock/inaction around placing taxes on spirits recently

What is the ideology of the Institute for Economic Affairs and who founded it's political wing?

It is a neo-liberal Thatcherite economic think tank-- Liz Truss founded its political wing (Freer)

In 2013 there were ____ environmental groups with a combined membership of _____million

139 environmental groups with a combined membership of 4.5million people

Trade union membership in 1979?

13million

Trad union membership in 2016?

2.6 million