Pressure Groups Case Studies (Followed from Spec)

Who is ASH UK?

• Promotional, Insider pressure group

• Established in Jan 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians

• Led by Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman, and is governed by a Board of Trustees

• They campaign for the restriction and control of tobacco products and to raise awareness of the danger of it

How does ASH UK address what they believe in?

• Advocacy and Lobbying for stronger regulations like higher tobacco taxes, plain packaging and smoking bans in public places

• Campaigns and public awareness

• Research and policy analysis

• Education and resources

• Partnerships with other public health organisations

Is ASH UK successful?

• Mostly yes, their less radical ideas tend to have most of the public agreeing, however the complete ban of tobacco will be a very hard thing to achieve

• They aided in the introduction in 2016 of new tobacco packaging, standardising packaging with health warnings

• The aided in the 2007 smoking bans in enclosed public places and also generally just higher taxes

• Smoking rates have dropped from 40% in the 1970s to around 14% in 2023

Who is Migration Watch UK?

• Founded in 2001 as a Promotional, Insider pressure group

• President is Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman is Alp Mehmet

• Their central concern is the ‘massive levels of immigration’

How does Migration Watch UK address what they beleive in?

• Primarily focuses on influencing public opinion and government policy on immigration

• They conduct research and provide data

• Engages with the media

• Participates in parliamentary inquiries

• Collaborations with groups who have similar views

Is Migration Watch UK Succesful?

• Though they may have influenced some governmental discussions, the public opinion of them is not good as a whole

• Contributed to the Brexit vote, to leave the EU and maintain UK borders

• Some of their views are seen in government policy

• Has helped bring the conversation of immigration to the forefront of national conversation

• Their influence is overstated however

• It’s not very clear how much they actually influence laws and policies

What pressure group is a good example of legal tactics like marches and protests?

• NFU

• Lobbied against Inheritance tax bill

What pressure group is a good example of illegal actions being taken?

• Just Stop Oil

• An example is when they scaled the bridge over the M25 near Thame, with protestors receiving up to 3 years imprisonment

What pressure group is a good example of social media being used for their cause?

• 38 Degrees

• They have an instagram and TikTok to spread their message

• They have also done many social media campaigns

Pressure groups for high and low levels of finance?

• High Finance: Taxpayers Alliance was very well funded by the government under Liz Truss and their board is extremely wealthy

• Low Finance: Stonewall has limited finance however they are extremely successful, such as changing the age of consent for homosexuals from 21 down to the same as straight consent (16)

Pressure groups for high and low levels of membership?

• High membership: RSPCA is practically a household name, and further more it is widely uncontroversial therefore attracting many members

• Unsuccessful with High membership: CND has had barely any policies in their favour

Pressure groups for positive and negative attitude from government?

• Positive attitude: ASH UK collaborates and helps government, when they work together the result is often a success for both sides

• Negative attitude: Gurkha the government didn’t really want to support them and achieve their aim, but it worked out for them anyway

Pressure groups for high and low levels of organisation skills?

• High organisation: Green Peace

• Low organisation: European movement is widely known as one of the most unorganised and chaotic pressure groups

Pressure groups with positive and negative public perceptions?

• Positive perception: RSPCA almost everyone doesn’t want to hurt animals, children or birds

• Negative perception: Hard to identify