1.2 Pressure Groups & Other Influences Flashcards
💡 Flashcard 1: Do pressure groups, think tanks and lobbyists have little impact on government decisions?
=✅ Argument: Yes — their influence is limited
- Government often ignores outsiders
E: Just Stop Oil staged mass protests (2022–23), but Sunak still approved 100 new oil licences (2023).
E: WASPI women’s campaign rejected by Labour despite 200k+ petition signatures.
L: Government backs its agenda, not protest groups — especially when cost or controversy is high.
- Insider access is fragile and unreliable
E: NFU lost insider status under Labour, despite mass farmer protest in 2024.
E: Liberty failed to stop Public Order Act 2023 or influence Labour to repeal it.
L: Influence depends entirely on political alignment — not consistency or evidence.
- Think tanks rarely shift core government policy
E: The Institute for Economic Affairs influenced Truss’s 2022 economic plan — but it crashed and was scrapped.
E: Many think tanks (e.g. IPPR) make proposals that aren’t adopted at all.
L: Influence exists, but only when ideas already align with government direction.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: Most influence is selective, short-term or blocked by political agendas. Their real power is often overstated.
❌ Counter-Argument: No — these groups can have significant influence
- Insider groups help write policy
E: NFU under Sunak helped block Canada food trade talks to protect UK farmers.
E: Stonewall helped shape the Civil Partnership Act and equalised the age of consent.
L: With access and expertise, insiders do shape legislation directly.
- Think tanks guide party direction
E: Labour Together influenced Starmer’s policies (e.g. pro-business stance, crime agenda).
E: Centre for Social Justice created the idea of Universal Credit.
L: When aligned with parties, think tanks can steer manifesto and ideology.
- Lobbyists gain access and push corporate interests
E: David Cameron lobbied Sunak for Greensill Capital; 170+ ex-ministers now work in lobbying.
E: Telecoms firms influenced broadband infrastructure targets.
L: Wealth and contacts allow companies to quietly shape government priorities.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: While not always visible, these groups influence policy through insider access, expertise and economic power.
Flashcard 2: Are insider pressure groups more effective than outsider groups?
✅ Argument: Yes — insiders have more power and access
- Insider status means direct policy input
E: National Farmers’ Union (NFU) consulted during Brexit trade talks.
E: British Medical Association (BMA) helped shape COVID policy on PPE distribution.
L: Ministers rely on insiders for specialist advice — gives real policy influence.
- Regular contact with government gives long-term influence
E: Confederation of British Industry (CBI) helped develop economic and industrial strategies for decades.
E: Stonewall influenced LGBT legislation for over 20 years.
L: Insiders influence both policy-making and party positioning over time.
- They are seen as legitimate and professional
E: RSPCA contributes evidence to animal welfare legislation.
E: Royal Colleges (e.g. Royal College of Nursing) consulted during NHS reforms.
L: Government prefers working with expert, established voices.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: Insider status gives trusted access, long-term voice and greater ability to shape real decisions.
❌ Counter-Argument: No — outsiders can be highly effective too
- Outsiders attract media attention and public support
E: Greenpeace campaigns pushed microbead ban (2018) and whale hunting bans.
E: Just Stop Oil dominated headlines in 2023–24, influencing the public debate on fossil fuels.
L: Public visibility can pressure governments more than quiet meetings.
- Outsiders can challenge government more freely
E: Liberty took the government to court over the Public Order Act.
E: Extinction Rebellion pressured councils into declaring climate emergencies.
L: No fear of being “cut off” like insiders — more room to criticise.
- Outsiders can shift long-term political opinion
E: Suffragettes used outsider tactics to force the vote onto the agenda.
E: Black Lives Matter influenced race policy and police accountability debates.
L: Radicals often lead change, even if slowly.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: Outsiders may lack access but can use pressure, protest and publicity to make change from the outside-in.
Flashcard 3: Do pressure groups, think tanks, and corporations enhance or undermine democracy?
✅ Argument: They enhance democracy
- Increase political participation
E: 6M+ people are members of pressure groups; 590k+ signed Age UK’s petition in 2024.
E: Groups like Friends of the Earth or BMA offer easy ways to get involved.
L: Makes democracy more everyday, not just about elections.
- Provide expert information to government
E: BMA on health, NFU on farming, RSPCA on animal welfare.
E: Think tanks like Resolution Foundation offer data-driven policy ideas.
L: Helps government make better, informed decisions.
- Represent minority voices excluded from mainstream politics
E: Stonewall for LGBT+ people; Black Protest Legal Support during BLM.
E: Liberty speaks out for civil rights during anti-protest legislation.
L: Protects pluralism and balance in the democratic system.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: Pressure groups and think tanks deepen democracy by adding knowledge, inclusion and new ways to engage.
❌ Counter-Argument: They can undermine democracy
- Unequal access favours wealthy groups
E: Lobby firms like Portland represent big tech and fossil fuel companies.
E: David Cameron lobbied Sunak for Greensill Capital — raised scandal.
L: Wealth = influence — distorts democratic equality. - Think tanks often lack transparency
E: Institute of Economic Affairs doesn’t disclose donors — shaped Truss’s failed economic plan.
E: Some US-linked think tanks promote foreign interests.
L: Hidden agendas make it hard to scrutinise influence. - Some groups disrupt or threaten public order
E: Just Stop Oil blocked roads; Extinction Rebellion shut down parts of London.
E: Public backlash and policing costs damage public trust.
L: Can alienate people and harm democratic legitimacy.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: These groups empower some — but can distort power, lack accountability, and disrupt the system.
Flashcard 4: Is mass membership the key to pressure group success?
✅ Argument: Yes — mass support gives power
- Strength in numbers = public legitimacy
E: Age UK petition (590k+), WASPI women (200k+), fuel protests (1M+ signed)
L: Government must listen when large numbers support a cause — it’s visible democracy.
- Mass support generates media attention
E: Just Stop Oil, BLM, and anti-lockdown protests dominated headlines.
L: Press coverage builds pressure, especially pre-election.
- Politicians fear backlash from large groups
E: Government U-turned on net zero deadlines after public pressure.
E: Fuel tax rises postponed due to HGV protests.
L: Mass movements can block or change laws when elections loom.
🧾 Mini Conclusion: Size matters — the more people you mobilise, the more the government fears ignoring you.
