1.3 Pressure groups and other influences

Question 1

What is a pressure group?

Answer 1

A group that tries to influence policy in the interests of a particular cause.

Question 2

How do pressure groups differ from a political party?

Answer 2

• They do not usually enter their own candidates at elections and do not seek to exercise power themselves
• They seek to influence the government to adopt their ideas, or not to pursue a policy of which they disapprove

Question 3

What are the three main types of pressure groups?

Answer 3

• Sectional groups (or interest groups)
• Cause groups (or promotional groups)
• Social movements

Question 4

What are sectional groups?

Answer 4

• Groups that seek to promote the interests of an occupation or another group in society
• E.g., trade unions represent their members in negotiations with employees over wages and working conditions
• Membership usually restricted to people who meet specific requirements, such as professional qualifications in a particular field

Question 5

What are cause groups?

Answer 5

• Groups focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue or group of related issues
• Membership usually open to anyone who sympathises with their aims
• E.g., Greenpeace promotes awareness of environmental concerns and tries to influence the government to adopt ‘green’ causes
• A special category of cause group is one that promotes the interests of a group in society

Question 6

What are social movements?

Answer 6

• Similar to cause groups but are more loosely structured
• Some participations may also belong to more traditional pressure groups, while others are simply moved to take part in a specific protest
• Usually politically radical and seek to achieve a single objective

Question 7

What are insider groups?

Answer 7

• Groups that rely on contacts with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims
• Some like the National Union of Farmers, have close links with relevant government department
• They tend to have objectives that are broadly in line with the views of the government

Question 8

What are outsider groups?

Answer 8

• Groups that are not regularly consulted by government, and thus reliant on winning over public opinion
• Their objective may be so far outside the political mainstream that the government is unlikely to enter into dialogue with them

Question 9

How did trade unions turn from insider groups to outsider groups, in 1979?

Answer 9

• They had enjoyed privileged access to influence, especially when Labour governments were in power - but with the election of Thatcher, union leaders were deliberately excluded from the corridors of power.

Question 10

How is a pressure group’s choice of methods largely determined?

Answer 10

By the resources available and by its status as an insider or outsider group.

Question 11

What types of methods do insider groups usually have?

Answer 11

Insider groups tend to negotiate quietly behind the scenes, using their private contacts in Whitehall.

Question 12

Give an example of a pressure group that are able to offer their views on draft legislation?

Answer 12

The National Farmers Union are able to offer the government the benefit of their specialised knowledge in return for influence over policy.

Question 13

What types of methods do outsider groups typically have?

Answer 13

They typically resort to less discreet methods to draw attention to their concerns.
This could be through:
- Email campaigns
- Petitions
- Staging demonstrations
- Publicity stunts

Question 14

What is an example of outsider groups using publicity stunts?

Answer 14

Members of BLM UK obstructed flights at London City Airport in September 2016 to draw attention to their claim that ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected by pollution.

Question 15

Give an example of a pressure group that may use a combination of ‘insider’ or ‘outsider’ methods.

Answer 15

The British Medical Association (BMA) usually enjoys insider status but, faced with the Conservative government’s determination to impose a new contract on junior doctors, it indicated its support for strike action in 2016.

Question 16

What could constitute success for a pressure group?

Answer 16

• Success for some may consist of winning publicity for an issue rather than actually changing government policy
• Depends on the climate of public opinion
• Depends on the willingness of the government to make concessions
• Access to effective methods of communication could promote success

Question 17

Why is it hard to measure the success of insider groups?

Answer 17

They don’t usually publicise their achievements to avoid offending their government contacts.

Question 18

How does the success of different pressure groups vary considerably as a consequence of the wider context?

Answer 18

Depends on climate of public opinion and willingness of govt to make concessions.

Depends on access to effective methods of communication
- E.g., the dramatic sequence of events that followed a period of rising petrol prices in September 2000.

Question 19

How has the influence of online groups mobilising opposition through petitions become more effective?

Answer 19

2016 - the 38 Degrees group collected 321,437 online signatures, helping to persuade the govt not to privatise the Land Registry.

Question 20

Give an example of using technology in order for a movement to gain momentum.

Answer 20

UK economy almost ground too a halt when road hauliers and farmers spearheaded movement to blockade oil refineries - in bid to get govt to reduce tax on fuel.

Had considerable leverage and made use of mobile phones to assemble supporters rapidly with little warning - enjoyed widespread public approval.

Gained a freeze rather than a cut in duty - 2 later attempts to replace this mass protest, when cost of fuel began to rise again, failed to attract significant support.

Question 21

What are several factors that are usually relevant in deciding the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 21

Resources

Tactics and leadership

Public support

Government attitudes

Question 22

How can resources be used to judge pressure group success?

Answer 22

Large membership who pay subscriptions - group is likely to have financial resources to run offices, pay permanent staff and organise publicity.

E.g., - RSPCA employs about 1,600 people, supported by volunteers - can afford to take out full-page advertisement in national newspapers.

Size of membership important in persuading govt that it reflects significant section of public opinion.

Question 23

How can tactics and leadership be used to judge pressure groups success?

Answer 23

Experienced, capable leadership vital to success
- E.g., RSCPA - key role in securing ban on hunting with dogs in 2004 - collaborated with 2 smaller groups

Another key to success - knowing which ‘access points’ in UK political system to target - points at which a group can apply pressure.

Question 24

How can public support be used to judge pressure group success?

Answer 24

Groups whose agenda is in step with public opinion usually more successful than those who fail to gain it.

Snowdrop campaign - to ban use of handguns - successful because of public reaction to 1996 Dumblane Primary School massacre.

Favourable media coverage can play an important role in winning support, as can the involvement of a well-known personality.

Question 25

How can govt attitudes be used to judge pressure group success?

Answer 25

Insider contacts with govt ministers and civil servants often key to success.

National Farmers Union’s links to Defra - instrumental in bringing about 2013 badger cull - intended to protect cattle against tuberculosis - despite wishes of animal welfare groups - advocated vaccination of herds as a more humane approach.

Govt will usually listen to groups on which it relies for specialist knowledge of a policy area - and with whose agenda it can see some common ground.

Question 26

What are other organisations that seek to exercise influence in various ways within the UK political system?

Answer 26

Think tanks.
Lobbyists.
Corporations.

Question 27

What are think tanks?

Answer 27

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic social or political issues.

Question 28

Give an example of a think tank.

Answer 28

The shift of Conservative Party thinking towards a more overtly free-market-orientated approach in the 1970s owed a great deal to Thatcher’s patronage of right-wing think tanks, such as the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute.

Question 29

Think tanks are an alternative source of ideas to…

Answer 29

the civil service, with more time and expertise than political parties to carry out research.

Question 30

Give an example of think tanks having a definitive influence on govt policy.

Answer 30

The Centre for Social Justice set up by Iain Duncan Smith in 2004 - to look for solutions to the problems of people living in disadvantaged communities.

His appointment as Work and Pensions Secretary in the coalition govt 6 years later enabled him to implement some of its ideas - notably the ‘universal credit’ plan seeking to reduce dependence of poor people on welfare benefits.

Question 31

How, perhaps, are think tanks less influential on government policy?

Answer 31

In govt, it is necessary to make compromises, so the less politically practical ideas dreamed up by think tanks are often ignored.

Question 32

Why is the work of think tanks often said to lack academic rigour expected in university circles?

Answer 32

Typically, they are staffed by young, ambitious individuals who see their time there as a springboard to a political career.
- E.g., David Miliband went from working at the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research to become an adviser to Tony Blair, then an MP and eventually in the New Labour governments

Question 33

What are lobbyists?

Answer 33

Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence govt or parliament on their behalf, particularly when legislation is being considered.

Question 34

What are the purpose of lobbyists?

Answer 34

To gain influence on behalf of their clients, particularly when legislation that affects their clients’ interests is under consideration.

This is an extension of a long-established principle that members of the public may lobby their MPs in person or by letter.

Question 35

Why is there unease about the legitimacy of some professional lobbying activities?

Answer 35

Many people dislike the idea that influence can be bought by wealthy individuals and organisations, who can afford the lobbyists’ fees.

Attention has been focused on the system recently by undercover journalists posing as lobbyists to entrap MPs with offers of financial rewards.
- The parliamentary code of conduct strictly bars MPs from accepting money for agreeing to represent a viewpoint

Question 36

Other than legitimacy, what is another concern about lobbyists?

Answer 36

That the lobbyist system for many years has expected to regulate itself, with lobbyists being allowed to decide whether or not their names appeared on a public register.

2014 - govt made it legal requirement for anyone lobbying on behalf of a third party to register if their activities include discussing policy, legislation or govt contracts with a minister or senior civil servant.
- This didn’t allay the anxieties of critics who wanted greater transparency

Question 37

How does lobbying remain big business in the UK?

Answer 37

Employs an estimated 4,000 people, and a total of £2 billion is spent on it each year.

Question 38

How much influence does lobbying really have over government?

Answer 38

It is uncertain - under Cameron - number 10 denied that lobbying firms changed govt policy, but stated that companies frequently discuss their concerns with the Business Department or the Treasury.

Governments carry out regular consultation exercises to discover what the impact of proposed legislation on relevant groups may be - they may modify their plans in response to pressure

Question 39

What are corporations?

Answer 39

Large business organisations - in UK govt circles.

Question 40

What is the role of corporations a related area of concern for some pro-democracy campaigners?

Answer 40

Has been discussion of the so-called ‘revolving door’ process, where senior politicians and officials take well-paid jobs in the private sector after they leave govt service.

Brings with it suspicion that they use their knowledge and contracts to benefit the interests of these corporations.

Additionally, a number of business leaders have become ministers by being appointed to the House of Lords.

Question 41

Why may powerful corporations lobby the government?

Answer 41

In an attempt to modify policies that affect their business interests.

• E.g., Oct 2016, during a social event at the Conservative Party Conference attended by Business Secretary, Greg Clark, it was reported that the British Soft Drinks Association had expressed its opposition to a planned tax on sugary drinks.
• However, in this case, the govt persisted with its policy - it was commended by health group campaigners for not being deflected from a policy it viewed as important in combating obesity

Question 42

What is the issue surrounding multinational corporations?

Answer 42

How far ones that operate in the UK can be compelled to pay what is accepted as a ‘fair’ level of tax.

2016 - after prolonged negotiation with HM Revenue and Customs - Google agreed to pay £130 million in taxes dating back to 2005.

However, opposition MPs argued this was a lenient figure given the level of profits made by the firm in the UK.