Evaluate The View That The Influence Of Pressure Groups In The UK Is Damaging The Democratic System. Flashcards
Introduction - Themes
Representation
Education
Provide Expertise
Introduction - Argument
They are damaging for democracy as they largely work in their own self-interest, not the nations.
Disagree - Representation - Point
Due to the First-Past-the-Post System there are sections of society which are not well represented within the political system - pressure groups can help with this.
Disagree - Representation - Examples
The Green Party has only 1 seat, but gained nearly 900,000 votes in the 2019 general election. Groups like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain are advocating for climate change
Women’s Aid is a pressure group that has a massive success when the government passed the Domestic Abuse Act in April 2021
Agree - Representation - Point
The causal pressure groups stand for specific causes and are selfish. They will put across their own views rather than what is best for democracy
Agree - Representation - Examples
Greenpeace wanted to ban seal hunting, however, they failed to realise the impact it would have on Greenland’s Inuit population
NIBYS who join specific pressure groups tend to have a direct link to the cause - Stop Heathrow Expansion is mainly formulated of those who would be affected by the increased air traffic
Disagree - Education - Point
Pressure groups are good at drawing attention to and educating people on issues they might otherwise not know about
Disagree - Education - Examples
The government’s ‘Policing Bill’ put restrictions on the right to protest. The Kill The Bill pressure group raised awareness and organised marches across the country.
Human Rights groups such as Amnesty Internation and Liberty have raised concerns over the Bill of Rights currently going through Parliament
Agree - Education - Point
Pressure groups do educate people, however, there are no rules to say the information they provide has to be factual - they can spread misinformation
Agree - Education - Examples
The pressure group Vote Leave made a bus saying that if the UK left the EU £350 million a week would go to the NHS - it was later determined there was no factual basis to this
The World Doctors Alliance falsely claimed that Covid-19 was a hoax and that vaccines would cause widespread harm
Disagree - Provide Expertise - Point
MPs tend to have a generalist view of policy, however, pressure groups can provide in depth knowledge on the subject to improve the quality of legislation
Disagree - Provide Expertise - Examples
The Muslim Council of Britain provided evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on radicalisation and challenges of media misinterpretation of Muslims and Islam
The British Medical Association’s expertise during the pandemic proved invaluable
Agree - Provide Expertise - Point
Who the government listenes to is a prime example of elitism. There are both insider and outsider pressure groups and the government only tend to listen to those who support their political philosophy
Agree - Provide Expertise - Examples
In 2011, 250,000 people from various teacher’s unions attended a march against cuts to public spending. A week later the Taxpayers Alliance organised a rally demanding faster cuts, only 350 people attended, yet the government listened to them.
The Institute of Economic Affairs held massive influence over Liz Truss’s mini budget in Sepember 2022 which cost the UK £30bn
