Pressure Group In The UK Flashcards
What is a pressure group?
A pressure group is on organisation which campaigns on behalf of either a distinct group or a specific cause. Pressure groups may have a very large international membership or have a very small membership and focus on one very small local area
What distinguishes pressure groups from political parties?
Although pressure groups want to influence policy makers and campaign to see changes in the law or that the needs of certain groups be taken into consideration when laws are being made, they do not stand in elections.
- When a pressure group stands in an election it has moved from being a pressure group to being a political party
What are the four types of pressure group?
- Sectional
- Cause
- Insider
- Outsider
What are sectional pressure groups?
Pressure groups that are campaigning on behalf of a specific group within society.
- They try to make sure that the needs and views of that group are taken on board by political leaders when making their decisions and drafting legislation
What are some examples of sectional pressure groups?
- The British Medical Association
- National Union of Teachers
- the Law Society
- National Farmer’s Union
What is the British Medical Association concerned with as a pressure group?
Securing better conditions for doctors in the medical profession
What percentage of doctors in the UK are registered with the BMA?
65%
What are cause pressure groups?
Pressure groups that campaign on behalf of a particular cause
- They set out to achieve a specific set of aims that are not in the direct self-interest of their members
What are some examples of cause pressure groups and the causes they campaign about?
- Amnesty International (Human rights)
- Greenpeace (against climate change)
- Just Stop Oil (against climate change)
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) (against animal cruelty)
What are insider pressure groups?
Insider pressure groups are pressure groups that are more likely to have direct access to and communication with the government; and are likely to be called upon during an investigation or during the pre-legislative period
- These groups may be well established sectional groups whose views are respected by the government, and who are seen as experts that the Government can turn to for detailed inside information or trusted advice
What are some examples of insider pressure groups who have each traditionally maintained a close relationship with Government departments, civil servants and individual ministers?
- The British Medical Association, who have long been considered as having privileged access to the corridors of power
- The Confederation of British Industry
- The National Farmers Union
How have the NFU used their status as an insider pressure group to benefit farmers?
Until Brexit, the FU maintained an important presence in Brussels, as many details concerning agricultural policy, such as farm subsides, were made at European and not national level.
- With the advent of Brexit, the NFU campaigned successfully for short-term seasonal work visas so that fruit and vegetable growers could continue to hire seasonal labour from Eastern Europe, vital to the growers’ livelihoods
Which groups are more likely to have insider status under a Labour government?
Trade unions
- Consultation of trade unions on aspects of industrial and economic issues reflected both the formation and history of the Labour Party, and the basis of much of Labour’s core working-class support
Which trade unions provide funding to the Labour Party, and how much in the last three months of 2019?
Unite trade union: £4 million
Unison union: in excess of £500,000
Which organisations are more likely to have insider status under Conservative governments?
Groups represented by ‘big business’
- Consideration of British Industry
- British Finance (merger in 2017 of several banking and finance associations including the British Bankers’ Association)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of insider pressure groups’ proximity to government?
Advantage:
- Good communication with government, which can enable informal lobbying before draft legislation is drawn up to insure their views are incorporated
Disadvantages:
- Being too close to government can lead to ‘policy entrapment’ and an unwillingness to criticise or speak out against the political establishment. This can diminish a group’s independence and freedom of action
What are the advantages and disadvantages of insider pressure groups’ resources?
Advantages:
- Usually well resourced and funded, so often hire professional lobbyists and sponsor relevant APGs
Disadvantages:
- Superior resources and good PR are no guarantee of success. Also, unlike in the USA, UK pressure groups are not allowed to air political ads and are limited in their involvement in election campaigns
What are APGs?
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of insider pressure groups in relation to government inquiries?
Advantages:
- They are often invited to take part in and give evidence to select or public bill committees
- For example, in 2013, respected independent health pressure group, The King’s Fund, gave evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry into emergency services and care
Disadvantages:
- Not just insider groups are called to give evidence to government inquires
- For example, in March 2020, the UK Cladding Action Group (was set up by leaseholders of affected properties and is more of an outsider group) provided evidence to the Communities select committee. This was because the committee had launched an inquiry into the cladding used on tower blocks in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire tradgedy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of some insider pressure groups’ historic ties to political parties?
Advantages:
- A few, such as certain trade unions, have close historical and institutional ties to major political parties. They can also be important donors
Disadvantages:
- When such a party is out of office, pressure groups associated with it are left outside the corridors of power.
- Most groups prefer to keep parties at arm’s length so as to maintain good terms with a range of political groups.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of insider pressure groups in relation to laws and regulations?
Advantages:
- Public consultation processes, for example during the Green Paper stage of legislation, can involve evaluating large amounts of very specific information
- Often the detailed information needed for effective laws and regulations lies with trade associations, trade unions and professional bodies, not Whitehall. This gives insider groups direct influence over legislation
Disadvantages:
- Pressure groups and their members are often these who are most directly affected by any changes in the law. They should not, therefore, be playing a major role in writing the rules in the first place by influencing the initial consultation and drafting stages of parliamentary bills.
What are outsider pressure groups?
Outsider pressure groups may be very popular groups but are generally groups who find it difficult to gain access to government and are very unlikely to be called upon by the government to give advice.
- These groups may be outsiders because of their aim, or because of their methods
How do the methods of outsider pressure groups differ from those of insider pressure groups?
Their campaigning is often more militant and publicity seeking, with many using stunts or high-profile direct action to publicise their cause, and their methods can sometimes involve breaking the law
What are some examples of action taken by outsider pressure groups?
The Animal Liberation Front:
- Has broken into laboratories that use animals for scientific testing to release the animals, or harassed scientists involved in such research
Plane Stupid:
- Anti-aviation group ‘Plane Stupid’ cut the perimeter fence at Heathrow Airport in July 2015, chaining themselves together on the runway to protest climate change, resulting in the cancellation of 25 flights.
