pressure groups Flashcards
sectional/ interest groups
seek to promote the interests of an occupation or another group in soc e.g trade unions
Membership oft restricted- must meet req (prof qual) e.g the law society- open to solicitors in Eng + Wales
social movements
simialar to cause groups, more loosely structured
some membs may belong to other trad pressure groups
usually radical and seek to achieve a single objective eg #MeToo and BLM
cause/ promotional groups
focused on a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue. memb open to anyone who cares ab issue
e.g greenpeace
a spec category of cause group is one that promotes the interest of a group in soc that can’t stand up for themselves e.g shelter
why do some pressure groups have more influence?
Resources- large membs that pay for subs- more money, pay staff + organise pub e.g RSPCA employ about 1300 ppl (2021) + thousands of volunteers can afford ads. Memb size = more infl on pub
Tactics + leadership- RSPCA key role in securing the ban on hunting w/ dogs in 2004 by securing the ban on hunting w/ dogs in 2004, by collab w/ 2 sim groups so not competing. Also key to know what access points to target- to apply press
Public support- agenda in line with/ pub sup… more likely to to suc. Snowdrop campaign to band hand guns was sub bc of pub reaction to the ‘96 Dunblane Primary school massacre… fav media coverage + celeb sup eg Rashford + fare share
Gov attitudes- insider contacts= key to success. Nat Farmers Union link to DEFRA were key to bringing about the 2013 badger cull, intended to protect cattle from TB… despite wishes of animal welfare groups who advocated vaxing the heads… gov oft listens to groups it relies on for spec knowledge
Think tanks
a body of experts brought together to invest and offer solutions to economic, social or political issues. For example… shift of Conservative Party thinking towards a more free-market orientated approach in 70s owed to MT patronage of RW think tanks, such as the centre for policy studies and the Adam Smith institute… alt source of ideas to the civil service, w/ more time + expertise than parties to carry out expertise
Think tanks with a definite influence on gov policy
The centre for social justice set up by Iain Duncan Smith in 2004 to look for new solutions to the probs of ppl living in disadvantaged communities. Appointed as work and pensions secretary in 2010, could implement some of these ideas. However, in gov nec to make compromises so less pol practice ideas are ignored… normally staffed by young ppl seeing this as their route into politics eg David Milliband
Lobbyists
Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence gov or parliament on their behalf, particularly when leg is considered.
Why is their unease about lobbyists
Unease about their legitimacy and that influence can be bought by wealthy indivs + organisations. Parliamentary code of conduct strictly bars MPs from accepting money to represent a view point.
2014 legal requirement for any1 lobbying in behalf of a third party to register if their activities include discussing pol, leg or gov contracts w/ mins or sr civil servants.
Lobbying= a big business employing ab 4000 ppl and £2 billion is spent each year
Under DC, no10 denied that lobbying had changed gov pol, but stated companies frequently discuss their business concerns w/ the bus dep or treasury
Corporations
Area for concern for some pro- democracy campaigners
Discussion of the ‘revolving door’ process where sr pol + officials take well-paid jobs in priv sector after they leave govt service. Suspicions they use their knowledge + contacts to benefit corps… a no. Of business leaders have become ministers by being appointed to the HoL
Powerful corps may lobby the gov in attempt to modify pols that affect business interests… for example Oct 2016 during a Soc event at cons party conf attended by bus security Greg Clark… British soft drink assos against sugar tax. Gov persisted
Another issue w/ corps
Multinational corps that operate in the UK can be compelled to pay what is accepted as a favourable level of tax… in 2016, aft neg w/ HM rev + customs, google agreed to pay £130 mil in taxes dating back to 2005. However, op MPs argued this was lenient.
Insider groups
Rely on contact w/ ministers + civil servants to achieve their aims… some have close rel w/ govt departments e.g National Union of Farmers + DEFRA
Tend to have views broadly in line w/ the views of the gov… incr their leverage
Low-prof groups rely on discreet behind the scene contacts rather than publicity (Howard League for Penal Reform)
High prof groups support their lobbying w/ use of media to make their cause (the confederation of British Industry)
Outsider groups
Not consulted by the gov
Ideas might be so outside the pol mainstream gov unlikely to enter negs w/ protestors eg animal rights protestors who intimidate labs to cease their work
May wish to preserve their indep & rep for ideological purity by keeping govt at a distance e.g the ‘occupy’ movement which org sit-ins in 2011, see gov as closely aligned to the glob cap movement
Can you change from insider to outsider (or vice versa)?
Yes, due to changing political circumstances. In the post-war era , trade unions enjoyed access to influence, especially when lab were in power, changed w/ elec of 1979 (MT), union leaders were purposefully excluded.
How pressure group methods vary- insider
-insider tend to neg quietly by using their priv contacts in Whitehall… may be given opp to offer their views on draft legislation… NFU offer gov their specialist know in ret for infl over pol
Pressure groups may also lobby MPs, briefing them on issues of concern or giving ev to committees… lawyers from liberty did this as count- terrorism pol affected ppls civ libs
Some groups use combo- eg BMA = insider but will strike for ex 2016, 2023 + 2024 over contract issues… 20th March 2024 voted to cont action over 41 days of action since march 2023
How pressure group methods vary- outsider
Resort to less discreet methods
Email campaigns and petitions
Staging demos + publicity stunts- BLM UK obst flights at London city airport in sep 2016 to draw attention that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by air pollution
Direct action = not always peaceful, uni tuition incr 2010 dems got done for disorderly conduct
Well funded groups may take legal action- countryside alliance vs banning fox hunting to the HC in 2004
