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AQA A LEVEL POLITICS > Pressure groups > Flashcards

Pressure groups Flashcards

1
Q

The main aims of pressure groups

A

-they seek to influence policy-making & decisions such as amending laws.
-wish for their concerns to reach higher on the political agenda.
-do not want to hold office but influence elected i.e The Labour Movement in the United Kingdom encompasses both the Labour Party and trade unions.

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2
Q

Pressure group functions

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-campaign for their cause in the face of competition and opposition i.e Action for trans rights(improve transgender healthcare) vs For women Scotland(gender-critical/anti trans)
-encourage political participation(supporters can donate/campaign)
-can complement the representative function of political parties(cross party causes i.e Animal Welfare)

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3
Q

What are some methods pressure groups use?

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-lobbying(National Trust on climate change)
-disruptions/riots(Extinction Rebellion, mass arrests to fill up police cells)
-boycotting(BDS, nonviolent Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts i.e Starbucks)

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4
Q

Causal/promotional group

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-Campaign for a particular issue or cause, often on behalf of others.
-based on principles and improving society & not in direct self interest of members
-membership open to all
E.g. Human rights, nuclear disarming.
-may take form of charity i.e Oxfam aim to end poverty and injustice using lobbying, petitions and public meetings

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5
Q

Sectional/interest group

A

Defend specific interest of members & may be more selfish & justify it as being in the National interest.
E.g. Trade unions

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6
Q

Insider groups

A

Have close ties & contacts with government. Often represent powerful & resourceful groups and offer specialist insight which is useful in govt legislation.
-usually agreed to have more power and influence than outsider
-NFU & BMA maintained close relationship with govt departments, civil servants & ministers.

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7
Q

Insider groups: National farmers Union (NFU)

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-NFU successfully campaigned for short term seasonal work visas so fruit & vegetable growers could continue to hire seasons Labour from Eastern Europe, vital for livelihoods of growers.
-Sunak spoke at their conference at Feb 2024: “I’ve got your back”, and announced the largest ever grant offer for farmers(around £427m)

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8
Q

Relations between insider groups and govt

A

-trade unions were treated more ‘insider’ in 1997 Labour
-consulted on aspects of industrial and economic issues when it came to policy formulation
-Described as ‘beer & sandwiches at no.10’
-Do have recent impact: 2019, the Unite trade union donated over £4 million to the Labour Party

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9
Q

How did status of Trade unions as ‘insider groups’ change?

A

-Blair’s New Labour project was keen to distance himself from status of TU as insider groups.
-Corbyn wanted to reinstate close relationships.
E.g. 2019 manifesto promised to ‘repeal anti trade Union legislation’.
-Starmer focussed on ‘updating’ union legislation with new deal for the workin people

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10
Q

Insider groups that are cross-party: RSPCA

A

-close ties with govt via involvement with All-Party Parliamentary groups(informal cross party groups run by MPs and Lords)
-helped fund cross-party groups i.e contributed 16,500 pounds to Animal Welfare, which drafted a report for the Dept of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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11
Q

Insider groups: Represented by big businesses

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-Confederation of British industry (CBI) & British Finance.
-in the aftermath of the banking crisis in 2008, the UK govt offered support including loads & temporary denationalisation to the tune of £850 billion.
-this support was championed & lobbied for by the BBA & other industry groups but it also reflected the vital National importance of restoring confidence in the banking sector & minimising wider damage to the economy.
-some might argue this party reflects power of banking & business lobby & its insider status, the govt had to deliver a hefty bailout.
-the collapse of major banks would’ve wiped out savings of millions.

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12
Q

Insider groups: The National Trust

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-membership over 5 million, major landowner with over 600,000 acres of land in UK except Scotland(own charity)
aims: -preservation of countryside + historical sites, promoting biodiversity/nature conservation
-‘For ever, For everyone’
-lobby govt on issues i.e climate change, spending on arts and culture
-membership disproportionately white + middle class & senior officials are from top ranks of civil service i.e Dame Helen Ghosh
-allowed to declare land ‘inalienable’(can’t be built on or purchased without parliamentary approval) under Acts of Parliament after 1909
-took a stand against govt proposed changes to land use planning in 2011 as a threat to countryside

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13
Q

Core insiders

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-longstanding bilateral relationship with policy-makers over a broad range of issues. i.e NFU

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14
Q

Specialist insiders

A

Have insider status but only within a specific area where their specialist knowledge is required.
-e.g. British Meat & Poultry Federation is only routinely consulted on issues specific to that sector of the farming industry.

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15
Q

Peripheral insiders

A

Have insider status but rarely needed by govt due to the nature of their cause.
-e.g. Stillbirth & Neonatal Death society (SANDS) manger to get the definition of stillbirth lowered from 28 to 24 weeks in the Stillbirth Act 1992.
-Was clearly a specialised area & govt does not usually consult SANDS on wider child health issues.

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16
Q

Prisoner groups

A

-Find it almost impossible to break away from their insider status, either because of their reliance on govt funding or because they themselves are a public body.
-e.g. Historic England (govt funded) via the Department for digital, culture, media & sports (DCMS).
-One of HE’s main wins is to promote conservation & preservation of historic buildings but its lack of independence from the state can make it hard to resist policy generated by other parts of the govt (transport projects like HS2 impacts landscape & buildings).

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17
Q

Advantages of Insider groups

A

-direct contact with the govt i.e National Trust influencing legislation
-well resourced and funded i.e Greensill hired lobbyists, can sponsor APGs
-have influence/ can take part in public bill committee process i.e 2013, The King’s Fund gave evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry on emergency services and care

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18
Q

Disadvantages of Insider groups

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-‘policy entrapment’ and unwillingness to speak out against govt i.e Historic England
-lose influence if party they are tied to are out of power i.e the strike act 2023 means if workers strike on trade union they could be forced to attend work/sacked
-outsider groups can also impact legislation i.e the UK cladding action group provided evidence to the Communities select committee on inquiry about Grenfell Tower

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19
Q

Outsider groups

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-Lack links with govt & often represent marginalised or radical policy agendas & often use direct action to publicise their aims
-campaigning style is more publicity seeking i.e Plane stupid cut the perimeter fence at Heathrow and chained themselves to the runway–} 25 cancelled flights + 13 arrests, fighting planned expansion of Heathrow

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20
Q

Outsider groups: campaigns over the years

A

-Fathers4Justice= campaign for father’s rights after a divorce/break up, supporters often dress up as superheroes and perform public stunts
-Greenpeace= taking action against environmental destruction, climate change and social injustices, draped black fabric over Sunak’s house in 2023 to speak out against his promise to ‘max out’ UK oil and gas reserves
-BLM= intervene inflicted on black communities, estimated in June that 137,500 people attended protests in 2020

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21
Q

Outsider groups: links with the political mainstream

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-both the Howard League and the Prison Reform Trust(want voting rights for prisoners, wanted early release of some inmates in COVID) would normally get invited to govt inquiries into penal policy due to specialist knowledge
-former director of public prosecutions, Ken McDonald, became president of the Howard League
-Stonewall(gay rights group) was more outsider in 1980s when it was lobbying against Local Govt Act 1988, which prohibited promotion of homosexuality in schools, than 2019, where Ofsted head Amanda Spielman made a speech at a Stonewall conference

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22
Q

Outsider groups: Potential insiders

A

-seek to be insider but lack the experience and connections
i.e Gurkha Justice Campaign spent 4 years lobbying Blair/Brown govts to give equal rights to Gurkhas to settle permanently in UK
-they gained publicity when Joanna Lumley joined them in Nov 2008
-in 2009, the govt conceded settlement rights to all Gurkha

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23
Q

Outsider groups: Outsider by necessity

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-forced to operate as outsiders due cause or nature of their tactics(violent/law breaking)
-Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament organised rally to coincide with the Commons motion to renew the Trident missile weapon system

24
Q

Outsider groups: outsiders by choice

A

-some groups may choose deliberately to stay outside govt circles to maintain independence and the ability to critique policies
-enhances neutrality and objectivity
-i.e Amnesty international, a human rights organisation, who claim to investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilise the public, have received a Nobel peace prize for their work

25
Q

Outsider groups: Extinction Rebellion

A

-holocratic pressure group(rejects hierarchal leadership structures, power is dispersed) that aim to increase govt’s transparency about climate change, act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase participation with the creation of a citizen’s assembly
-led many mass demonstrations i.e road/ bridge blocking i.e 11 day wave in 2019(gluing themselves to trains + London Stock Exchange building) led to around 500,000 commuters being disrupted
-encourage mass arrests to waste resources and fill up cells
-raised profile of environmental issues: 26% of voters named environment as one of top 3 issues in 2019 election + May announced in last speech that they aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
-propaganda stunts are highly disliked: ‘angry people shouting and throwing stuff’-The independent

26
Q

Advantages of outsider groups

A

-gain media attention which raise awareness and promote cause i.e groups such as the Palestine Solidarity campaign + Stop the war coalition were the main organiser of marches of up to 100,000 in London
-have the freedom to act and take policy stances without being constrained by ties to the govt i.e Greenpeace criticising govt
-can lead to policy changes/potential insider status i.e Gurkha Justice Campaign

27
Q

Disadvantages of outsider groups

A

-making media headlines about disruption could be off putting for govt i.e 68% disapproved of Just Stop Oil in YouGov survey 2023
-taking direct action and facing prosecution could label cause as extremist i.e Heathrow arrests
-generally less likely to lead to policy changes/alienated from govt i.e Downing street issuing a blanket ban on all departments working with Greenpeace 2023

28
Q

Are pressure groups good for democracy?

A

-Pluralist view= all groups should have equal opportunities to campaign, and can enable legitimate voices to be heard
-Elitist view= groups with the greatest resources and best connections do better than marginalised sections of society
-New Rights view= (associated with Thatcher) pressure groups in 60s,70s were too powerful and interfered with democracy

29
Q

Pressure groups promote elitism

A

-small and unrepresentative memberships i.e adult membership for National Trust is 91 pounds a year
- well resourced pressure groups have the ‘ear pf the govt’ and can use status to advantage i.e Greensill hired lobbyists, can sponsor APGs
-many pressure groups have an undemocratic structure and are dominated by internal elites i.e Greenpeace accused of this, leader of National Trust is ex civil service member for Home Office

30
Q

Pressure groups promote pluralism

A

-provide popular forums for campaigning and active political participation i.e Stop the War coalition took part in rallies in 2003 with around 750,000 people against the Iraq war
-Social media has enabled groups with limited financial resourced to communicate their message to large numbers i.e BLM
-strong representative function + many issues can cut across party divides i.e Animal Welfare

31
Q

Do pressure groups help democracy?

A

-enable representation between elections through lobbying and campaign work + represent marginalised voices i.e asylum seekers
-increasingly have structures that are democratic i.e trade union reforms in the 80s have regulated secret ballots for internal positions and industrial action decisions
-provide specialist input that enables laws and regulations to be better i.e 2013, The King’s Fund gave evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry on emergency services and care

32
Q

Do pressure groups hinder democracy?

A

-large scale participation is not the norm, many are ‘chequebook members’ and general participation could be limited to e-petitions
-may not be truly representative of public opinion i.e 49% British adults have negative view of XR
-info put out by pressure groups is selective and can ignore other viewpoints i.e divisive issues like immigration and abortion

33
Q

Nuances about pressure group success

A

-criteria varies from group to group and some have more of a specific aim whereas some aim to stay on ‘agenda radar’
-high degree of flexibility about what tactics are most likely to succeed

34
Q

Pressure group success

A

-insider groups are more likely to succeed than outsider, a low profile approach of lobbying and meetings with ministers
-campaigns that accord with the govts own priorities are more likely to be successful i.e trade unions
-groups that can mobilise large numbers of supporters represent a higher degree of success
-smaller factors: publicity stunts, celebrity endorsements

35
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: achievability of aims

A

-clear, achievable popular aims get further than countercultural/extreme ones i.e protests & disrupting fuel supplies to Yorkshire, North West England, and the Scottish Borders demanding that the government reduce fuel taxes succeeded in getting govt to drop plans regardless of 2 bill pounds lost in revenue

36
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Insider status

A

-close links with policy-makers enable success as they are often consulted on bills or formulation of new regulations to deflect later criticism i.e the Police Protection and Powers been in the 2019 Queen’s speech was partly due to lobbying by the Police Federation

37
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: In tune with govt policy and ideology

A

-groups advocating for causes already shared by govt have greater success chance i.e 1997 New Labour was more positive about gay rights and repealed legislation about homosexuality in schools

38
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: In tune with public opinion

A

-govts are keen to be seen as in touch and responsive to public opinion i.e following 1996 Dunblane shooting, The Snowdrop Campaign put pressure to change law on private ownership of guns–} Firearms Act 1997

39
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Large membership

A

-widens representation of a group so less likely to be alienated as a minority by govt i.e National Trust BUT maybe because they are predominately white and middle class, they’re more likely to be listened to

40
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Financial resources

A

-able to run publicity campaigns, employ lobbyists and commission research i.e Greensill Scandal

41
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Celebrity endorsement

A

-this support can increase publicity and legitimacy i.e Joanna Lumley & GJC

42
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Media support

A

-raise profile and shine positive light on them on a wider scale(bad media attention can lead to negative/harmful publicity)
i.e Howard League for Penal Reform was able to overturn ruling to ban sending books to English prisons with support from media

43
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: Legal challenges

A

-may use courts to secure change of policy i.e the Joint Council of Welfare of Immigrants won a case against UK govt to end the ‘right to rent’ scheme(landlords must check immigration status of tenants) with help of pressure groups like the Residential Landlords Association

44
Q

Reasons for pressure group failures: extreme objectives in political climate

A

i.e trade union strikes like Aslef(railway union) are in direct opposition of anti-strike laws and ‘minimum service levels’(lessen impact of strikes by controlling number of ppl etc)

45
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: association with violence and disorder

A

-i.e Extinction Rebellion have led 11 day wave in 2019(gluing themselves to trains + London Stock Exchange building) led to around 500,000 commuters being disrupted
-encourage mass arrests to waste resources and fill up cells

46
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: weak links to govt

A

-i.e Downing street issuing a blanket ban on all departments working with Greenpeace in 2023

47
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: hostile political climate

A

-i.e regardless of Stop the War Coalition’s huge rallies, Blair still enjoyed majority in Commons and cross party Tory support

48
Q

Reasons for pressure group success: strong countervailing forces

A

-i.e the Coalition for Marriage(resisted same sex marriage) faced considerable opposition from Stonewall

49
Q

What are pressure participants?

A

seek to influence policy without formal structures and membership i.e corporations, lobbyists, think tanks, media

50
Q

Corporations

A

-big businesses are constantly in consultation with govt departments
-can threaten to move factories/jobs out of UK i.e motor manufacturers lobbied for retaining single market in Brexit and used this as a trade(though unsuccessful)
-can also be pressured by environmental/ethical groups i.e Barclays announced intention to be a ‘net zero’ bank following shareholders like CofE

51
Q

Lobbyists

A

-firms hired to effectively target a group’s message + provide advice about communication strategies with officials
-many former ministers go on to work with lobbying firms(revolving door) but must get permission from ACOBA(advisory committee on Business Appointments)
-register of MPs who are also lobbyists established after 2015 ‘cash for access’ scandal
-lobbying firm Morgan Roberts worked with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to introduce policy about immunisation programme

52
Q

The Greensill lobbying scandal

A

-2020, David Cameron attempted to persuade ministers to allow Greensill(who employed him as an adviser) to join the Corporate COVID scheme which would have allowed the company to issue loans from govt to help firms through pandemic
-according to BBC, payed around 10 mill dollars for 2 & 1/2 years
-sent 45 emails, texts and Whatsapp messages and even invited Hancock for ‘private drink’ to discuss a new payment scheme for NHS staff
-‘actions were not unlawful’ according to Cabinet Office review
-Labour Deputy Angela Rayner deemed lobbying rules ‘unfit for purpose’

53
Q

Thinktanks

A

-set to undertake policy research which is published and used to push certain policy positions, often funded by pressure participants
-Lord Sainsbury donated 260,000 to Progress, centrist Labour Thinktank
-mostly have highly ideological standpoints i.e the Institute of Economic Affairs(pro-free market)
-some are non-political i.e Centre for Social Justice created in 2004 by former Tory Leader, Iain Duncan Smith
-published report in 2018 ‘A Woman-Centred Approach’ which called on govt to scrap plans for 5 new women prisons and replace them with community-based alts.

54
Q

3 examples of think tanks and their political ideologies

A

-Institute of Economic Affairs= Right-wing & focuses on free market economics
-Policy exchange(leading think tank)= Right wing & focuses on better delivery of public services
-Centre for social justice= independent/centre-right wing, focuses on social policy

55
Q

Media

A

-most national newspapers are politically aligned i.e The sun famously boasted in1992 that ‘It’s The Sun Wot Won It’, referring to Tory victory
-2019, The Sun ‘Here’s why Corbyn is unfit for Number 10’
-circulation of national newspapers had roughly halved between 1992 and 2018 due to rise of social media
-change in ownership + editor can bring political shift i.e trad right wing Daily Express is now owned by Labour backed Daily Mirror
-newspapers often prefer to back winners i.e bulk of national news supporting Blair 1997-2010

56
Q

Change in media

A

-rise of social media is far less controlled in conventional sense by proprietors
-space for political advertising, trending topics, fake news
-i.e 2019 campaign, Twitter accused Tories of misleading public by rebranding one of their official party accounts to make it look like a fact checking service during ITV debate

57
Q

Link between pressure groups and parties, govt, media

A

-pressure groups are part of ‘policy web’ which have some close ties to parties i.e Labour affiliated unions while many maintain political neutrality
-govts seek to engage with key insider groups
-pressure groups seek to attract positive media attention but media can give negative publicity i.e Tory leaning newspapers show less sympathy for striking public servants/ labour leaning ones show less sympathy for VAT on school fees

AQA A LEVEL POLITICS (15 decks)

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