pressure groups

Question 1

what is a pressure group

Answer 1

a group that tries to influence the government into changing policies

Question 2

types of pressure groups

Answer 2

1. sectional - sections in society (Nation Education Union)
2. cause - promotes certain issues (Greenpeace)
3. insider - accepted by gov. and consulted when policy is being made (National Farmers Union)
4. outsider - not accepted by gov. (Just stop oil)

Question 3

pressure group methods

Answer 3

1. Court action - to challenge gov decisions
2. lobbyists - persuade MPs on behalf of a group
3. provide politicians with funds/expert advice - can support politicians in order to be heard
4. petitions
5. media
6. post/flyers
7. protests - draw public attention
8. illegal action - forces gov to hear them
9. internet activism - provides a platform for groups to publicise their views, organise events and gives them a way to contact the gov

Question 4

political access points

Answer 4

1. PM
2. MPs
3. HoL members
4. Parties
5. Judiciary
6. Local gov.

Question 5

how can a pressure group be successful

Answer 5

1. resources - more money means more publicity through advertising
2. appropriate strategy - 2010 protests against rising tuition fees organised by the National Union of Students was criticised after 100s of protesters attacked the Con. party headquarters. the violence became the main focus of all coverage instead of the message.
3. compatibility with aims of gov - Trade Unions are considered more under Labour govs, business groups are heard more under Conservative gov
4. accepted by public - Snowdrop Campaign 1996 against guns, after the Dunblane massacre where 16 children and a teacher were killed, there was widespread support for a total ban on handguns. The Snowdrop campaign was successful due to this. attempts in the USA to introduce stricter gun laws have been unsuccessful.
5. unity
6. good leadership
7. support of public figure - FareShare and Rashford

Question 6

Brian Haw 2001-2010

Answer 6

• anti Iraq war
• protested everyday with signs in front of Parliament
• taken to court in 2002 but was able to continue protesting
• in 2006 gov. prohibited the protest in Parliament Square, but he continued the protest on a smaller scale.
• didn’t prevent the war but he attracted long term publicity for the cause, and increased public sympathy.

Question 7

Starbucks vs UK Uncut 2012

Answer 7

• Starbucks had paid no corporation tax in 15 years in the UK
• UK Uncut opposed public sector cuts by gov.
• held protests at Starbucks
• media coverage highlighted the issue and called for customers to boycott the chain
• caused gov. to tighten up on tax evasion and on legal loopholes. however, the group was unable to reverse public sector cuts and has become less active.

Question 8

Stonewall 2012/2013

Answer 8

• coalition gov in 2010 announced a consultation would take place on how to introduce civil marriage for same sex couples
• Stonewall, leading pressure group for LGBTQ+ people, allowed time for members to send in their views, then produced a document reflecting the contributions and sent it to the gov. in 2012, using it as a basis for lobbying MPs
• this resulted in the Marriage (Same sex couples) bill to be passed in 2013 despite fierce opposition.

Question 9

FareShare 2020 - SUPPORT OF A PUBLIC FIGURE

Answer 9

• Marcus Rashford helped raise enough money for FareShare to distribute 21 million meals for families.
• he successfully influenced gov. policy with his #MakeTheUTurn campaign, which saw the voucher scheme extended over summer 2020, ensuring 1.3 million children could access food

Question 10

reasons pressure groups are good for democracy

Answer 10

• increase political activism
• influence gov between elections
• hold gov to account
• encourage unity (trade unions)
• can give expert advice to gov

Question 11

reasons pressure groups are bad for demoracy

Answer 11

• too much power/influence
• encourages elitism
• illegal action is dangerous
• promotes extremism