Pressure groups and other influences

Question 1

To what extent are pressure groups goof for democracy and participation themes

Answer 1

Participation - But not always positive
Check on government - But undermines parliamentary checks
Representation - But makes it hard for government to represent whole public

Question 2

Stop the War coalition 2003

Answer 2

Up to 2 million protesters protested in London against the Iraq War

Question 3

Chequer book membership example

Answer 3

National trust has 3.7 million members

Question 4

Issue with anti Brexit marches

Answer 4

Majority had voted to leave in the referendum, only divided the country further

Question 5

How was CBI involved with the conservative government over Brexit

Answer 5

Worked with the Department of Trade to setup the Northern Ireland Brexit Taskforce, which provided NI with a direct voice over issues such as the VAT margin scheme

Question 6

How do pressure groups undermine parliament

Answer 6

Undermines parliamentary sovereignty, especially with the ‘revolving door’

Question 7

Douglas Hurd quote on pressure groups undermining government

Answer 7

“Serpents that strangle efficient government”

Question 8

How do pressure groups give better representation

Answer 8

Offer minority groups more support such as the Muslim Council of Britain

Question 9

Prison reform trust

Answer 9

Ensures that prisoner rights are protected and brought attention to the rising suicide rates in UK prisons

Question 10

How do pressure groups make it hard for the government to make the bets decisions for the majority

Answer 10

They focus on their ions interests

Question 11

How did protests against HS2 not help government

Answer 11

They argued that it wouldn’t be eco friendly and affect house prices, when it would actually benefit the economy massively by providing 22,000 jobs

Question 12

How does Greenpeace show that membership is important for PG success

Answer 12

It has 2.9 million supporters worldwide, with 95% of their funding coming from individual donations
It has allowed them to stop the Cambo Oil field being built in the North Sea

Question 13

How does Joanna Lumley’s Gurkha campaign prove that membership is most important

Answer 13

Shows that specific members like celebrities are key
Joanna got a petition signed by 250,000 people and allowed her to gain rights for Gurkhas who had served 4 years of more for the British army to have residency in Britain

Question 14

How does the National Trust undermine the importance of membership

Answer 14

Cheque book membership is an issue, with the national trust having 3.7 million members, with many of them just in it for the benefits

Question 15

How does the Trade Union Congress undermine membership

Answer 15

It represents 6 million workers, but has had little success recently with conservative government, proving that status is more important

Question 16

How does Joanna Lumley’s Gurkha campaign actually support status rather than membership

Answer 16

Joanna Lumley had insider status, as she consulted Gordon Brown in No.10 and interviewed Phil Woolas on BBC Westminster

Question 17

How is status most important for PG success

Answer 17

Insider status means that they are regularly consulted by government

Question 18

How does BMA’s involvement in the junior doctor’s strike show that status isn’t most important

Answer 18

BMA failed to come to an agreement with the Department of Health for a new contract for Junior Doctors

Question 19

How is issue the most important factor in PG success

Answer 19

If the issue is fair, and supported heavily then it will be sympathises with by the government

Question 20

How does the Living Wage Foundation prove that issue is most important

Answer 20

They don’t have insider status or particular ;large membership
Achieved the National Living Wage for all adults over 25

Question 21

How does status undermine the issue

Answer 21

Insider status means that the issue can be fast tracked to government

Question 22

How is resources the most important factor in PG success

Answer 22

Funding means that it can employ experts to work for them

Question 23

Hoe does the NSPCC show that resources are important

Answer 23

It has employed 2,500 members, with many of them on ChildLine
It helped them achieve their aim of making 5 million children safe in 2019, with 334,900 coming from employers of their ChildLine

Question 24

How does Unison prove that status is more important than resources

Answer 24

It is a wealthy trade union with other 1.2 million members, but has struggled to influence the conservative government

Question 25

National Farmers Union insider status success

Answer 25

Creation of the first Trade and Agriculture Commission

Question 26

How are methods the most important factor in PG success

Answer 26

Direct action can be very effective

Lots of media attention, helps to promote issue and gain more members

Question 27

When is Stop the War’s next demonstration

Answer 27

26 May, about war in Ukraine

Question 28

How does status prove that tactics aren’t that important

Answer 28

The tactics used all stem from whether they have insider status

Question 29

How does Extinction Rebellion prove that status is more important than direct action

Answer 29

Use protests as they know they wont be consulted by government
They called for net zero emissions by 2025, by government haven’t budget from their target of 80% by 2050

Question 30

How does Anti Brexit march prove that direct action doesn’t do anything

Answer 30

We still left the EU