Thinktanks, lobbyists, pressure groups Flashcards
Thinktanks influential (IEA)
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Tax Payer’s Alliance influence Liz Truss’s government.
-> Advocated for borrowing £150 billion to pay for free-market policies
Think tanks influential (sitations)
Joseph Roundtree Foundation was sited 157 times by UK gov since 2015.
Fiscal Studies was sited 150 times in same time frame.
Think tanks influential (book)
The Free Enterprise Group. Free market Tory MPs (Liz Truss) wrote a book called Britannia Unchained in 2012. IEA organised events for them.
Think tanks not influential (ideology)
Left wing think tanks less influential under Conservatives like Fabian Society.
Think tanks questionably influential (BoE)
The Fabian Society advocated Bank of England independence in 1992. Wasn’t picked up by Tory gov HOWEVER was 5 years later by New Labour.
Fabian society influential
The Fabian Society influenced Labour’s increase in National Insurance in 2000.
Insider Pressure groups influential.
BMA (British Medical Association) - critiqued Tory ministers interference in NHS
CBI (Confederation of British Industry) - Danker argued that Britain needed a growth plan in 2022. Danker also questioned the wisdom of scrapping EU laws in 2022.
NFU 2023- organized a summit called Farm to Fork with Sunak. lobbied parliament to hide food waste statistics published for farmers.
Insider ineffective
CBI nearly collapse in 2023 due to allegations of sexual misconduct by CEO. Backed net-zero by 2050 before government
Outsider effective
LIBERTY Ed bridges 2020 south Wales police under ECHR facial recognition tech
LIBERTY used Eqality Act to deem that gay couple refused entry into a BandB was unlawful.
Insulate Britain- Caroline Lucas (Green) backed IB protestors.
Outsider ineffective
JSO radical, throw paint on sunflowers and block road. 13% somewhat favorable, 4% very favorable. 72% disapprove of Insulate Britain.
18–24-year-olds least supporting of Public Order bill which reduces rights of pressure groups(32% support banning “lock ons” -average is 58%- and 50% support banning road blockades -average is 66%-).
Lobbying (Greensill)
Greensill scandal - DC text Sunak on behalf of Greensill Capital for them to get Covid loans. Cameron paid £1 million a year for 25 days work.
Lobbying (airports)
Between 2002 and 2007 the British Airport Authority met the Department of Tansport 117 times regarding Heathrow expansion.
Lobbying (F1)
Bernie Eccelstone (F1) donated £1 million to New Labour in 1997. F1 exempt from ban on tobacco advertising.
Lobbying (general)
In 2009 two Labour peers were suspended saying they would amend any bill for a fee.
2012 Conservative co-treasurer told donors that £200k would buy them access to ministers at social events.
Good lobbying
Ikea and Unilever have lobbied government to not change EU laws regarding sustainability.
Raptor Alliance lobbied regarding racing pigeons.
