UK DEMOC & PARTICIPATION: PGs2 Flashcards
1
Q
example of wealth determining success of PGs?
A
- Transparency Unit reported in 2014 that between April- June, 8/10 most drequent lobbyists of UK ministers were from large corporations listed on FTSE 100 index
- costs aa lot to employ these
2
Q
example of size determinings success of PGs?
A
- NSPCC many members so has more money- 2018-19- total income of £117.9million- 90% directly from supporters
- NSPCC ‘flaw in the law’ campaign in 2014 led to gov making sending of sexual messages to children & young ppl a criminal offence in Serious Crime Act 2015
3
Q
what factors affect PG success?
A
- wealth
- size
- leadership & organisation
- compatability w gov
- popular support
4
Q
example of compatibility w gov affecting PG success?
A
- 2011 March for the Alternative in March against coalition’s planned spending cuts, achieved limited success as DC had been elected on promise of tackling debts
- was biggest demonstration sinec 2003 stop the war- shows pop support not working either
5
Q
example of popular support affecting PG success?
A
- govs will calculat ethe electoral dameg they may face
- can force a gov to change their mind- eg BJ’s u-turn after Rashford’s campaign used open letter to MPs, TV appareances, 2.7million twitter followers to get public opinion on his side
6
Q
example of popular support not affecting PG success?
A
- Stop the War coalition (claims to be) largest peacetime or war mass demonstrion in UK– in 2003, yet failed to impact TB’s decision
- think tanks, corporations, lobbying firms do not rely on pop supp, but rather on connections, revolving door, party donations etc
7
Q
example of compatibility w gov not affecting PG success?
A
- against poll tax supp by thatcher, 1990- widey opposed- mass demonstrations w eruptions of violence- led to MT being removed as PM by cons due to fear of election loss- JM replaced poll tax w community charge
8
Q
example of organisation & leadership not affecting PG success?
A
- BMA highly organised& well led w insider connections, yet didn’t recieve sustainable answer to their 2023 strike over pay not aligning w inflation until labour, who matched their views more well, got into power & gave extra 22%
9
Q
how does size not determine success of PGs?
A
- cannot compensate for insider status that’s led decisions sonce 2010
- eg HOWARD LEAGUE in 2019 enjoyed infl as insider status yet only had 19 staff consulted on prison policy due to their expertise
- cheque-book members; misleading
10
Q
how does wealth not determine success of PGs?
A
- wealthy groups may go against pub opinion- eg 2019 BJ told CBI he was shelving a cut to corporation tax as the public couldn’t ‘stomach’ it
11
Q
examples of Liberty’s work?
A
- in courts- M15 breaches of Investigating Powers Act- against the act as a whole as it gave police & security powers to spy on innocent ppl; in May 2024, high court agreed w Liberty & ruled gov had faile dto undertake fair consultation period BUT gov continued to appeal
- gives legal advice to ppl to protect their civil liberties
- petition for gov to consider scrapping the PCSCAct 2022- 38,000 signatures
12
Q
example of HOward League for Penal Reform’s work?
A
- petition calling for girls to be moved out of Whetherby prison after a 15y/o girl was held down and stripped to prevent her from harming herself- HM Prison & Prohibition Service published an action plan in response in ambition to develop gender-specific guidance for Whetherby in the case of girls
13
Q
describe the VA16 campaign?
A
- lobbying members of varying decision-making bodies, directly meeting w MPs to persuade them
- partnerships w brands eg Body Shop to raise awareness
- secured grants through UK democracy fund to boost their campaign
- Tories not in favour- have in controll since 210 for 14 years- younger voters tend to be more left wing so wouldn’t v for them
14
Q
what are think tanks?
A
- groups of experts who provide advice, ideas & policy proposals to gov on variety of topics
- calim to be nuetral, but many come from distinct ideological positions
- carry out research- aim to build up bank of evidence abtt an issue
- use links to politicians & media to shap epolicy decisions
15
Q
what is the IEA?
A
- TT
- Institute of Economic Affairs
- a ‘free-market’ think tank, thought to have inspired liz truss’ failed ec policies in her short term as PM
16
Q
what is the fabian society?
A
- left-wing org (TT) whihc seek sto promote greater equality
- famously proposed that the bank of england should become indep of gov- decision then enacted by TB’s gov after their 1997 manifesto
17
Q
what is Policy Exchange?
A
- a right-leaning TT whose policy suggestions on creating free school & PCCs have been adopted by Tory govs
18
Q
how do TTs help democracy?
A
- help decision makers make informed decisions
- pluralism- range of ones from dif ideological perspectives- competing groups put forward range of policy alternatives
- when signif reports are published by majot TTs, helps ignoite public debates on key issues; wide-ranging public debate abt policy isues helps to strengthen the democratic process
19
Q
how do TTs hinder democracy?
A
- may be pushing interests of corporations that fund them
- don’t have to declare who funds them
- politicians don’t have to declare their meetings w TTs; eg IEA does not declare exactly where its money comes from due to privacy concerbs- it only shares that 37% of its funding comes from private indivs, 28% from foundations & trusts, 14% from large businesses#
- so a LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
20
Q
what are lobbyists?
A
- indivs or firms that aim to infl gov often acting on behalf of the interests of clients
- can be ‘in-house’, whereby charities/ corporations employ full-time lobbyists to direct their attempts to infl gov
- or can be done on behalf of charities/ corporations by SPECIALIST LOBBYING FIRMS- eg Bellenden, who lobby on behalf of AQA, or Lexington- for the premier League
21
Q
how karge is the uk lobbying industry?
A
- worth over £2bn per year
- employs 4,000+ ppl
- but imp to note lobbyists may overstate their own imp- for future business
22
Q
what is Hanbury Strategy?
A
- imp uk lobbying form formed in 2016 by Ameet Gill, former special advisor to PM DC; close contacts to gov- currently counts Amazon UK & Deliveroo as clients
- to emplloy HS costs a huge amount- why its clientel = elite group
- lobbyists incl JOE MOOR, former director of legislative affairs under TM
- JAMES MSBRIDE- worked for lab P developing their policy ideas
23
Q
what are examples of think tanks?
A
- Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
- Fabian Society
- Policy Exchange
24
Q
what is an example of a lobbying firm?
A
- Hanbury Strategy
25
how is lobbying democratic?
- allows groups likely o be affected by gov decisions to have their voices heard
- so just an extension of free speech
BUT lobbying could allow the wealthiest groups to have most infl (ELITISM) & damage trust in politicians (eg DC & Greensill scandal)
26
what was teh DC/ Greensill scandal?
- after departure as PM 2016, DC worked as lobbyist for Greensill, a finance firm
- used contacts w gov to ersuade them to give a lucrative contact to the firm- privately met/ messaged cabinet minsters
- demonstrated prob of 'REVOLVING DOOR'- former pols making use of their contacts o earn a living in lobbying (allowing wealthy interests to buy infl through their employment)
- DC would not have fin benefitted had the contacs been offered to G, but the gov were not persuaded by DC & G collapsed
- this demonstrates a lack of transparency regarding infl of lobbyists & corporations & how lobbying can undermine pluralism- infl is not fair & balanced
27
what are corporations?
- large business organisations- employ many ppl & enjoy large infl on decision-makers cortesy of contributing signif to the ec
28
example of corporation?
- TESCO- giant uk supermarket chain w huge range of interests to advoctae on as so many parts of uk law effect it- eg tax & company law, farming & food standards policy, employment law & employee rights
- in last several years, T has lobbied gov to introduce an 'Amazon Tax' on pnline sales, to prevent high strt chains going under, as worried that online shoppinh puts company at risk & jobs of 10,000s of employees
29
are corporations democratic?
- ec functioning well is fundamental to a strong democ, so positiev that corps can exert infl on politicians
- but they may be promoting interets of business owners at the expense of interets of workers (rep by Unions)
30
what do PGs do that TTs, lobbyists & corps don't?
- mobilise public & raise awareness & support for their cause or issue
