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Gov & Politics > UK Pressure Groups > Flashcards

UK Pressure Groups Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an insider group?

A

A pressure group that has close ties and contact with government

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2
Q

What is an outsider group?

A

A pressure group that lacks strong, established links with government

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3
Q

What is an interest group?

A

A pressure group that exists to primarily defend and advance the specific interests of their members

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4
Q

What is a promotional group?

A

A pressure group that sets out to achieve a specific set of aims that are not in the direct self-interest of their members

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5
Q

Examples of insider groups

A
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • National Farmers’ Union (NFU)
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6
Q

Example of a group which has shifted from an insider to outsider group over time

A

Under Labour governments (until ‘97) trade unions were seen as insider groups, regularly consulted on industrial and economic issues

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7
Q

Example of a trade union’s influence on the Corbyn Labour party

A

Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey was a key Corbyn supporter. Corbyn promised to repeal anti-trade union legislation introduced by the Conservatives

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8
Q

Advantage of being an insider group

A
  • Ability to lobby
  • Usually more well resourced and funded
  • Invited to take part in public bill committees and select committee hearings
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9
Q

Example of a pressure group on a select committee

A

The King’s Fund gave evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry into emergency services and care in 2013

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10
Q

Disadvantages of being an insider group

A
  • Unable to speak out/criticise government
  • When their party affiliates are out of office they are powerless
  • Those with a vested interest should not be influencing the law for their own favour
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11
Q

Number of National Trust members

A

Over 5m

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12
Q

Aims of the National Trust

A
  • Preservation of British countryside
  • Preserving traditional buildings
  • Promoting nature conservation
  • Lobbying government on issues such as protecting the greenbelt
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13
Q

How does the National Trust have close links to government?

A

The former director-general, Helen Ghosh, had been a former civil servant in the Home Office

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14
Q

When has the National Trust spoke out against the government?

A

In 2011 they came out in opposition of a new planning system making it easier to build on greenfield sites

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15
Q

What is direct action?

A

The use of strikes, protests, etc. instead of negotiations

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16
Q

Example of direct action

A

In July 2015, the group Plane Stupid had protesters stand on the runway at Heathrow, leading to the cancellation of 25 flights. They were protesting against the impact of planes on climate change.

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17
Q

Example of an outsider group who also has insider connections

A

The Howard League who campaign for prisoner rights
Outsider - prisoner rights are a minority opinion, less widely supported
Insider - They are often invited to hearings due to their expert knowledge

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18
Q

What is a holacratic group?

A

An organisation which rejects formal hierarchical leadership structures

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19
Q

Advantages of being an outsider group

A
  • Easier for them to make the headlines
  • Direct action shows a deep commitment to the cause
  • Freedom to criticise the government
  • Have the potential to become insider groups
20
Q

Disadvantages of being an outsider group

A
  • Often get bad press
  • Direct action can result in legal difficulties
  • Little ability to influence government policy
  • Many never become insider groups
21
Q

Example of a holacratic pressure group

A

Extinction rebellion

22
Q

Aims of Extinction Rebellion

A

To get the government to declare a climate emergency and act accordingly - ideally net zero by 2025

23
Q

Example of direct action taken by Extinction Rebellion

A

In April 2019, protesters glued themselves to train carriages, affecting around 500,000 commuters

24
Q

What is pluralism?

A

The concept that democratic politics should include numerous groups all competing for power and influence on a roughly equal basis, resulting in a wide dispersal of power

25
Q

Arguments that pressure groups are elitist

A
  • Many groups with close ties to government use their insider status to influence government policy, even though they are unelected
  • The groups themselves are undemocratic
  • Pressure groups with wealth have great influence compared to groups supporting marginalised communities
26
Q

Arguments that pressure groups are pluralist

A
  • They promote a wide variety of views, which is healthy in a democracy
  • Pressure groups are voices for many marginalised groups who do not have much democratic representation
  • Most big pressure groups have close ties to their membership’s views
27
Q

Arguments that pressure groups help democracy

A
  • Provide forums for political participation (e.g. through direct action)
  • Represent many viewpoints which are not represented in Westminster
  • Many groups are democratically structured (e.g. unions will confirm strike action through a member vote)
28
Q

Arguments that pressure groups hinder democracy

A
  • Many people join pressure groups but do not actually join participation events
  • Lack a democratic mandate
  • Under less responsibility than elected MPs to share unbiased information
29
Q

How many people attended the 2003 Stop the War rally in London?

A

1 million

30
Q

Example of inner pressure group squabbling

A

A radical sub-group of Extinction Rebellion, called Beyond Politics, formed in 2020

31
Q

Factors which influence pressure group success

A
  • Achievability of aims
  • Insider/outsider status
  • Ideas parallel to government direction
  • Membership size
  • Financial resources
  • Media support
32
Q

Example of a policy being dropped after large public backlash

A

In 2000, the government dropped the proposed plan on fuel duty increases due to public pressure, despite it costing them £2bn

33
Q

Example of a celebrity endorsement causing policy change

A

Marcus Rashford campaigned for the government to continue free school meal vouchers during the pandemic

34
Q

Example of corporations lobbying the government

A

During Brexit negotiations, motor manufacturers lobbied for a trade deal which would maintain the much of the single market

35
Q

Who must approve former MPs working for lobbying firms?

A

the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

36
Q

What was the “cash for access” scandal?

A

In 2015, a number of MPs were caught asking parliamentary questions in return for payment

37
Q

Example of positive lobbying

A

Lobbying firm Morgan Roberts campaigned for the introduction of a immunisation programme against cervical cancer in 2008

38
Q

What are think tanks?

A

Groups specifically set up to undertake policy research and development

39
Q

Which think tank did Lord Sainsbury donate to in 2016?

A

Progress (centrist/Labour supporting)
Donated £216,000

40
Q

Example of a right-wing think tank

A

Institute for Economic Affairs

41
Q

Example of a left-wing think tank

A

Fabian Society

42
Q

Example of a non-partisan think tank

A

Centre for Social Justice
Set up in 2004 to look for answers to issues such as poverty

43
Q

Example of a think tank making a policy change

A

The Centre for Social Justice published a report in 2018 calling for the government to scrap plans for five new women’s’ prisons. Government followed through with their report.

44
Q

Why has traditional media become less influential?

A
  • Newspaper reading halved since 90s
  • Same companies own many newspapers (Express and Mirror owned by same company)
  • Newspapers tend to back winners
45
Q

How do pressure groups use the media?

A

Many pressure groups try and adopt a ‘centrist’ approach to get more media links

Gov & Politics (23 decks)

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