UNIT 1 Pressure groups Flashcards
What is a pressure group?
A pressure group is a group of people who seek to influence or change public policy and decision making.
Some represent sections within society, others represent a cause.
EXTINCTION REBELLION
Case study
Aims: Extinction Rebellion is a non-profit org passionate about saving the earth from mass extinction. Hold corporations such as BP and Shell to account.
Methods: use ‘civil disobedience’ to ‘compel the government to take action to avoid tipping points’. E.g. XR March 2019, ‘blood of our children’, dropped fake blood outside Downing Street to represent the lives of children threatened by climate change.
Successes: Legitimate authority, because over 100 academics support and back the XR. Thousands of supporters visibly support the cause. Sadiq Khan condemned the group, but also suggested a meeting with the group.
Failures: overwhelming turnout and disruption often caused by such pressure groups = lack of support. Commuters and other businesses find it a disruption.
SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE
Case study
Aims: to unite all ocean activists in order to restore the oceans after years of damage from pollution. Grassroots movement.
Methods: petitions, education, beach cleans. Plastic free schools + Ocean school!! Beach cleans are the most significant however, 2021 - Million Mile Clean… 100 000 people
Successes: PM Theresa May and Environment Secretary Michael Gove were enthusiastic to move forward with the ideas proposed because in countries like Germany, success was shown as possible.
Failures: E petition on their website is outdated. Pressure group must rely on the public which would be easier if they had government support.
FATHERS4JUSTICE
Case study
Aims: attempt to seek justice for fathers in divorce/family court for equal custody and divorce rights. Founded by Matt O Connor in 2001, and gained public attention through high-profile public stunts.
Methods: online campaigning, public stunts, social media, blueprints for family law. 2004, two activists threw purple flour bombs at Tony Blair during a PMQT.
Successes: social media emphasis on the importance of having a relationship with fathers - emotive news reports, stories and images of children often engage and encourage members of the public to sign petitions.
Failures: negative press, GMB 2018 interview ‘balls prank’.
LIBERTY
Case study
Aims: expose discrimination, emphasise infringements of human rights and fight actively against government attempts to restrict and remove civil liberties.
Methods: significant political influence. Social media campaigns, E petitions - Some Lords work with Liberty (Shami Chakrabarti), increasing cross-party participation for civil liberties. Has influences politicians to say no to the proposal of identity cards.
Challenged Theresa May’s Investigatory Powers Act 2017, on the grounds that the EU Court of Justice declared its ‘general and indiscriminate’ approach to individuals is unethical and illegal - crowdfunded by £50,000.
Successes: professional lobbying = impact is much more influential. They make a substantial difference to the protection of our civil liberties.
Why are some more successful than others?
RIPE
RESOURCES
IDEOLOGICAL compatibility with govt.
POPULARITY
EXPERTISE
Every pressure group requires at least one of the four to be successful.
Why are certain methods more successful than others?
E Petitions over 100,000 signatures are more likely to be successful than protests attended by millions because, governments don’t want to ‘give in’, to outsider pressure.
Feb 2003, 1 mill marched to protest Iraq invasion plans to remove dictator Saddam Hussain, 15 marched worldwide - it all failed, the invasion went ahead.
THINK TANKS
case studies
influence :)
A research institute that researches and advocates on behalf of certain issues e.g. social policy, political strategy, military. They contribute useful insights into political debate and can prove very useful for parties who are advocating on similar issues. They work for the greater good of everyone.
Centre for Social Justice (centre-right) annual report 2020/2021: they published 25 papers, and 1/3 of their recommendations were adopted by govt.
LOBBYISTS guns for hire
case studies
influence :)
Greensilll lobbying row 2021 April -
David Cameron sent messages to Rishi Sunak as chancellor - Lex Greensill was a formed unpaid adviser to the ex-PM.
Sunak was accused of smoothing the way for Greensill Capital to gain special access to emergency Covid loans after the release of messages showing the Chancellor told Cameron he ‘pushed the team’ to see if it could happen.
Cameron lobbied for Greensill to qualify for the largest possible bracket of govt backed loans under CoCFF (Covid Corporate Financing Facility)
CORPORATIONS
case studies
influence :)
Legal form of business that is authorised to act as a single entity.
steering conversations, spinning the media, cultivating a following of people, buying credibility, sponsoring a think tank, ear-time with politicians, Westminster events.
BP 2022 -
BJ has refused to rule out the intro of a windfall tax which would help relieve pressure on the cost of living.
Johnson said it was because they deter investment in the things that need investing in - new tech, new energy supplies etc.
Labour believes a windfall tax could raise more than £2 billion.
BP had profits of $6.2 billion (compared with $3 billion this time last year, ahead of expectations)
late 2021 - the Cons party and its MPs registered £1.3 million in gifts + donations from oil companies, airports, and corporations
LOBBYISTS guns for hire case studies
influence :(
LEGISLATION - 2014 Lobbying Act, introduced by David Cameron, who made it a point in the 2010 general election, as it was undermining public confidence in politics.
three main sections: - most important being section a
a) registrar est to enforce registration requirements for lobbyists. (this does not apply to organisations or individuals who lobby the govt on their own/organisation’s own behalf)
CORPORATIONS case studies
influence :(
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THINK TANKS case studies
influence :(
think tanks that oppose the govt in power!
The Fabian Society (left-leaning think tank): Lasting Pain April 2022 - cost of living crisis solutions explained:
outlines how Sunak had the chance to soften the blow in his recent Spring budget but instead, he prioritised those hit hardest by the cost of living by cutting income tax for the rich by 1p (in 2024)
