Pressure groups

• What are the different types of pressure groups?

  Causal , sectional and social movements
• Causal pressure groups are dedicated to bringing attention to an issue e.g Greenpeace
• Sectional interest groups promote the interests of a particular group within society , membership is often limited to people with certain qualifications e.g Law society is open only to solicitors
• Social movements are close to causal groups but looser in structure . e.g Anti - Iraq protests by the stop the war coalition in 2003 massing 750,000 in London .
• What is an insider group?

  Pressure groups relying on close relations with ministers and civil servants . e.g National union of farmers have close links with agricultural departments in government .
• What are outsider pressure groups?

  Pressure groups which are not consulted by government . Some decide not to be consulted by government by choice as it would taint their reputation e.g Just stop oil have very little to do with government due to their disruptive nature . Others are outsider due to their radical nature e.g Occupy London anti-Capitalist movement
• Example of pressure groups moving from insider to outsider?

  Trade unions enjoyed insider status in post war Britain however after 1979 less cooperation occurred between government and trade unions
• Insider pressure group methods?

  • Giving specialist advice and expertise to governments e.g National farmers union giving advice to conservative governments to allow influence over policy .
  • Lobbying government officials or MP's
  • Providing evidence to select committees e.g lawyers acting for civil rights group Liberty putting forward evidence and their views on counterterrorism
• Outsider pressure group methods?

  • Typically less discreet , use of social media campaigns and publicity stunts e.g Just stop oil disruption throughout 2022
  • Trade unions use outsider methods of striking e.g the 2023 rail strikes
• Evidence of pressure groups using insider and outsider methods?

  The BMA , which has insider status , initiated strikes in 2016 due to conservative contracts
• Are pressure groups successful?

  • Judging success is difficult , outsider groups may view publicity as success while insider groups may view influence on policy as success
  • Large membership for some pressure groups can be seen as success e.g RSPCA has 1,500 employees
  • Depends on an effective leader e.g Marcus Rashford in 2020 to extend free school meals to school holidays . On the other hand Just stop oil lacked strategy and leadership
  • Pressure groups are reliant on public support and media coverage e.g overturning the ban on Ghurkha's right to live in Britain in 2009
• What are think tanks?


  Groups of experts offering solutions to the government of complex economic, social and political issues , they have political leanings and strong connections to parties
• How do think tanks have influence?

  Think tanks have more time to carry out research and offer solutions . Think tanks have been critiqued for employing those who lack academic expertise and use the job to springboard their career e.g David Milliband beginning his career at a think tank.
• Examples of think tank influence?

  Universal credit was initially proposed by the Center for social justice

  The conservative shift to free market policies in the 1970's was credited due to Thatchers patronage of right wing think tanks such as the Adam Smith institute
• How do lobbyists have influence?

  • Over 2 billion is spent on lobbying each year
  • Lobbyists may meet with ministers or civil servants and convince them to adopt policies within the interests of the clients interests.
  • Prominent examples include: Cash for questions in John Majors government , Tony Blair exempting formula one from the ban to tobacco adverts after a donation of 1 million to the labour party . David Cameron lobbying for Greensill capital after being PM and using contacts
• What is the impact of insider pressure groups on government policy?

  They can influence policy, such as the BMA influencing the government to increase NHS spending by 3% in 2017.
• Why do outsider pressure groups struggle to influence policy?

  They often lack mass support or funding, as seen with the Just Stop Oil disruption campaign in 2022.
• What role do think tanks play in government policy?

  They are consulted for their time and expertise, such as the Center for Social Justice influencing universal credit reform.
• How does the political leaning of the government affect the influence of think tanks?

  Think tanks may be ignored based on the government's political leanings, such as left-wing think tanks being ignored by Conservative governments.
• What is the market size for lobbyists in the UK?

  The lobbying market is worth £2 billion per year.
• Why do corporations hire former MPs as lobbyists?

  They often hire ex-MPs due to the revolving door theory, as exemplified by David Cameron working for Greensill.
• What recent legislation has aimed to increase transparency among lobbyists?

  The 2014 Transparency of Lobbying Act was introduced to make lobbyists more transparent.