Pressure groups, think tanks and lobbyists

• What are causal/promotional pressure groups focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to a particular issue, usually open to anyone who sympathises with the cause. e.g. Greenpeace promotes awareness of environmental concerns and tries to influence the government
• What are causal/promotional pressure groups

  focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to a particular issue, usually open to anyone who sympathises with the cause. e.g. Greenpeace promotes awareness of environmental concerns and tries to influence the government
• What are sectional/interest pressure groups

  they promote the interest of a particular group within society . e.g. trade union represent their members in negotiations with employers. Membership is often limited to people with certain qualification/expertise. e.g. the law society is open to solicitors in England and Wales
• examples of social movements

  • Black lives matter in 2020
  • major anti-Iraq war protests in 2003 with 750,000 demonstrators
• What is an insider pressure group

  • rely on close contact with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims. Some like the National Union of Farmers have close links with relevant departments
  • most insider group views will align somewhat with the government
  • some are low profile and rely on discreet behind the scenes, e.g. Howard League for Penal reform
  • others are high profile and use insider status as well as media to gain attention
  • are very dependent on the party of the day in government, could become outsider very easily
• What is an outsider pressure group

  • pressure groups not consulted by the government.
  • their objectives are often so fa from the political mainstream that its unlikely for the gov to talk to them e.g. animal rights protestors who intimate corporations
  • some reassure groups reputation may be tainted if they talk to the gov e.g. the anti-capitalist group 'occupy London' which camped outside St Pauls cathedral in 2011
• insider pressure group methods

  • Insider groups tend to lobby the government and negotiate behind the scenes using contacts in white hall
  • may be given the opportunity to give their views and specialist advice or draft legislation e.g the NFU is able to give conservative governments specialised knowledge in return for influence over policy
  • also lobby MP's and brief them on issues of concern. e.g. lawyers acting for human rights groups like 'Liberty' putting their views across on counter terrorism laws
• outsider pressure group methods

  • use much less discreet methods to gain publicity and spread their message
  • exercise influence in social media or stage protests e.g. Just Stop Oil protests through 2022 including blocking roads and gluing themselves to goal posts
  • Well funded groups may initiate legal challenges against policy e.g. the countryside alliance taking its case against the banning of fox hunting to the Hight Court in 2004
• pressure groups may use insider and outsider tactics e.g. the British Medical Association usually enjoys insider status but after the conservatives wanted to impose a new contract on junior doctors, it initiated strike action in 2016
• pressure group case study - stonewall: Started in opposition of Thatcher's Section 28 in 1989 which banned the 'promotion of homosexuality'. In 1997 it became an insider group and used legal challenges including the ECHR to challenge legislation. successes consist of challenging the banning of homosexuality in armed forces which was implemented by the government in 2000 as well as the introduction of the civil partnership act in 2004. in 2022 they boycotted the Tories first global LGBT conference over the exclusion of trans people from its ban on conversion therapy.
• pressure group case study - Liberty: campaigns for human rights. in the last 5 years it has focused mainly on challenging investigatory powers act 2016 in the high court and challenging hostile environment policies for immigrant to the UK. The investigatory power act expanded the electronic surveillance powers of UK police and intelligence, after raising 50,000, they challenged key provisions within the act and were successful, raising the threshold for investigation.
• Marcus Rashford's campaign for free school meals, put significant pressure on the government in the use of social media, e-petitions and open letters for meals over the summer holidays, successful. Despite being an outsider group. shows the importance of clear strong leadership and celebrity endorcement.
• it is often hard to judge the success of pressure groups, they may have successful publicity campaigns but may not have achieved their aims. some goals are so large that they have to take years to build up the public and political support to achieve them. it is ultimately up to the government and climate of public opinion.
• Reasons for pressure group success: resources

  • a large membership who pay subscription allow groups to run offices, pay staff and organise publicity e.g. the RSPA employs around 1600 people supported by 1000s of volunteers
  • for trade unions especially, a large membership is important as it means they have a bigger stake in the economy and their strikes will be more effective
  • the size of membership can also convince the government that it represents a large portion of the population
• reasons for pressure group success: strategy and leadership

  • for insider groups, knowing which 'access point' you can get what you want done as well as how you keep up relations is important
  • for outsider groups, capable leadership and tactics are important to make sure the public is kept onside e.g. Marcus Rashford
• reasons for pressure group success: public support

  • if you have a large voter base, as there is no need to use violent means and alienate sympathisers
  • the government will also more likely implement it if they think it will get them elected
  • the Snowdrop campagn to ban hand guns was hugely popular after the 1996 Dunblane massacre
  • favourable media coverage can be important as well as a well-known personality
• reasons for pressure group success: government attitudes

  • governments listen to groups which it relies on for specific expertise e.g. NFU links to DEFRA were instrumental in bringing about the 2013 badger cull
  • willingness for the government to u-turn and change policy. e.g. RMT strikes
  • pressure groups are more successful when the government is weak
• what are think thanks


  groups of experts who investigate topics and offer solutions to complicated dilemmas. they often have political leanings and example of right wing groups are the Adam Smith institute while left are the Fabian society
• how are think tanks criticised


  don't have real base in knowledge in reality, they're just used as springboards for new politicians e.g. David Miliband in the institute for public policy research. + unrealistic policy
• example of think tank influence

  Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng's policy in 2022 was seen as influenced by the Institute of Economic affairs (IEA) with Truss' special adviser, Ruth Porter being a former communications director at the IEA
• What are lobbyists

  members of professional organisations pad by clients seeking access to influence over government and trying to influence legislation that damages/promotes their interest. a lot of unease about lobbying, don't like the idea of wealth individuals saying their way and pulling the strings behind closed doors (corruption). the gov claims that lobbying has no impact over policy but that's not true. in 2014 it was a legal requirement to register any third party that discussed policy.
• facts about lobbying

  over 1000 firms, employing 4000 with a total of 2 billion spent each year
• examples of lobbying

  • Cash for Questions: in the 1990's under Majors government, a number of MPs were found accepting money to ask questions in parliament, Neil Hamilton receiving 2000 from Harrods
  • David Cameron and Greensill capital: during his PM, lex Greensill, owner of a financial serves firm was a senior advisor, after Cameron left he was given a job at Greensill capital straight away, aid over 1 million a year due to his contacts and ability to persuade. suspected influence while he was PM. An inquiry was found that said he didn't break any rules.