1.3 Pressure groups: case studies and examples

Question 1

Two types of pressure groups

Answer 1

Sectional
Causal

Question 2

Sectional pressure group defdinition

Answer 2

these represent a SECTION of society
Eg. Muslim Council of Britain, or National Union of Students

these are normally insider pressure groups

Question 3

Causal pressure group definition

Answer 3

presents a particular ISSUE - Eg. Friends of the Earth, Liberty.

these are normally outsider pressure groups

Question 4

What factors help a pressure group be successful?

Answer 4

1. insider status
2. wealth
3. celebrity endorsement
4. social media
5. direct action

Question 5

insider status

+ 1970 example

Answer 5

if it benefits the government to listen to a pressure group, they may take on board some of their ideas.
Eg. Jack Jones (general secretary for the TGWU trade union) was called ‘the most powerful man in Britain’ in 1970.

Question 6

Wealth

+ BI example

Answer 6

the confederation of British Industry employs 7 million people to further their cause. although to note: wealth doesn’t guarantee success, a powerful voice may come with wealth though which is valuable.

Question 7

Celebrity endorsement

Stephen Fry

Answer 7

Stephen Fry endorses the Mind Mental Health Campaign for LGBTQ+ rights.

Question 8

Social Media

Answer 8

increases engagement, Eg. websites can be used to donate to certain causes.

Friends of the Earth and Oxfam have prominent social media platforms

Question 9

Direct action

Answer 9

civil disobediance for attention to cause.
Eg. 1990 poll tax riots in Trafalgar Square meant John Major to abandon the tax

Question 10

pluralist democracy

Answer 10

democracy where different groups compete for government’s support/endorsement. Members of the public can support pressure groups to engage in democracy.

Question 11

Success Acronym

Answer 11

RIPE
Resources, Ideological alignment with the government, Popularity, Expertise

Groups need at least 1 out of 4 to be successful, if they do not have any, they are unlikely to be successful

Question 12

example for expertise

Answer 12

British Medical Association (BMA) has expertise

Question 13

example for Resources

Answer 13

Conservative and Labour Friends of Israel have financial rsources, allowing them to be successful

Question 14

example for unsuccessful campaigns

Answer 14

STOP HS2 had 0/4, and was not listened to

Question 15

Why was Stop HS2 unsuccessful?

2013, 2020, what happened in the end?

Answer 15

MPs whose constituencies affected were supportive of the campaign.

In 2013, MPs voted 399 to 42 in favour.
In 2020, a petition demanding a repeal of HS2 recieved 100,000 signatures, but support for the rail link outweighed this so it was ignored.

Question 16

What do Think Tanks do?

Answer 16

they are informed groups that form the basis for government policy making

Question 17

example that increased influence under Kier Starmer

Answer 17

The Fabian Society with centre ‘soft-left’ ideology align with the current government

Question 18

example think tank more conservative leaning

Answer 18

The Institute of Economic Affairs and the Centre for Policy Studies encourages a free market: conservatives like this idea.

Question 19

example impartial groups

Answer 19

Chatham house provides an impartial analysis of global politics

Question 20

example of influence under government, and then a counterpoint to this

David Cameron, and then Boris Johnson

Answer 20

the Tax Payers alliance was valued under David Cameron and George Osborne - underpinned austerity policies 2010-2015, Johnson ignored the think tanks ideas later…

Question 21

unsuccessful example for pressure groups

Tony Blair

Answer 21

Stop the War Coalition: 2001 response to Tony Blair’s ‘war on terror’ in Iraq.

1 million people marched in London against him, but Blair’s majority meant he could ignore this

Question 22

What are Lobbyists

Answer 22

firms employ powerful politicians to lobby the government for a certain interest (not always selfish!)

Question 23

example of lobbying 2022

Answer 23

Nick Clegg as appointed president of global affairs for Meta.

Question 24

example of lobbying 2018

David Cameron

Answer 24

Criticised for having a ‘significant lack of judgement’ when lobbying for Greensill.
- documents obtained by the BBCs Panorama suggests earned around £7m

Question 25

Lobbyists are sometimes unfairly criticised. When have they been beneficial? | Gin Act

Answer 25

2008, Lobbyists had the Gin Act repealed and now boutique gin is one of the UK's most enterprising new exports.

Question 26

# case studies The Law society: sectional group, aims?

Answer 26

increasing justice regardless of social background or wealth.

Question 27

# case studies The Law society: **evaluation of effectiveness**

Answer 27

- upheld the rule of law - defended solicitors against political attacks - secured a 2 year extension of the solicitors indemnity fund - successfully lobbied to strengthen the bill of rights.

Question 28

# case studies **promotional group** the Electoral Reform Society, aims?

Answer 28

improve democracy to fit the 21st century

Question 29

# case studies The Electoral Reform Society, methods?

Answer 29

research teams, press officers, website channels on how westminister works, campaigning at party conferences with events.

Question 30

# case studies The Electoral Reform Society, **evaluation of effectiveness**

Answer 30

Replace the House of Lords England's local democracy Electoral Reform in Westminister Extending the vote to 16... none have been achieved inhrenetly.

Question 31

# lobbying labour ex ministers lobbying scandal **2010** | **2010**

Answer 31

- Stephen Byers, Geoff Hoon and Richard Caborn lost their parliamentary passes for breaking the rules - they were filmed talking to a reporter from Channel 4's Dispatches programme who claimed to represent a lobbying firm. - Hoon (who had been defence secretary) toled the reporter he wanted to use his connections for something that *'bluntly, makes money'

Question 32

# pressure groups examples NFU **2024** | Rishi Sunak conference + success with canada ## Footnote How many did this benefit?

Answer 32

- Sunak attended the annual conference and pledged to protect British farming in the agricultural market - this meant the UK suspended their trade discussions with Canada after they refused to loosen their food standards - this benefitted 55,000 farmers the union represents.

Question 33

# pressure groups examples 2013 **NFU** | badger culling

Answer 33

- had close links with the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs - they helped bring about a badger cull to control the spread of bovine tuburcolisis to farm animals, despite pressure groups supporting animal welfare (the Royal Society for the Prevention of cruelty to animals) opposing it

Question 33

# pressure groups examples **2024** Labour and the NFU: decline in influence? | **2024** budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Answer 33

- **2024** budget: Rachel Reeves introduced 20% tax on inherited farming assets over £1m - President of the NFU Tom Bradshaw criticised this for leading to the *'death of the family farm'*

Question 34

# pressure groups examples NFU protests **2024** November protests against the tax | protests + mass lobby

Answer 34

- 13,000 farmers protested outside of Westminister in November **2024** - NFU organised a 'mass lobby' event where thousands of farmers met 150 MPs in London

Question 35

# outsider pressure groups impact examples **2022** Care4Calais | Rwanda

Answer 35

- campaigned arguing it is unsafe to send people to Rwanda and that it violates the HRA due to discriminatory access to asylum for different groups in Rwanda - It had notable success on **14 June 2022** when the first planned deportation to Rwanda was emptied due to the successful huiman rights legal challenges in the ECHR

Question 36

# outsider pressure groups impact examples Social movement: Gaza **2024** protests in London

Answer 36

- over 100,000 called for a ceasefire in Gaza in London throughout **2024** - labour gov in **September 2024** suspended some of its arms export licenses to Israel.

Question 37

# Outsider pressure groups lack of impact examples Women Against State Pension Inequality failure **2024** | Labour rejecting compensation

Answer 37

- failed to convince the labour government to compensate the 3.6m women affected by the poorly communicated change to the women's state pension age in **2010** - **2024** Labour rejected compensation, due to the fact that it would cosr over £10b and this wasn't aligned with their goals.

Question 38

# Outsider pressure groups lack of impact examples **2023** Sunak North Sea Oil licenses

Answer 38

- Sunak announced in July **2023** that he was going to grant 100 new North Sea oil and gas licenses - despite Just Stop Oil's protests in **2022**

Question 39

# Outsider pressure groups lack of impact examples Public Order Act **May 2023**

Answer 39

- reduced effectiveness of outsider pressure groups that use disruptive tactics to draw attention to their causes - imposed stricter penalties and gave law enforcement new tools to respond to protests.

Question 40

# Outsider pressure groups lack of impact examples **March 2025** Public Order Act used to prevent farmers

Answer 40

from protesting against inheritence tax changes from bringing tractors to their protests in Westminister and blocking roadds.

Question 41

# Think Tanks who first proposed the Universal Credit Benfits System? | **2010-2015** HINT

Answer 41

- the Centre for Social Justice setuo by Ian Duncan Smith - then implicated by the Coalition government

Question 42

# Think Tanks Institute of Economic Affairs influence on Lizz Truss

Answer 42

- influenced the tax breaks for the rich in October **2022** - Truss' senior special adviser Ruth Porter was a former communications director at the IEA

Question 43

# Think Tanks Tony Blair Institute For Global Change influence on Kier Starmer

Answer 43

- late **2023** early **2024** it has been reported the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has been reported to have influenced Kier Starmer's shift to centerist policies and messaging that is similiar to new labour - 'pro buisiness', and tough on crime

Question 44

# Lobbyists what are lobbyists

Answer 44

- members of professional organisations paid by clients seeking access to government, MPs and members of the House of Lords.

Question 45

# Lobbyists Scott Benton **2023** | sting op, confidentiality, questions

Answer 45

- (ex) Conservative MP for Blackpool South, was caught in an undercover sting operation by the Times in late **2023** where he was filmed offering to lobby on behalf of a fake gambling company. - Benton proposed to leak confidential policy papers and ask questions in parliament, suggesting he could do so for £4,000 a month.

Question 46

# Lobbyists What did the Guardian report in March **2023**

Answer 46

- since **2017**, over 170 former UK ministers and senior officials have taken up jobs that relate to policy areas they previously managed - conflict of interest? individuals may leverage their insider knowledge and connections to lobby on behalf of private interests.

Question 47

# Lobbyists Gavin Williamson (former education secretary) and RTC Education?

Answer 47

- he was paid £50,000 to be an adviser to RTC Education - this firm is run by the Tory donor Selva Pankaj

Question 48

# think-tanks and lobbyists how is it that they have limited impact?

Answer 48

- they both lack any significant public support - the government still makes the final decision, their influence should not be overstated.

Question 49

# Lobbyists **March 2023**, UK Parliament regulating lobbying

Answer 49

- they introduced new standards rules to enhance transparency - including an outright ban on MPs providing paid parliamentary advice, consultancy, or strategy services related to lobbying. - MPs are also now required to have a written contract for any outside work

Question 50

# think tanks think tanks not having influence, **2021** Levelling up campaign Boris Johnson and the Industrial Strategy Council

Answer 50

- the Industrial Strategy Council, a think tank, was critical of Johnson's 'levelling up' policies for focusing centrally on infrasturcture spending and a lack of a clear strategy - despite this criticism, the government continued with the policies anyway, and disbanded the ISC