Chapter 1.2 - pressure groups and rights Flashcards
(31 cards)
what 4 types of pressure group are there in the UK?
- sectional/ interest
- cause/promotional
- insider
- outsider
what are sectional/ interest pressure groups?
representing interests of particular groups in society such as the (national union of students) who lobby the government on behalf of these social groups
what are causual /promotional PGs
focus on particular issues (green peace members are united over their shared interest in protecting the environment)
what are insider pressue groups
access to government decision making such as the (british medical association)
what are outsider PGs
Don’t have access to government so have t gain attention of government by using public support (ex Gurkha campaign)
how do pressure groups achieve insider status?
- specialist knowledge
- political circumstances
- bais of the government
- wealthy groups base their offices in key points of access such as London (
example of group having specialist knowledge
(such as the British medical Assosication)
example of a group having insider status through political climate
1970s trade unions were so powerful that jack jones who, as head of the TGWU, was often called ‘the most powerful man in Britain
example of insider status due to bais of the government
trade unions contribute funds to the labour party so they are more likely to exercise insider influence during a labour gov
how can wealthy groups gain insider status
base their offices in key points of access such as London (the independent decision-making power of the London mayor means London is a prime point of contact for pressure groups
other ways to gain status
- celebrity endorsement (Johanna Lumley and the gurkhas)
- e petitions (Gurkhas campaign got 250,000 signatures)
- civil disobedience (poll tax riots)
- internet enabling mobilisation of public support
- trade unions
factors contributing to pressure groups success
Resources
Ideological compatibility with the government
Populatiry
Expertise
fathersforjustice methods and outcomes
campaign to change law on behalf of fathers rights in cases of divorce and separation
first stunts were hurling purple flour bombs at tony blair duirng pmqs
to maintain momentum later stunts became more outlandish tim harries was given 6 months in prison after spray painting ‘help’ across a portrait of queen liz in westmister abbey and going on hunger strike while in prison
these failures have led them ot focus more on positive use of social media and have attempted to distance themsleves from the civil disobediance.
liberty methods and outcomes
exposes discrimination and highlight infringements of the HRA
works closely with MPS to encourage cross party support for porection of civil liberties. after Brexit demanded a people’s clause’ was included in legislation that underwrote all existing EU human rights legislation
liberty has launched judicla rviews in cases where the gov has acted ultra vires
(2017 challenged the legality of the investigatory powers act on the gorups that the ECOJ had declare its ‘general and indiscriminate’ approach to private indicuals data to be illegal)
what is a think tank
a group whos role it is to generate ideas
usually like minded thin-tanks work the the government to develop policy
blair used them heavily
how to think tanks influence the government
- fabian society work with conservative and labour to develop policies
- chatham house provides highly respected impartial analysis on global politics which politicians consult
- demons is a cross-party think-tank specialising in the development of social policy
what are lobbyists?
lobbyists represent the interests of a particular group-of cause and seek to influence politicians in its’s favour
example of lobbyists infleuncing the government
- lobbysist have put forward interests of gin drinkers. after the Gin Act 1751 small scale gin production was banned in order to stop bootlegging however in 2008 lobbyists succeeded in having ht begin act repealed and now boutique gin is becoming g one of the UK’s most enterprising new exports
criticsm of lobbyists
they can represent people in society who pay for their services with arguably means they allow people to buy thier influence
example of lobbyists providing accsess for cash?
former foreign secutary was found doing this to a fake firm in 2015
malcom rifkin told the fake company that he could provided ‘useful accsess to every ambassador in the UkK’ for a free of 5,000 to 8,000 a day
similarly owen pattinson was found guilty of accepting money form several food comapnies in order for him to lobby the government on their behlavs
example of lobbyists arguing that they broaden political debate so that both sides are heard
the raptor alliance that represents pigeon fanciers was worried that the RSPBs protection of birds of prey is killing off pigeons
encograged support but making a lords v commons pigeon race in 2018 with may even sponsoring a bird in parlaiment
what rights do the British public traditionally have?
negative or residual rights. rights aren’t set out in one document but instead derive from our rights as citizens and key constitutional and legal events such as:
1215 magna carta: law should be impartial (civil liberties)
1687 bill of rights: constitutional monarchy bound by law
somerset v stewrat: eliminated slavery
when did the development of a rights based culture appear in the UK?
- rather than relying on common law decisions and constitutional conventions there have been a greater emphasis of codification of positive rights that british citizens have:
HRA 1998
freedom of information act 2000
equality act 2010
how does the HRA protect rights in the UK
1998 law clearly establishes postive rights that protect citizens such as right to life, right to a fair trial freedom from torture ect
even after brexit the Uk consituntion still includes the European convention of human rights
