Evaluate The View That Pressure Groups Are Successful Due To Their Ability To Generate Mass Support. Flashcards
(2 cards)
1) ability to generate mass support
Importance of Mass Support
Mass support especially key for outsider groups — makes it harder for government to ignore public pressure.
Example: Free School Meals Campaign (2020) – Marcus Rashford
→ Used social media, petitions, public pressure → Gov u-turn on 16 June 2020.
Contrast: Just Stop Oil (2022)
→ Disruptive protests alienated public → Gov expanded fossil fuel licences (100 new in 2023).
🔁 Other Advantages of Mass Support
Mass support → large memberships, subscriptions, funding
→ Allows advertising, offices, staff.
Example: RSPCA → 1,600 employees + volunteers
Trade Unions: large, essential membership = stronger industrial action threat.
❌ Limitations of Mass Support Alone
Mass support ≠ guaranteed success
Example: Stop the War (2003) and People’s Vote (2019)
→ 700,000+ protestors, no policy change.
Gov majority strength matters → Weak gov = more vulnerable to u-turns.
Needs to be combined with leadership + clear aims.
Example: Occupy London (2011) → widespread backing but failed (no leadership or clear, achievable goal).
2) Govt attitudes (being an insider group ) - check this *****
While mass support matters, insider groups with government alignment and access to key officials are often more successful.
Insider groups work closely with ministers, MPs, and civil servants. Their aims usually match government views, increasing their influence.
Example: Stonewall was an insider group under New Labour. It used lobbying and policy input to push for equalising the age of consent in the Sexual Offences Act 2000. This needed the Parliament Acts to override the Lords.
Example: The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has strong DEFRA ties, offers expert advice, and represents over 55,000 members. Its 2023 conference was attended by Sunak, Starmer, and Davey. In 2023, DEFRA Secretary Steve Barclay announced £45M in farmer funding after NFU lobbying. The NFU also influenced the suspension of a UK-Canada trade deal in 2024 by urging the government not to lower food standards.
Counterpoint: Stonewall’s outsider status under the current Conservative government shows limits of insider influence without alignment—e.g., failure to ban trans conversion therapy due to government’s anti-woke stance.
However, insider influence is unstable—it depends on the government. Trade unions had major influence in the 1970s under Labour, but lost it entirely under Thatcher from 1979.
Also, government still controls final decisions. Even insiders may fail if their goals don’t fit current policies or lack wide public support.
