Pressure Groups, Think Tanks and Lobbyists Flashcards
(68 cards)
What is a pressure group?
A group of like-minded people seeking to influence the government or another authority to adopt their ideas or not to pursue a policy that they disapprove.
What are the three main types of pressure groups?
Sectional groups: Seek to promote the interests of an occupation or another group in society (e.g., The Law Society, BMA).
Cause groups: Focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue or group of related issues (e.g., Greenpeace, Oxfam).
Social movements: Similar to cause groups but more loosely structured (e.g., Black Lives Matter movement).
What is an insider group?
Pressure groups that rely on contact with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims. Examples include the National Union of Farmers and the BMA. Insider groups tend to have objectives that align with government views, increasing their leverage. High-profile groups may also use media to supplement their lobbying.
What is an outsider group?
Pressure groups not consulted by the government. Their objectives may be far outside the political mainstream, making government dialogue unlikely. For example, animal rights protestors who try to intimidate animal testing laboratories into ceasing their work.
Why may a pressure group switch from insider to outsider status?
Changing political circumstances, such as a change in government. For instance, trade unions thrived under Labour governments but were excluded from power corridors when Thatcher’s government won in 1979.
How do pressure groups’ methods vary?
Methods depend on resources and insider/outsider status. They may lobby MPs (e.g., Liberty on counterterrorism policies), stage demonstrations (e.g., BLM UK obstructing flights at London City Airport in 2016), or pursue legal challenges (e.g., Countryside Alliance’s 2004 High Court case on fox hunting).
What factors influence the effectiveness of pressure group activities?
Public support: Marcus Rashford’s 2020 free school meal campaign led to a government U-turn due to overwhelming public backing.
Government attitudes: Sympathetic governments can lead to significant concessions (e.g., BMA’s 2024 negotiation for junior doctors’ pay increase).
Mainstream beliefs: Groups like Republic face challenges as their goals (abolishing the monarchy) are not widely supported by the public.
What is a think tank?
A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social, or political issues. For example, the Centre for Policy Studies influenced Conservative free-market policies in the 1970s.
What is an example of a think tank influencing the government?
The Centre for Social Justice, set up by Iain Duncan Smith in 2004, influenced the ‘universal credit’ plan.
In 2022, Liz Truss’s government used the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA), which advocates for low taxes and deregulation, influencing the Mini Budget.
Rishi Sunak using Policy Exchange (Think Tank) to help shape anti-protest laws
What is a lobbyist?
Someone paid by clients to influence government or parliament on their behalf, especially concerning legislation affecting their clients’ interests.
What are the concerns around lobbying?
Legitimacy: Lobbying can give disproportionate access to wealthy entities, undermining political equality.
Transparency: Activities often occur behind closed doors, leading to public suspicion.
Revolving door: Politicians moving into lobbying roles may prioritize future opportunities over public good.
Public interest conflict: Lobbyists may push policies benefiting specific groups at the public’s expense.
What are the concerns surrounding corporations?
Revolving door: Politicians taking private sector jobs post-government (e.g., George Osborne advising BlackRock) raise concerns about using insider knowledge.
Policy influence: Corporations may lobby against regulations (e.g., British Soft Drinks Association opposing a tax on sugary drinks in 2016).
Why do large corporations often have insider status in UK politics?
Because they employ 1/3 of the private sector workforce, making them economically vital and increasing government dependence on them.
How did the UK government respond to Nissan’s threat to leave post-Brexit?
It offered financial incentives and assurances, leading to Nissan announcing a £2bn investment after £200m in government support.
What does the Port Talbot steelworks bailout show about corporate influence?
The £500m in 2023 bailout despite Tata’s, owner of Port Talbot, plans to cut jobs, 3000, shows how corporations can leverage economic value over workers’ rights.
Why does Dyson moving HQ to Singapore weaken the idea of corporate political power?
It shows that despite their economic importance, corporations can’t always sway political decisions like tax policy (corporation tax increase from 19% to 25%).
Why did Brexit weaken the perceived political influence of corporations?
Many corporations opposed Brexit, due to trading difficulties as result of leaving the EU single market, but the government still pursued it, showing limited corporate sway.
What does Boris Johnson’s “F*** business” comment in response to business conserns about Brexit reveal?
It highlights that political leaders may act in their own interest rather than being guided by corporate concerns.
How does the public sector limit corporate influence in the UK economy?
Institutions like the BBC (Limiting size of other broadcasters such as Sky and GP news) and NHS (Private healthcare in the UK is tiny compare to the US) reduce private sector dominance in media and healthcare respectively.
What is Labour’s plan to counter private sector energy dominance?
Labour plans to create Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company.
How might the government respond when private companies control vital infrastructure?
It may take them into public ownership, as shown by Labour’s renationalisation of rail services like Greater Anglia.
What does Lord Sainsbury’s £2.5m donation to Labour (26% of total donations) in 2024 suggest?
It could give him and his supermarket influence over policy, particularly as they faced criticism for profiteering during COVID and the cost of living crisis. Potentially, preventing supermarket regulatory practices from being carried out effectively
What role did David Cameron play in the Greensill lobbying scandal?
He was paid £10m to lobby ministers to allow Greensill to lend taxpayer-backed loans to companies hit by the impact of COVID.
Why did Greensill’s lobbying efforts ultimately fail?
The Treasury blocked it via the Coronavirus Corporate Financing Facility, showing limits to corporate lobbying success.
