Strengths of pressure groups

Question 1

Prevent tyranny of the majority

Answer 1

-They promote liberal democracy e.g Save Lewisham Hospital campaign which won in the Supreme Court against Jeremy hunt as he attempted to downgrade their maternity + A&E units.

Question 2

Provide a specific expertise + research evidence improving the legislative process

Answer 2

Insider pressure groups like CBI which would represent Englands biggest employers, they also used to be the largest group in the UK + the NFU who had a permanent seat in Department of eternal affairs, the most powerful PG.
BMA contributed to the banning of smoking in oublic places+ Alcohol Minimum Pricing Act

Question 3

Remind parliament about the importance of issues that the public believe to be crucial + aren’t dominant in the manifesto pledges

Answer 3

Environmental pressure groups e.g Green Peace in 2015 managed to get Shell to drop their plans of Arctic Drilling for oil, 2023- UN Historic Global Ocean treaty paves the way for the creation of ocean sanctuaries in which ecosystems can recover and thrive, potentially saving our oceans from the brink of disaster.
The BMA contributed to the banning of smoking in public places and to the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Act.

Question 4

Provide a channel of representation between citizens and govt

Answer 4

For example, unions such as the National Union for Teachers hold the function of representing the best interests of teachers.

Question 5

Raised the levels of political activism + engagement

Answer 5

With the declining levels of political participation e.g by the end of 2022 labour party membership had went down by 25000, “pressure groups have provided a vital opportunity for political participation”- Neil McNaughton