Thinktanks, PG, Lobbyists Have Little Impact Over Gov Dec

Question 1

Weak view that PG have impact as Political parties adopt their decisions

Answer 1

• Action on smoking and health contributed to ban on smoking in cars with children and van on vapes and gradual ban on age to buy cigarettes
  -BMA led to agreement by gov to end pay dispute for junior doctors due to strikes
• RMT, 81% of people using trains have their education disrupted due to strikes, led to an increase in pay
• had been outsider under Con but man outsiders now insider under Lab as they are more progressive on worker rights (Employment Rights bill)

Question 2

Parties do not adopt ideas of PG , real influence is the leaders who shape outcome/agenda

Answer 2

-outsider groups little influence, just stopoil and ExR
- use civil disobedience and public disruption thus ideas not considered by gov, unpopular
- Sunak 100 new North Sea licences
-Gov responsible in turning PG ideas into law, can make law to limit them
- PCS Act 2022 limits to protest and Public OrderAct 2023 which make locking on illegal, tactic used by outsiders
-Lab net zero pushback to 2030 against environmental groups
- Farmers union after inheritance tax changes, outsider under Lab and strikes have no impact

Question 3

Think thanks have impact, provide expertise on policy

Answer 3

-Adam institute on education, free market, neo lib ideals
-privatisation of key industries in 1980s and impact on Education Reform act giving more power to parents and headteachers
- centre for social justice established by former Con leader smith had an impact on the 2010 coalitions welfare reforms such as the introduction of universal credit
- CBI positive impact on the economy and speaks for all businesses
- IEA connection to Con party and revolving door

Question 4

Think tank little impact, represents ideologies can’t rep people, often ignored, not reliable

Answer 4

• IEA link to truss and endorsed mini budget with cost the UK taxpayer
• IEA right wing and claims to be a charity but research shows they are favourable to their donors rather than being specifically evidence based
• 15% of their finance is from corporations
• too connected to Con/right, Hancock former health minister 2022 took 32k in donations from IEA trying to abolish NHS, lack of impact

Question 5

Lobbyists have impact, influence thru donations

Answer 5

• Biggest donor Lord Sainsbury £2.5 million to Lab 2024 amounted to 1/4 donations for whole campaign
• £10.2 million to Con 2019
• direct line to gov to influence policy
• Boths gov had won landslide victories, large maj, donations relied on for electoral success
• Cameron Greensil paid £10 mil to exploit his political contacts

Question 6

Lobbyists don’t have impact, result in scandals and sometime buy into GOVs agenda

Answer 6

-greensil had lack of impact despite money spent
-National Lab wealth fund attempted to persuade investments t green tech, resulted in corp being guided by labs mission of net zero
- scandals, lobbying act 2014 aims to increase transparency and reduce impact, reduced scandals
- Owen Paterson 2021 accused for breaking lobbying rules, but was solved and had lack of impact over gov decisions