UK Politics - Democracy + Participation:
1.3 - Evaluate the factors that determine the success of pressure groups:
Influence For Against
Insider vs Insider pressure groups work with gov + Outside pressure groups do not work with the
outsider share same views → impact gov decisions: gov + due to lack of funds & ideology
➔ BMA managed to pressure the differences. Therefore resort to public
government to increase spending on awareness campaigns, protests and civil
the NHS by 3.4% per annum from disobedience:
2019 to 2024. Also gained success ➔ Extinction Rebellion aims for net 0
in the banning of smoking in cars emissions by 2025. Have used illegal
with children (2015) methods to try and achieve this e.g,
➔ The CBI pressured the government Extinction Rebellion targeted
to give more devolved powers. In BlackRock, an asset management
2018, the Northern Ireland Civil firm, by dumping ashes in its office.
Service was provided more powers
by the UK government.
Size Larger pressure groups can have a more Smaller pressure groups have little impact
significant impact on public opinion and due to being a outsider pressure groups
force the government into acting on a which represent a minority:
matter: ➔ Amnesty International UK.
➔ Extinction Rebellion forced the gov
to declare “an environment and
climate emergency” in May 2019,
making the UK the first country to do
so.
Wealth Larger funding mean that the pressure A lack of funding has meant that certain
group can improve its organisation and act pressure groups have been ineffective
more effectively thus improving chances of changing legislation:
success: ➔ Charter 88 → campaign for
➔ RSPCA can produce effective constitutional reform.
advertising campaigns around ➔ Fathers 4 justice → campaigns for
Christmas + are number 1 animal divorced fathers to meet their
welfare charity in the UK. children.
➔ Taxpayer’s Alliance are prominent in
promoting a low tax Britain.
, 1.3 - Evaluate the view the think tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little impact on
government decisions:
Pressure groups aim to influence government decisions and take legal and illegal action to
achieve their goals. Think tanks and lobbyists act as insider pressure groups and
therefore can directly influence government decisions.
Agree Disagree
Pressure Outside pressure groups do not Insider pressure groups work with
groups work with the gov + due to lack of gov + share same views → impact
funds & ideology differences. gov decisions:
Therefore resort to public awareness ➔ BMA managed to pressure
campaigns, protests and civil the government to increase
disobedience: spending on the NHS by
➔ Extinction Rebellion aims for 3.4% per annum from 2019
net 0 emissions by 2025. to 2024.
Have used illegal methods to ➔ The CBI pressured the
try and achieve this e.g, government to give more
Extinction Rebellion targeted devolved powers. In 2018,
BlackRock, an asset the Northern Ireland Civil
management firm, by Service was provided more
dumping ashes in its office. powers by the UK
government.
Think Tanks Some think tanks such as the Political parties consult with think
Fabian Society have no influence tanks for inspiration on possible
due to ideology differences. legislative proposals. This has
meant that conservative think tanks
Conservative + Labour favour have had increasing influence on
pragmatism → think tanks therefore current government:
have no influence. ➔ Iain Duncan Smith was the
founder of the Center for
Social Justice + influenced
gov through appointment in
2004 as the Works and
Pensions Secretary.
Lobbyists Parliament passed the Transparency Almost £2 billion is spent on
of Lobbying, Non-Party lobbying each year by corporations.
Campaigning and Trade Union As of today, 52 former ministers
Administration Act (2014), which have switched from being in office
mandated that all lobbying activities to working as a lobbyist →
are registered. This therefore acts as ‘revolving door’ e.g Francis Maude.
an effective check to lobbyist
actions.
Therefore pressure groups, think tanks and lobbyists continue to have a big impact on UK
politics but their success is limited due to legislation and ideological differences which
means that some groups have little impact.
1.3 - Evaluate the factors that determine the success of pressure groups:
Influence For Against
Insider vs Insider pressure groups work with gov + Outside pressure groups do not work with the
outsider share same views → impact gov decisions: gov + due to lack of funds & ideology
➔ BMA managed to pressure the differences. Therefore resort to public
government to increase spending on awareness campaigns, protests and civil
the NHS by 3.4% per annum from disobedience:
2019 to 2024. Also gained success ➔ Extinction Rebellion aims for net 0
in the banning of smoking in cars emissions by 2025. Have used illegal
with children (2015) methods to try and achieve this e.g,
➔ The CBI pressured the government Extinction Rebellion targeted
to give more devolved powers. In BlackRock, an asset management
2018, the Northern Ireland Civil firm, by dumping ashes in its office.
Service was provided more powers
by the UK government.
Size Larger pressure groups can have a more Smaller pressure groups have little impact
significant impact on public opinion and due to being a outsider pressure groups
force the government into acting on a which represent a minority:
matter: ➔ Amnesty International UK.
➔ Extinction Rebellion forced the gov
to declare “an environment and
climate emergency” in May 2019,
making the UK the first country to do
so.
Wealth Larger funding mean that the pressure A lack of funding has meant that certain
group can improve its organisation and act pressure groups have been ineffective
more effectively thus improving chances of changing legislation:
success: ➔ Charter 88 → campaign for
➔ RSPCA can produce effective constitutional reform.
advertising campaigns around ➔ Fathers 4 justice → campaigns for
Christmas + are number 1 animal divorced fathers to meet their
welfare charity in the UK. children.
➔ Taxpayer’s Alliance are prominent in
promoting a low tax Britain.
, 1.3 - Evaluate the view the think tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little impact on
government decisions:
Pressure groups aim to influence government decisions and take legal and illegal action to
achieve their goals. Think tanks and lobbyists act as insider pressure groups and
therefore can directly influence government decisions.
Agree Disagree
Pressure Outside pressure groups do not Insider pressure groups work with
groups work with the gov + due to lack of gov + share same views → impact
funds & ideology differences. gov decisions:
Therefore resort to public awareness ➔ BMA managed to pressure
campaigns, protests and civil the government to increase
disobedience: spending on the NHS by
➔ Extinction Rebellion aims for 3.4% per annum from 2019
net 0 emissions by 2025. to 2024.
Have used illegal methods to ➔ The CBI pressured the
try and achieve this e.g, government to give more
Extinction Rebellion targeted devolved powers. In 2018,
BlackRock, an asset the Northern Ireland Civil
management firm, by Service was provided more
dumping ashes in its office. powers by the UK
government.
Think Tanks Some think tanks such as the Political parties consult with think
Fabian Society have no influence tanks for inspiration on possible
due to ideology differences. legislative proposals. This has
meant that conservative think tanks
Conservative + Labour favour have had increasing influence on
pragmatism → think tanks therefore current government:
have no influence. ➔ Iain Duncan Smith was the
founder of the Center for
Social Justice + influenced
gov through appointment in
2004 as the Works and
Pensions Secretary.
Lobbyists Parliament passed the Transparency Almost £2 billion is spent on
of Lobbying, Non-Party lobbying each year by corporations.
Campaigning and Trade Union As of today, 52 former ministers
Administration Act (2014), which have switched from being in office
mandated that all lobbying activities to working as a lobbyist →
are registered. This therefore acts as ‘revolving door’ e.g Francis Maude.
an effective check to lobbyist
actions.
Therefore pressure groups, think tanks and lobbyists continue to have a big impact on UK
politics but their success is limited due to legislation and ideological differences which
means that some groups have little impact.
