Pressure Group definition:
A pressure group is an organised group of people that aims to influence the policies or actions of government, without seeking to gain office.
Functions of Pressure Groups?
- Provide a form of representation
- Method of political participation, 40-50% of the UK population is a member of at least one PG
- Education through raising awareness of issues
- Policy formation/ implementation e.g. National Farmers’ Union works with the Department for Rural Affairs to implement policies relating to farming/ agriculture
Insider pressure groups?
These are groups regularly consulted by the government, with regular access to government ministers e,g, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Outsider pressure groups?
These are groups with no links/ access to government. They have to use other ways to have an impact, for example using the media or trying to influence public opinion e.g. the Animal Liberation Front.
Interest/ sectional groups?
- Also known as sectional groups as they represent ‘sections’ of society e.g. Trade Unions. Membership is linked to a particular occupation/ part of society.
-Examples include:
National Union of Teachers
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
British Medical Association (BMA)
Causal/ promotional groups?
- Also known as promotional groups because they seek to promote a particular cause e.g. charities and environmental groups. Anyone can join these groups.
- Examples include:
Amnesty International
Greenpeace
Electoral Reform Society
38 Degrees?
38 Degrees is an example of a wide ‘umbrella’ group which uses social media and other tactics to attempt to effect change. The group was set up in 2009 and has around 2.5million members.
- The group organises online e-petitions and is a good example of the success of social media in pressuring govts.
- Notable success includes stopping the privatisation of England’s forests
Methods used by Pressure Groups?
- Ministers/ Civil servants: Groups such as the CBI/ BMA will often consult with minsters - dependent upon insider status.
- Parliament: Lobbying of MPs, writing to them to raise issues, or initiate Private Members’ Bills - usually used by outsider groups.
- Political Parties: Development of links with parties e.g. Trade Unions and Labour Party - Example includes 2010 Ed Miliband becoming LP leader.
- Public Opinion: Seen in recent years thru organisation of public protests against student tuition fees and cuts to welfare budget.
- Direct Action: Strikes, blockades and boycotts e.g. Teacher/ Doctor/ Rail strikes 2022/23.
- The Courts: Attempts to challenge govt policy on legal grounds, through use of judicial review e.g. Protesters against HS2 took their argument to the Supreme Court in 2014.
Hacked Off case study?
- 2011
- Campaigning for tougher regulation of the media/ newspapers after a dead teenage girl’s phone was hacked by the newspapers.
- Methods Used:
Going to party conference
Going on TV shows
Meeting the PM
Documentary
BMA strike?
- Strike organised by the BMA 12-16th Sept 2016
- 100 000 operations cancelled and 1million appointments
