The Role of Pressure Groups in the Political System

1. The Role of Pressure Groups in the Political System Lesson Starter Brainstorm what you know already about pressure groups. Pressure Groups

2. Today we will… • Understand the impact of Pressure Groups in the UK. • Outline the different types of pressure groups in the UK.

3. Success Criteria • Explain the difference between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups. • Assess the impact of Pressure groups on decision making by looking at case studies.

4. Influencing Through Pressure Groups A pressure group: • Is an organisation that exists to influence the government. • Has a narrow range of policies focussed on one or two issues of interest to its members. • May have an ideological basis but is usually more concerned with achieving its basic aims. • Does not put up candidates for election.

5. Types of Pressure Group Cause Groups • Promote policies that should benefit wider society. • No restrictions on membership; often try to get the widest possible membership. • Funded by donations. • Typically environmental / protection of vulnerable groups • E.g. Extinction Rebellion, RSPB, Children 1st.   Sectional Groups • Promote policies that should benefit their members. • Restrict membership such as Trade Unions, e.g. to be a member of the British Medical Association, you must be a doctor or training to be a doctor. • Funded by subscriptions. • Typically “industrial” in nature (business or profession focused) • E.g. Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a group for businesses; British Medical Association (BMA).

6. Pressure Group Methods - Conventional PG methods are designed to show that there is large scale public support for the PG’s aims. Conventional PG methods include: • Petitions, e.g. the Gurkha Justice Campaign that attracted 250,000 signatures and succeeded in obtaining improved settlement rights in UK for ex-British Army Gurkhas. • Letter-writing campaigns, e.g. Amnesty International makes large scale use of these. • Marches, usually in busy areas of large cities where they are likely to attract media attention, e.g. those of Extinction Rebellion in 2019. Demonstrations are similar but static, e.g. Extinction Rebellion’s Declaration of Rebellion on Parliament Square 31 Oct 18.

7. Pressure Group Methods - Conventional • Lobbying: meeting politicians to persuade them or paying professional lobbyists to do that on the PG’s behalf. Professional lobbyists are sometimes former politicians or government officials and usually have good relationships with the government. Richer, more established PGs (e.g. BMA) make more use of professional lobbyists. Lobbying is controversial. Greenpeace (environmental cause group) has claimed that several former politicians have gone on the work as lobbyists for the nuclear industry, lobbying their former colleagues on the industry’s behalf. Greenpeace call it a ‘revolving door’.

8. Pressure Group Methods – Direct Action Direct action is the term used for confrontational PG methods which might not show large-scale public support but show that the PG is serious, should be listened to and, perhaps more threateningly, can make life hard for a government that doesn’t give them what they want.  Direct Action PG methods include: • Blockades & Occupations: illegally blocking roads or access to buildings / occupying buildings or public spaces. Extinction Rebellion blockaded five major road bridges in London on 17 Nov 18 and 1,000 of their protestors occupied North Bridge, Edinburgh for 7 hours 16 April 19. The key difference between this and demonstrating is that blockading and occupying are illegal.  • Violence, e.g. the 2016 London Million Mask March by Anonymous (cause group against internet censorship and surveillance) ended in 53 arrests for crimes including drug use and destruction of property. Violence is difficult to control, especially for a group like Anonymous that doesn’t have clear leadership and attracts lots of non-members to its events.

9. What Makes a Pressure Group Successful? • Expertise: a PG made up of experts on the issue it campaigns about is more likely to: • Be relied upon by the government to implement whatever policy is chosen. • Be interviewed by the media. • Be trusted by the public. BMA has traditionally been able to make use of the expertise of its members. Example: Ebola outbreak 2014-15; BMA relied upon for medical expertise. • Other resources: large membership (RSPB 1.2 million) or high subscriptions (BMA £460 per year, 160,000 members) can produce significant financial resources that allow a PG to afford professional lobbyists and sophisticated media campaigns. • Public sympathy for those the PG is trying to help, e.g. Children 1st (cause group campaigning for better child protection) will likely have more public sympathy that NACRO (cause group campaigning for better help for ex-offenders). • Using methods that appear peaceful rather than violent, e.g. Extinction Rebellion’s blockades have been inconvenient but peaceful and, according to Yougov: “The sudden surge in concern (about the environment, among British people) is undoubtedly boosted by the publicity raised for the environmental cause by Extinction Rebellion”.

10. Aims are incompatible with govt. policies; little/no expertise; not consulted by govt; take direct action. ‘Insider’ and ‘Outsider’ Groups Extinction Rebellion threatened to disrupt Heathrow with drones, June-July 19. CBI: “After persistent CBI lobbying, Parliament approves Heathrow expansion.” 25/06/18 Aims support govt. policies; expertise; regularly consulted by govt; lobby. Makes the decision Example: Should there be a third runway at Heathrow?

11. EIS March and Rally Oct 2018 • The EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland), alongside other teaching unions such as the SSTA organised a march and rally in Glasgow to highlight the “Value Teachers, Value Education” campaign related to teachers’ pay in Scotland. • It is estimated that between 25,000 – 30,000 people marched through Glasgow City Centre on Sat 27th Oct 2018. • This is far higher than the original estimate of 5000 people expected to attend.

13. TASK 1: • Read the short article about the EIS march on the blog and answer the following questions • What kind of pressure group is the EIS? • What STATUS does the EIS hold with the Scottish Government? • What issue were the EIS trying to gain influence on?

14. The rise of Pressure Groups? Less people nowadays join political parties More people are members of pressure Groups A Report The POWER INQUIRY published in March 2006 claimed that people are just as interested in politics as they were in the past BUT: They feel disengaged with conventional politics (in the form of parties and elections) They believe more in direct action through pressure groups Pressure groups have engaged more young people in particular which can be linked to the rise in use of social media. Think, Pair, Share Can you think of single issues which caused young people to participate in politics and try and influence decision making?

15. Case Studies • Go to the blog and read the Pressure Group Case Studies. • Academic Task- to outline the successes and failures of the pressure groups.

16. Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy? Good Allow participation in democratic process Can raise awareness between elections Give minority groups a voice Raise issues of importance Make decision makers aware of public opinion In an essay you would need to illustrate with examples for each point made

17. Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy? • Bad • Some groups more powerful than others • Money talks • Insider groups have privileged access • Secret deals are bad for democracy • No pressure group represents over 50% of public • Should not hold government to ransom • Should not break the law – several examples of this occurring recently

18. Discussion Question: Are Pressure Groups Good or Bad for Democracy? Using the key words listed below, create a series detailed of sentences which shows both sides of the argument. Example: Some groups have more money than others therefore have more influence.