Pressure Groups

1
Pressure Groups
2
Defining pressure groups

• An organisation which seeks to influence policy
  and details of a comparatively small range of
  public policies do not seek to make those
  decisions themselves. When the Countryside
  alliance knew it could not prevent ban hunting
  with dogs 2003-4, sought instead to influence
  details of legislation.
• Pressure Groups operate on different levels of
  government- e.g. level of ministers and civil
  servants, Westminster or regional assemblies,
  parliament, Local Government, EU, Judiciary and
  the courts. Having lost the anti hunting
  legislation in Parliament, the Countryside
  alliance 2004 tried to get courts to rule the
  legislation was invalid- again failed and
  returned to Parliament post 2011 to get
  legislation overturned.
• Pressure Groups have representative function-
  Some represent professional groups or another
  category some a much wider constituency-
  environemenatlistss or anti smoking lobby,
  Campaign for Batter Transport.
• Educative- raise awareness of issues- Countryside
  alliance aim to raise awareness of problems those
  in rural areas, Liberty and Unlock democracy aim
  to promoote human rights.
• Pressure Groups can provide a means for public
  engagement with the political process on a less
  intense level than membership political process
  than a party. Presssure groups deal with
  narrower issues whereas parties require support
  across whole spectrum of public policy.

3
Functions

• Help to inform government and ensures interests
  and views of public are considered in policy
  thereby improve quality of policy making.
• Representative- Either via represent specific
  sections of public or claim to represent best
  interests of community as a whole.
• Educate and inform about politically important
  issues.
• Less intensive but more relevant opportunity for
  political participation than political parties
  can.
• Scrutinise legislative and policy proposals.
• Tension release- provide outlet for feelings
  significant sections fell very strongly about.
  Opposition to 2003 Iraq war, hunting with dogs,
  airport expansion etc.

4
Similarities and differences with political
parties

• Similarities
• Both attempt to influence policy
• Both are representative claiming to channel
  communication between sections of the community
  and those who govern.
• Both try to mould and mobilise public opinion.
• Some pressure groups do feel need to transform
  themselves into a party- Trades Unions formed the
  LRC 1900 and British Ecology Movement eventually
  created the Greens.. UKIP was a pressure group
  1990s.

• Differences
• Pressure groups do not seek political power.
• Parties therefore have to address full range of
  political issues
• Parties must accept responsibility for policies
  they propose and governments are accountable for
  what they do- Greenpeace can oppose GM crops
  without having to be accountable it might condemn
  millions to starvation. ASH campaigned for ban
  in smoking public places it did not have to be
  responsible for loss government revenue.
• If a pressure group contests elections single
  issues parties such as Animals Count and Senior
  citizens party 2010 was to raise awareness and
  publicity.

5
Classification of groups

• Sectional or interest
• Represent a specific section or group and are
  self interested e.g. unions. Others represent
  other economic sections such as Taxpayers
  alliance or NFU or people with specific
  conditions- Multiple Sclerosis society or the
  Heart Foundation, also those which represent
  sports, pensioners, children etc.

• Cause or Promotional
• Claim not to represent specific group but serve
  the interests of whole community, often do not
  have a specific membership but a small group of
  activists. Environmental groups- Greenpeace,
  Friends of the earth, RSPB National trust. May
  also be temporary- Anti poll tax Federation
  1989-90
• Dual-Function May be both sectional and cause
  based. Countryside alliance represents people
  who live in rural areas but campaigns for better
  quality of life in countryside to benefit all.
  Also here are groups such as AA or unions which
  perform specific service for members but also
  campaigns within the political system on their
  behalf. . Groups such as NSPCC and cancer
  research seek funds and legislation to help those
  whom they serve and offer wide range of services
  and expend much effort in Rising finance.
• Difficult to define groups- IRA are terrorist
  groups pressure groups? Think Tanks such as the
  Adam Smith Institute which researches issues
  covering free markets arguably are PR groups but
  will not be considered as such.

6
Insider groups

• It has become part of the decision making
  process. They can take part in development of
  policy and hope to mould it
• They may be consulted regularly by government.
  They can provide government with useful
  information and express views of members- CBI
  produces reports on how businesses operate and
  what are its attitudes towrds issues such as
  business taxation, employment regulations, trade
  and economic policy etc Also informs govt about
  how business perform regarding investment, sales
  expectations, exports production costs.
• Some are insider because permanent seats on govt
  policy cttees and agencies putting them at centre
  of decision making process- NFU.
• They are insider if set up by govt and funded by
  tax money and are part of govt not just insiders
  Commission for Equality and Human rights, Office
  of Fair trading
• Insider groups often called to select cttee
  hearings and so have an input in making govt
  accountable.
• European insider groups such as unions and
  business employers orgs attach themselves to
  various sections of European Commission which
  develops EU policy and operate extensively with
  European Parliament which has inc impact policy
  also seek to gain insider status with the
  devolved bodies.
• Insider groups by implication and necessity must
  act in certain way- have to act within
  parliamentary system and are therefore
  constrained in their range of possible methods.
  There is also a danger they will lose
  independence and adopt same policies as their
  political contacts and this might disillusion
  their members.

7
Outsider groups

• Unlike insider groups these have no special links
  with govt but seek to influence decision my
  mobilise public opinion.
• A group may seek to be outsider to retain freedom
  of action. Greenpeace undertakes acts civil
  disobedience.
• A group may not have been invited into the
  governing process- aspiring insiders.
  Association of British Drivers would but
  relatively young group.
• There might be conflict with Govt policy- unions
  were shunned by Mrs T and post 1997 could not
  fully regain insider status as Labour Govt want
  to retain business pressure groups as insiders.

8
New Social Movements

• 1980s- fairly informal which emerges rapidly
  sometimes around a particular issue.
• Mass demos and media campaigns design for maximum
  publicity internet and mobile phone texting has
  greatly assisted their rise. First example of
  these was Anti poll tax Federation organise often
  violent protests and tax strike.
• 2000 sharp rise in fuel prices led to people's
  fuel Lobby- farmers, motorists, road hauliers etc
  blockading fuel depots and main roads.
  Countryside alliance another although now a
  proper Pressure group seeking insider status.
• Anti war Coalition 2002-4, Make Poverty History
  (latter now part of Global call to Action against
  Poverty) now known as the Anti-Globalisation
  Movement, 2007 climate Camp at Heathrow.
• 2007 when Downing street accept e-petitions
  Association of British Drivers 1.8m signatures
  against road pricing scheme.
• NSMs often locally based campaigns to save
  hospitals, prevent new roads, protect green belt.
• Global groups in areas such as environmental
  protection , human or animal rights concentrate
  on international conferences.
• Are mass movements with thousands of instant
  followers, loosely organised, narrow range or
  single issue, followers tend to have intense
  attachment to issue, often temporary.

9
Pluralist Democracy and pressure groups

• Pluralism is a political system a wide range
  beliefs, ideas, ideologies is tolerated and where
  power is widely dispersed.
• Pressure groups offer a considerable amount of
  information to people, by definition are
  independent of government.
• They represent interests of the people to those
  who govern.
• Political activism is important in preventing
  excessive accumulation of power and ensuring that
  govt remains accountable. With decline in
  popular involvement in political parties,
  pressure groups provide vital opportunity for
  participation.
• Protect minority interests by ensuring all of us
  are taken into account thereby preventing the
  tyranny of the majority.
• Dispersal of power. Governments and parties tend
  to concentrate power in leaderships whereas
  pressure groups can empower wider memberships,
  representing the full range of the population
  they allow many voices to be heard

10
Undemocratic features of pressure groups

• Disproportionate influence some sectional groups
  a disproportionate influence- farmers because a
  strategic resource- food exert disproportionate
  influence. Transport, emergency and medical
  workers again because of the roles they perform.
  Influence of the financial sector in wake of
  public criticism 2007-8 on part finance plays to
  the economy thereby preventing imposition serious
  controls on banks.
• Some groups have more funds than others- groups
  which represent employers and business. Wealthy
  groups such as companies donate to political
  parties- cash for peerages scandal 2006-7.
• Size- 2003 Countryside alliance put 300 000
  protestors onto the streets to protest against
  hunting bans.
• Concentration of power. Some groups concentrate
  power- banking lobby and producer groups
  representing major industries which represent
  shareholders and management rather than the
  workers.
• Lack of internal democracy. Party politicians
  are made accountable through the electoral
  process and representative institutions whereas
  democratic controls on groups are weaker.

11
Methods

• Lobbying. Much of this is hidden. Insider groups
  lobby at committees, commissions , consult with
  ministers, providing MPs and peers with
  information or with help in scrutiny legislation.
  Outsiders may attempt to lobby policy makers
  directly but less access than insiders.
• Parliament- Some groups pay retaining fees to
  MPs, where MPs have freedom to act independently
  they engage in group politics. Following reforms
  of the Lords, greater PR group focus there,
  significant amendments on university tuition
  fees, foxhunting ban protection human rights and
  pub licensing. Greater degree of independence
  in Lords c/f commons. 2010 on Equality bill-
  coalition Christian churches secure amendment
  allow them to exclude gay people.
• Direct Action-Raises publicity and attracts
  support- 2003 Anti war alliance, Countryside
  Alliance, expansion Heathrow/Stanstead, anti
  globalisation campaigns at international
  conferences, stunts by Fathers4Justice. Anti
  fuel tax lobby which blockades oil depots,
  Greenpeace destroy GM crops and Animal Liberation
  Front freeing animals and threatening lab
  workers. Disabled people Against the Cuts August
  2012 outside HQ Atsos over sponsorship of
  Paralympics by Atsos it assesses disability
  claims.
• Public opinion- declining public attachment to
  parties gives PR groups leverage as they can
  claim to represent opinion- 2005 election Age UK
  able to force concessions by party leaders on
  pensions, council tax rebates, crime. 2010
  Taxpayers alliance and business groups exploit
  opportunity to raise awareness. Plane Stupid
  success in publicise environmental dangers
  increase air transport. Media plays key role
  mobilise opinion therefore many groups employ
  professional public relations operators. The
  Peoples Pledge formed 2011 deliberately appeal
  beyond party politics to capitalise on cross
  party support for a referendum on the EU. It was
  keen to distance itself from exclusively right
  wing Euro sceptic Little Englander position.
  Drawing up an 18 month programme of local
  referendums 11 2012 and 100 next year question
  was whether there should be a referendum on EU-
  aim is to apply pressure on MPs.
• September 2012 Save the children has launched its
  first domestic fundraising appeal to help UK
  families in poverty related to cuts and
  recession- slogan shouldnt happen here Methods
  include publishing research- significant number
  of households where parental income 30 000
  willing to skip meals, go into debt, avoid paying
  bills, put off replace worn out clothing to feed
  children.

12
Why are some groups more successful

• If groups beliefs and aspirations close to that
  of the government- Business groups under
  Conservatives and new labour whereas unions lost
  out. Liberty and Unlock democracy saw decline in
  influence as governments have aimed at more
  authoritarian policies. However a newish group
  Mumsnet established c2000- aims at promoting
  interests of parents and families. Because women
  are perceived as floating voters, they can be a
  key to electoral success- election of 2010 dubbed
  the mumsnet election. David Miliband is a
  regular Mumsnet blogger and David Cameron came
  on in 2006. It also attracts retailers and
  manufacturers to its site. The popular sites
  influence on high-profile campaigns such as
  better miscarriage care, respite for parents of
  disabled children, against sexualisation of
  children. Note the failure of the anti-tuition
  fees campaign- violence by students in London- if
  the NUS had put more effort into building a wider
  coalition of the usual and usual suspects it
  could have been more successful- for the Tories a
  U turn not on the cards and the campaign was an
  embarrassment for the LibDems.. Consider failure
  of squatters' groups such as Squash which
  campaigned against the 2012 law which
  criminalised occupation of a residential
  building.
• Finance- many groups representing farming, oil,
  supermarkets, banks spend large sums on lobbying
  either behind scenes or public campaign- no
  guarantor of success- unions.
• Size- large groups such as FOE (200 000) and
  Countryside alliance (100 000), AA and RAC each
  have millions of members can claim to represent
  public opinion and size can translate into funds.
  Also Age UK- elderly more likely to vote 70-80
  c/f under 40 under 30s. However, UNISON 1.2m
  and AMACU 1.1m decline influence 1980s. Mumsnet
  attracts politicians to comment because it has c
  40M monthly page reviews and close to 5M monthly
  visits.
• Organisation-Countryside Alliance, Plane Stupid,
  Greenpeace success because well led, captured
  imagination public and media.
• Lack of Opposition- where a counter group emerges
  there is a battle of wills and decline influence
  but where it does not helps the group. Old age
  pensioners, poor families and financial
  establishments.
• Insider status
• Celebrity Involvement-2009 Joanna Lumley on
  behalf of the Ghurkhas on their right to settle
  in UK on retirement- Ghurkha Justice campaign.
  Also Elton John on gay rights and Sadie Frost
  anti fur trade. Also the past 18 months-
  twitter-driven We Are Spartacus campaign against
  cuts in disability payments- winning support
  from celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Alastair
  Campbell took the mainstream media by surprise-
  two days after it was launched the Coalition
  Government lost three votes in an evening in
  Lords on welfare reform.- by the end of the week-
  one of the leading lights of the campaign debate
  live on BBC with employment minister Chris
  Grayling. The Hope Not Hate Campaign (anti
  racism) supported by Eddie Izzard, Billy Bragg
  etc on board- helped in their targeting of
  Barking and Dagenham BNP strongholds where over a
  six week campaign the campaign had over 1100
  volunteers of whom c37 either never involved
  before in political activity or not for five
  years- helped by celebrity involvement. Hugh
  Grant in 2012 to set up Hacked-Off to campaign
  for press reform in light of Leveson inquiry-
  involvement of high profile figures and publicity
  may explain reluctance of press to publish
  pictures of naked Prince Harry at Las Vegas
  although Sun did print image of a naked man with
  headline Harry grabs the Crown Jewels- image (not
  Harry) was clutching his scrotum.
• Successful campaigns and campaigning
  organisations look beyond those already on side.
  The Save Our Forests campaign forced a
  ministerial U turn because it built a broad
  coalition uniting left and right. Hard left
  socialists joined with Daily Telegraph readers
  and household names such as Archbishop of
  Canterbury and Judie Dench. Also consider the
  success of Make Justice Work ( campaigns for
  raise awareness ineffectiveness of short prison
  sentences)- It commissioned a national enquiry
  chaired by a conservative commentator Peter
  Osborne. It looked into a number of alternatives
  to custodial sentencing finding that effective
  community sentences are effective punishment and
  forms of rehabilitation. Given that its report
  was not just one by a criminal justice campaigner
  enabled it to converse with people it needed to
  get on board. The Hope Not Hate Campaign (anti
  racism) targeted Barking and Dagenham where BNP
  support strongest.
• Ability to capitalise on new methods of
  communication- note We Are Spartacus Campaign-
  this was not a traditional campaign which started
  with a letter to leading national paper or at a
  meeting in a civic hall and grown through a
  charity lobbying campaign . It grew rapidly and
  lived through social media networks bringing
  together and giving voice to thousands of people
  excluded from mainstream media and politics. It
  was partly a recognition that traditional
  activist techniques no longer guaranteed traction
  with politicians and media and partly pragmatic-
  illness and disability meant many activists were
  confined at home but were able to engage through
  social media bedtivism
• Pressure groups which bring to public attention
  key issues affecting civil rights- Big Brother
  Watch has attracted support of the Coalition
  Government for its comprehensive study of the
  use of RIPA powers intended to combat terrorism
  but which are used by councils without any
  official sanction as a result councils will from
  autumn 2012 require approval of a magistrate
  before RIPA powers granted for covert
  surveillance. NO2ID has revealed extent of
  files held by police forces across UK on
  unconvicted people.

13
Changing nature and activities pressure groups

• Declining voter turnout and party membership as
  there has been a shift towards PR groups and
  specific issues.
• Access Points- EU, new centres of power and
  influence created by devolution, growth of policy
  making bodies, increase importance of courts as
  result HRA.
• EU- growing importance means pressure groups
  increasingly focus here- 2010 4400 lobbyists
  attached to EU. Pressure groups often affiliate
  with similar groups across the EU e.g. Friends of
  the earth Europe, European Small Business
  alliance, European Association for the defence of
  Human Rights etc
• Devolution has meant that as internal
  administration and legislative power has shifted
  from Westminster pressure groups shift activity-
  Cymuned (Communities and Yes for Wales (greater
  legislative powers) Scottish Council of Single
  Homeless, also in Scotland WWF and Greenpeace,
  Muscular Dystrophy NI which campaign for
  coordinated medical services for 2000 sufferers
  in the Province.
• Growth of extra party institutions such as think
  tanks which influence policy- pressure groups
  seek to influence early stages of policy
  therefore often employ professional lobbyists.
• HRA designed to reinforce existing rights and to
  protect minority interests provides groups with
  new opportunities to assert their interests.
  Liberty is especially active as are
  environmental groups.
• Direct Action- modern governments are responsive
  to mass political movements provided they can
  demonstrate widespread support- Countryside
  alliance and pensioner groups.