Pressure Groups A pressure group is an organisation

Pressure Groups

• A pressure group is an organisation of individuals who want to influence the decisions that are made by government. • Many people are passionate about particular issues like the environment, or animal rights, or helping particular groups who face inequalities.

• If one single person is concerned about an issue, then this might not seem like enough to force a change in the law, but if enough people get together and show their concern for an issue, then they can encourage the government to take notice and change things. • They can also encourage even more people to care about the issue.

Insider groups • Some pressure groups have close links to the government, they are called “insider groups”. Because they have a close relationship with the government, they are more likely to be able to influence the government. • These are groups which are highly respected by the government as being specialists in their particular field, and so the government may even ask them for advice before making a new law.

BMA/CBI • Examples of Insider groups would include the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Confederation of British Industries (CBI). • The BMA is an organisation which represents doctors in the UK. When the government is proposing changes to the NHS they will speak to the BMA about it in order to gain the views of the majority of doctors.

• Insider groups also have the ability to “lobby” government ministers. This means that they can meet with them privately and try to talk to them about their issues quietly, in order to persuade them of their case. • Because they have a close relationship with government, ministers are more likely to agree to these meetings, and hear them out, as there is a relationship of trust there already.

Outsider groups • Outsider groups, on the other hand, do not have such a close relationship with government, this means that they have to resort to much more public tactics if they want to try and influence them. • They have to get the attention of the public and hope that the public will force the government to change its policy.

Outsider Methods • Outsider methods can include marches, demonstrations and rallies. • Pressure groups can arrange public protests as long as they give notice to the authorities and conduct them in a legal manner. • Their ambition is to get noticed by as many people as possible. The government will see that if a lot of people have joined the march, they must really care about the issue.

• These kind of public protests generally have little chance of being successful. • These are generally the methods used by the groups who are weakest and have less money and power to influence the government with. • However, if a protest attracts celebrity endorsements and media attention, it has more chance of success. The actress Joanna Lumley took part in a campaign to help former Ghurkha soldiers, and this was a success.

Rights Responsibilities They have the right to protest through They must protest legally by following marches, demonstrations and boycotts procedures and ensuring protests are peaceful They have the right to promote their They cannot slander individuals or tell cause by using mass media and new lies in order to try to persuade people media They can actively try to recruit new They must not try to force people to members join and they cannot intimidate those who oppose their aims. They can contact representatives to try They must not intimidate politicians. and gain their support They cannot threaten, blackmail or use terrorism to further their cause They can organise a petition to show They cannot falsify signatures, the public support must be genuine.