Pressure Group Methods and Effectiveness

What are the important factors in PG success?

Objectives

What we will do in today’s class is to:

(1) Discuss the various methods PG’s use to achieve their aims

(2) Show the main ways that make a PG effective

PG’s methods continuumlow level activity/peaceful

Petitions Letters Contact local

government officers Contact Councillors Phone-in Advertising Write to papers Join action groups

Contact civil servants Contact

MPs/MEPs/MLAs Marches Demonstrations with

placards

Continuum contd. – High Level/Violent action

International collaborative action Denial of function/Strikes Noisy/Violent demonstrations Phoned violence Letter bombs Bombs Assassinations

PG Methods

PG methods can be seen on the previous continuum from peaceful methods to violent ones

Anyone working for a PG, especially a local one focusing on, say, a planning issue, will find themselves doing routine chores such as:

- stuffing envelopes, ringing up supporters and collecting signatures on petitions

The most powerful groups – such as the National Farmers Union (NFU) – often have direct links with the government and civil service

In a relationship of mutual need For example, for information, expertise and

influence

Such groups rarely need to resort to public lobbying, street demonstrations etc.

The most powerful and influential groups are therefore often, paradoxically, the least visible

A few groups, such as farmers, have the statutory right to be consulted on relevant legislation and policy initiatives

Examples of the farming lobby’s influence were:

The forced resignation of Edwina Currie, following a remark she made in 1988 that ‘most egg production’ in England was contaminated by salmonella

Many PG’s ↑ target the EU – some indeed, have even transferred their headquarters to Brussels – in recognition of the ↑ decision-making power of the EU

Many also target quangos, local government and the media as increasingly influential institutions

BUT many groups still work through Parliament and MPs by:

Financing political parties – the Labour Party, historically, been funded largely by TU’s such as the TGWU

However, since 1997, Labour has won ↑ business support and finance and has been deliberately distancing itself more from the unions

Lobbying MPs in Parliament – through letters, leaflets, petitions, free gifts, dinners, trips and parties, and personal ‘consultancy fees’ to MPs

Since the ‘cash for questions’ scandal of the 1990s, MPs are bound by much stricter rules of declaration than previously

Sponsoring MPs – many TU’s pay some part of a local Labour party’s election campaign costs in return for support by a Labour MP

For example, Dennis Skinner is sponsored by the National Union of Mineworkers

Drafting and promoting private members’ bills:

For example, David Steel’s 1967 Abortion Act was largely drafted by the Abortion Law Reform Association

Successive amendment bills were backed by anti-abortion groups such as the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC)

Seeking to influence government legislation:

For example, the Lord’ Day Observance Society mobilised Conservative MP’s into opposing Sunday trading in 1986

Hiring professional lobbyists: Such as Hill and Knowlton or Political Planning

Services, to promote a cause among MP’s Clients may pay around £30,000 per year There are now over 60 such organisations in

the UK

Last Resort

For the least powerful but most visible cause groups a last resort is to seek to influence government indirectly via mobilising public support

For example, Child Poverty Action Group, Shelter and Greenpeace

Methods used include conducting or publicising opinion polls, petitions, pickets, leaflets and letters, media adverts, demonstrations and staged public events

E.G. Greenpeace dumping 4 tonnes of genetically modified soya beans outside the gates of Downing Street in 1999 in protest over Blair’s backing of GM foods

Problem’s with some action

Concern is sometimes expressed where PG’s publicity tactics are:

Emotive Obstructive Illegal Violent

Civil disobedience

For example, CND members trespassing and cutting the perimeter wire at nuclear bases

Refusing to pay taxes towards nuclear weapons

Staging mass street ‘die-ins’ (obstruction)

Violence

Sometimes groups resort to the threat or use of violence:

For example, the Animal Liberation Front planting bombs at animal experimentation centres and at shops that sell fur products

Such groups would argue that it is fair to counter violence with violence. Is It?

Such methods may also win more publicity and response than legal, peaceful methods

This raises questions about the role and responsibility of the media in their coverage of public participation and protest

Advantages of PG’s

Immediacy – can you wait for the next election? Focus – all attention and resources on single cause Expertise – know more about the issue than politicians Inclusivity – class, race, religion don’t come into it No distractions – no need to consider anything else Disinterest in power – not concerned with winning

elections

Disadvantages

Alienation of public opinion – many people disapprove of direct action methods

The boredom factor – “Oh God not them again!”

Powerlessness – PG’s can only try to make those in power change their minds; if they won’t, that’s the end of the story