Access points - points
within the political system
where pressure groups can
exert pressure on those
who hold political power
More difficult in UK - power
is fused and checks on
executive are weak
However, introduction of Scottish
parliament having primary
legislative powers, creation of
assemblies, more independent
Supreme Court have made
access points more meaningful
Traditional
methods
Letter-writing
campaigns
Petitions
Online, started by
anyone on change.org
Marches
Against Poll
Tax in 1990
changed law
Lobbying
Hire professional lobbyists to use
their contacts on behalf of the
pressure group - they target
specific people in government
Directly influencing
legislative process
Insider groups able
to influence policy
at early stages
Consultation with ministers, civil
servants, government-appointed
bodies working on legislative proposal
Most maintain permanent
Westminster offices
Legal action
(litigation)
Effective but
expensive
Works
in 2 ways
Court finds that
government has acted
in a manner further
than authority granted
Action raises
public
awareness of
issue, win or
lose
Working through
political parties
PG's can
cultivate links
with PP's
Easier to form
when they are not
in government
Direct
action
Visible,
direct protest
Can include
violence
Often includes
civil disobedience
More attention
grabbing
Single-issue,
direct action
politics undermines
political system
Prevent governments from
implementing their programmes
and pursuing broader policies
Fathers4Justice
publicity
superman stunts
Green Peace
oil rig stunts
Media
Can use paid media for
advertising, direct mail
WWF have
links with
Sky TV
NSPCC use TV
breaks in Full
Stop campaign
Internet and
social media
Demonstrations can
be easily planned
and spread
Green Peace raised prole of the
environmental summit and
preventing Spar oil from being
dumped by Shell in 1995
They organised
boycotts of Shell petrol
stations in Germany
and Holland
Flew in reporters to film
the protest and Shell
trying to remove them