Democracy and participation: Pressure groups and other influences and rights in context

-enriches democracy by carrying out political research and aiding public debate
-uses their expertise to enable the public and politicians to weigh up different ideas

-lack of transparency as they do not have to declare the sources of their funding
-puch policies and evidence that favour the powerful corporate interests who fund them (37% of funding from private individuals)

-crucial role in the economy so important their voice is heard
-banks in the british bankers association have build up strong ties with the government

-they posses the wealth, organisation and expertise to ensure they have a head start in the race to influence the government

-allows groups, representing a wide array of interests, to provide detailed evidence to the government on a decision to be made
-improves the quality of the decisions being made

-can be abused by those seeking to further their own interests
-the wealthiest groups can afford to spend large sums on lobbying for private gain
-has an undue influence on policy making, alchahol industry won health battles over advertising rules using lobbying
-undermines equal participation as success comes from who you know not what you know

-develop and make government policy where the powe lies
-they have a need for specialies knowledge and advice to inform the policy process.
-gets involved in the governments early thinking so easier to apply influence before the government has taken a public position

-more likely to achieve media coverage
-can influence legislation by asking MPs to introduce amendments to legislation, influencing how MPs vote, drafting private members bills, and providing evidence to commitees to influence reports they produce

-influence through funding and donation
-relies on the party achieving power and stiking to its promises

-influence government indirectly by pushing issues up the political agenda using public support
-civil disobedience tactics gains high profine media coverage for their cause
-social media campaigns generates media focus
-however, government arent likely to want to change policy direction on the basis of direct action, and technological aprach seen as inefective as seen to be an attemt to block the government

-attempts to challenge government policy on the grounds that ministers have breached their legal powers or to use the court case to generate media publicity
-often unsuccesful but can slow down the implementation of a politcy

yes-government must listen to powerful groups because of their financial power
-possess financial strength to employ lobbyists and public relations consultants
-have high public profiles and access to the media
no-if wealthy groups aims are out of touch with the party in powers or run up against public opinion they arent likely to be succesful
-wealth matters less in the modern world as technology has made it cheaper and easier for people to express opinions

yes-can claim to represent public opinion and members have electoral impact
-more members means more subscriptions and donations
-large membership used to organise campaigns and protests
no-membership size cant compensate for a lack of insider status
-small but highly specialised groups can exert influence through their expertise

yes-brings acute political skills, political contacts, media skills, and high public profile
no-is pressure participants find themselves in opposition to the government they wont succeed

yes-more likely to succeed because government is sympathetic towards their aims
no-can still influence policy even if they are ideological outsiders
-could bring long term changes in political values and attitudes even if they dont change policy in short term

yes-electoral damage may be caused by not acceeding to the groups demands
no-stop the war campaign failes to have any impact on blair decision ton participate in the iraq war
-thinks tanks and lobbyists dont rely of public support for their influence

-there are advantages of group representation over representation through political parties, supplementing electoral democracy and making up for its limitations
-need for ongoing dialogue with the public for elected representatives to increase legitimacy, targeting minority voices
-offer alternative viewpoints and widen infomation avaliable to the public
-allow new voice in society, widening participation
-growth of new access points in UK politics
-rise in social movements like BLM
-widens distribution of political power because groups compete with eachother
-offer rival viewpoints to promote debate
-expertise and evidence that groups bring improves the quality of policy making

-influence is exerted in a way that is not subject to scrutiny and public accountability
-fails to offer transparency and accountability required in a democracy
-influence is not democratically legitimate as leaders are rarely elected by members
-using direct action they start to operate outside the legail framework, operating outside the democratic proccess
-empowers the already powerful, increasing political inequality
-participation in groups are chequebook membership providing superficial political engagement
-strengthens the voice of wealthy and privelaged
-sectional interest may prevail at the expense of majority interests

-judicial review allows citizens to challenge decisions made by public bodies
-courts in the uk protect the rights of the individual against the power of the state
-parliament has changed the law in response to court decisions
-the uk has one of the best records among the 47 signatories to the european convention on human rights
-parliament has established a joint commitee on human rights to scrutinise every government bill for its compatibility with human rights
-public organisations like mersey care NHS trust work to ensure that they meet their public duty in respecting and protecting rights
-the equality and human rights commision promotes and upholds equality and human rights ideals and laws
-society has far greater awareness of civil liberties, the howard league and prison reform trust has long term campaigns on the rights of prisoners
-liberty has been vocal at campaigning against any weakening of the human rights act
-The hra and equalities act are frequently used by groups to get public bodies and parliament to change their minds

-echr and hra coming under attack for upsetting the balance between individual rights and the need for efficient government
-courts have been increasingly active at expanding rights, judjes are stepping on the toes of parliament
-courts have too much power for an unacounted, enelcted body in a democratic society
-2001 introduction of indefentete detention for terror suspects, the 18 hr curfews ruled in breach of rights 2007
-2016 tory gov oversaw the passage of the investegatory powers act, liberty ruled that the gov unlawfuly obtained data under article 8
-critisism has been reserved for court decisions that protect the rights of criminals, torror suspects and prisoners
-concern about human rights inflation has severely limited the state