Other Influences on Parliament and Government (AQA A-Level Politics): Revision Notes
Other Influences on Parliament and Government
Introduction to pressure participants
Beyond traditional pressure groups, a diverse range of actors now seek to shape government policy. These are collectively known as pressure participants, a term describing organisations and entities that influence policy-making without necessarily having the formal structures and membership systems of conventional pressure groups. The growing importance of corporations, lobbyists, think tanks and media outlets reflects the increasingly complex nature of modern political influence.
Pressure participants is a loose term which covers the many groups that seek to influence policy but are not necessarily old-style pressure groups with formal structures and membership.
Corporations
Large businesses maintain regular contact with government and its departments, wielding considerable influence over policy decisions. Their power stems from several sources, particularly their role in providing employment and generating tax revenue. In today's globalised economy, multinational corporations possess the ability to relocate factories and jobs abroad, giving them significant leverage in negotiations with government.
Examples of corporate influence
During the Brexit negotiations, motor manufacturers lobbied extensively for a trade deal that would preserve key aspects of single market membership. Similarly, when the COVID-19 crisis struck, business organisations pressed government to freeze tax payments, including national insurance and VAT contributions, to help companies survive the economic downturn.
However, corporations do not always achieve their objectives. In March 2020, the government proceeded with a 2% digital sales tax on UK revenues generated by search engines, social media platforms and online marketplaces, despite opposition from powerful technology companies such as Google and Amazon.
Interestingly, some businesses supported this digital tax, particularly traditional shop-based retailers who argued it created fairer competition. These businesses had long complained about bearing disproportionate costs through high street overheads like business rates, whilst online competitors avoided such expenses.
Corporations as targets
Large corporations have increasingly become targets themselves for pressure group campaigns, especially from environmental and ethical organisations. In 2020, Barclays Bank announced its intention to become a 'net-zero bank' by 2050 following sustained pressure from shareholders, including the Church of England. The campaign group ShareAction filed the shareholder resolution that prompted this commitment.
Lobbyists
Lobbyists are professional firms hired to help organisations communicate their messages effectively to government. These firms provide expert advice on campaign strategies and communication approaches, and may facilitate meetings between their clients and relevant ministers or civil servants. The lobbying industry remains controversial and often misunderstood.
Regulation and the revolving door
Many former ministers take positions with lobbying firms after leaving office, a phenomenon known as the 'revolving door'. However, they must first seek permission from ACOBA (the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments), and typically observe a 'cooling off' period to prevent conflicts of interest. For instance, veteran Labour MP Barry Sheerman became chair of the not-for-profit lobbying firm Policy Connect in 2017.
Cash for access scandal
The lobbying industry faced serious criticism following the 2015 'cash for access' scandal. A register for MPs working as lobbyists was established after several politicians were caught offering to ask parliamentary questions or arrange meetings in exchange for payment.
Senior former ministers Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind were filmed by undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches programme, appearing to offer their positions to benefit a fictitious communications agency in return for substantial fees. This scandal highlighted the potential for corruption when politicians leverage their positions for financial gain.
Positive contributions
Despite the potential for corruption, lobbyists often work productively at a lower profile level. The Wiltshire-based firm Morgan Roberts worked with Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust between 2006 and 2008, campaigning successfully for early introduction of a UK-wide human papilloma virus immunisation programme. This programme protects young women against the leading cause of cervical cancer, and the policy was adopted in 2008.
Think tanks
Think tanks represent another important element of the policy-influencing network. These organisations are specifically established to undertake policy research and development, publishing their findings to promote particular policy positions. Their research is frequently utilised by pressure groups sharing similar priorities.
Funding and political spectrum
Think tanks typically receive private funding from businesses or wealthy individuals. For example, Lord Sainsbury donated £260,000 to Progress, a centrist Labour think tank, in 2016. Research in 2017 estimated that approximately 30 UK-based think tanks had combined annual income of £65 million.
A 2019 report found that 11 right-leaning think tanks received £15.5 million, whilst left-leaning groups received £12.9 million, with the bulk (£35 million) going to eight politically neutral organisations. This demonstrates that politically neutral think tanks command the largest share of funding.
Political orientations
Many think tanks adopt clear ideological positions. The Institute of Economic Affairs champions free-market economics, whilst the Fabian Society, formally affiliated to Labour, promotes left-wing policies. Others maintain political neutrality, such as the Centre for Social Justice, established in 2004 by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith to address poverty and social issues. Chatham House specialises in international relations and foreign policy research.
Impact on policy
Though their precise influence can be difficult to measure, think tanks have successfully shaped government policy. Policy Exchange claimed credit for several initiatives later adopted by government, including directly elected police commissioners and the pupil premium.
Policy Influence: Women's Prison Reform
In 2018, the Centre for Social Justice published 'A Woman-Centred Approach', recommending the government scrap plans for five new women's prisons and replace them with community-based alternatives.
Outcome: The government subsequently adopted this approach, demonstrating how think tank research can directly influence major policy decisions.
UK think tanks overview
| Think tank | Political leaning/main policy focus |
|---|---|
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) | Right wing/focuses on free-market economics |
| Resolution Foundation | Independent/focuses on improving outcomes for people on low and modest incomes |
| Policy Exchange | Right wing/focuses on the better delivery of public services |
| Centre for Social Justice | Independent/centre-right/focuses on social policy |
| Chatham House | Independent/focuses on foreign and defence issues |
| Fabian Society | Left wing/focuses on a wide range of policy issues |
| Progress | Left wing/New Labour/focuses on a range of policies and ideas from a moderate left-of-centre position |
| Compass | Centre-left/wide range of policy interests and also a membership-based organisation |
Media
The media have long played a major role in exercising political influence, particularly national newspapers. Most UK newspapers maintain political alignments reflecting both proprietor preferences and readership views. The Sun famously declared 'It's The Sun Wot Won It' after the 1992 Conservative victory, having campaigned relentlessly against Labour leader Neil Kinnock. In 2019, the Conservative-supporting press similarly promoted Boris Johnson whilst attacking Jeremy Corbyn.
Declining traditional media influence
However, traditional media influence faces several challenges. National newspaper circulation roughly halved between 1992 and 2019 due to the rise of social media and internet news sources. Changes in ownership and editorial leadership can shift political stances. The traditionally right-wing Daily Express, now owned by the same company as the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror, ended its previous proprietor's staunch Euroscepticism.
Newspapers often prefer backing likely winners, as evidenced by widespread press support for Tony Blair between 1997 and 2010. This suggests that media influence may reflect public opinion as much as shape it.
Rise of social media
Social media represents the most significant change in the media landscape. Unlike traditional newspapers, social media lacks conventional proprietor control, creating new possibilities for political advertising, trending topics and misinformation.
Social Media and Political Accountability
During the 2019 campaign, Twitter accused the Conservatives of misleading the public after they rebranded their official party account (CCHQPress) to 'factcheckUK' during the ITV leaders' debate. This incident highlighted the challenges of regulating political communication in the digital age and the potential for misinformation on social media platforms.
Links between pressure groups and political parties, government and media
Pressure groups operate within a 'policy web', forming complex relationships with other political actors. Some maintain close ties with political parties, such as trade unions affiliated to Labour. Many groups deliberately adopt political neutrality to facilitate cooperation with governments of all persuasions. Governments typically engage with key insider groups, particularly those offering specialist and technical knowledge.
Pressure groups actively seek positive media coverage, though media outlets can also deliver damaging publicity when causes conflict with editorial positions. Conservative-leaning newspapers rarely sympathise with striking public servants, whilst left-wing publications give unfavourable coverage to private school concerns about Labour's VAT proposals. Ultimately, all political players compete for influence, cooperating, competing and clashing with each other in pursuit of their objectives.
Countervailing forces - Equally powerful groups that work against the cause and objective of another pressure group - play an important role in this policy web, creating a dynamic system of checks and balances within political influence.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
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Pressure participants include corporations, lobbyists, think tanks and media organisations that influence policy without being traditional pressure groups
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Corporations wield power through jobs, tax revenue and the threat of relocating operations, though they do not always achieve their objectives
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Lobbyists are professional advisers who help organisations communicate effectively with government, subject to regulation through ACOBA and cooling-off periods
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Think tanks conduct policy research across the political spectrum, with funding from private sources, and have successfully influenced government policy
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Media influence is changing, with declining newspaper circulation and rising social media impact creating new challenges for political communication
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All these actors operate within a policy web, forming complex relationships with each other, political parties and government