A few in-depth essay plans with examples, perfect for Paper 1 Edexcel Politics. With information on corporations, lobbyists, pressure groups and how they play in the political system.
Evaluate the view that only pressure group actions preserve civil liberties
Agree Disagree
- Pressure groups are able to protect the - Pressure groups may be so narrow
rights of minorities minded that they discard the rights of others
Eg. Howard League fights for better Eg. Pressure group such as Extinction
conditions for prison inmates Rebellion who disrupt the peace by glueing
themselves to the highway are only putting
their interests into perspective whilst
causing inconvenience to others
- Pressure groups bring up issues which - Issues which are not in the main parties
may not have been on the government’s agenda may have problems with getting
agenda before their ideas/reforms through
- They can force government debates by - Ultimately, it is Parliament who make the
initiating and advertising petitions laws/reforms which will end up protecting
civil liberties
- Pressure groups raising awareness can
trigger debates at 100,000 votes - The influence of pressure groups can only
go so far
Eg. ASH was a pressure group which got
the govt to ban smoking in cars with Eg. Unlock Democracy campaigns for
children which may not have happened constitutional change which would entail a
without them bringing the issue/research bill of rights (arguably ensuring better rights
forward protection)
But they haven’t been successful as
constitutional change is not a priority for
Conservative or Labour
Pressure groups have a more diverse set of - Using violent methods arguably discards
interests and many are more focused and some of the greatest rights i.e. the right to
driven in protecting rights life, safety etc
- Additionally, Parliament may be put off
Eg. Amnesty International, LIBERTY are from creating laws/reforms which are very
solely focused on rights protection which important matters due to irresponsible
means they have no distractions/ulterior methods used by pressure groups
motives
Eg. Fathers4Justice campaign that “no child
Thinks Tanks, Lobbyists, and Political should be denied their human right to a
Parties all have other interests and think father”
about self gain as opposed to what is best
for the rights of citizens in the country as a However, the important rights they are
whole fighting for is being undermined and ignored
due to their irresponsible methods eg. flour
bombing Tony Blair
, Evaluate the view that civil liberties are strongly protected in the UK
Paragraph 1: Pressure Groups
Agree Disagree
- Protect the rights of minorities + people Pressure groups can infringe rights based
who are discriminated against yet are on the methods that they use
overlooked by government
Eg. Environmental pressure groups who
Eg. Howard League fights for better prison have blocked roads etc. have infringed
conditions for inmates people’s right of movement
Fawcett Society campaign for women’s Fathers4Justice flour bombing Tony Blair
rights especially in the workplace was a infringement of his right to safety
(Ron Davies and Guy Harrison)
JUSTICE campaigns for rights protection
for lawyers/other members of the legal
profession
Paragraph 2: ECtHR
Agree Disagree
- The UK is subjected to the European Parliament remains sovereign and so can
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) ignore the ECHR or can even repeal the
Human Rights Act
Eg. ECtHR ruled that prisoners in the UK
have the right to vote Eg. prisoners have not yet been given the
right to vote in the UK, despite the ruling
I.e. John Hurst + Cameron saying the
thought of prisoners voting makes him
‘physically sick’
Paragraph 3: Judiciary
Agree Disagree
- The judiciary have a reputation for being - There is increasing pressure on gov due
independent and upholding the rule of law to terrorism + interest of national security
even against the expressed wishes of
Parliament - This has led to right to privacy, freedom of
expression, freedom from imprisonment
- Eg. April 2016, judges overturned gov’s without trial
plans to deny legal aid to people who have
not lived in the UK continuously for at least - Eg. 2016 ‘Snoopers’ charter passed
12 months
- Belmarsh Detainees
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