[Mark scheme: Pearson Edexcel A-Level 2021] Politics
Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
Successes - insider status - The Howard League for Penal Reform successfully
campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family
or friends.
Success - wealth - The British Bankers' Association paid lobbyists to persuade
ministers to cut corporation tax and taxes on banks' overseas subsidiaries.
Success - large membership - The RSPB (Royal society for the protection of
birds) utilised over 500,000 members for its Big Garden Birdwatch.
Success - organisation - The RMT Union organised a series of strikes to secure a
bonus for members during the Olympics.
Success - expertise - In 2016, the AA provided evidence and statistics to
persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone
while driving.
Success - celebrity endorsement - Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice
Campaign secured equal rights for British and Commonwealth soldiers.
Failure - pressure group coal contradicts government policy - The Conservative
government is determined to introduce new polices for a 7-day NHS, therefore
the BMA campaign against the proposals has largely failed.
Sectional/interest pressure groups - A pressure group that represents a specific
section of society, such as a trade union or an employers' association.
Causal pressure groups - A pressure group that advocates for a specific cause
or issue often one that does not directly affect its members and so they
campaign on behalf of others in society.
, Insider pressure groups - A pressure that has direct access to government and
therefore a direct influence on government policy
Outsider pressure groups - pressure groups who do not have a close
relationship with the government and have no influence over policy so rely on
attention from the media in order to exert influence.
Pressure groups methods - Lobbying, research and publish reports, give
evidence at hearings, organise public campaigns, organise demonstrations,
celebrity spokesperson, publicity stunts, civil disobedience and strikes.
Failure - a strong government can resist pressure - The Stop the War Coalition
organised mass rallies and activities to stop the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
However, with a large majority and cross-party support in parliament, the Blair
government was able to resist the pressure and ignore the group's demands.
Failure - contradicting larger pressure group - The pro-smoking group Forrest
has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK, largely because it has
lost out to the group ASH, which has successfully campaigned for restrictions
on smoking.
Failure - contradicting popular opinion - Groups such as the Coalition for
Marriage failed in their campaign against the legal recognition of gay marriage
because most public opinion was in favour of it.
Failure - group unpopular with the public - Violent groups such as ALF ( and
PETA fail to achieve their goals because the public are opposed to their
methods, even if they might support their causes. The same can be said of strike
action if it inconveniences the public.
Think-tanks - A body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political
or economic problems.
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