Politics essay plans
Democracy and Participation
Evaluate the view that the influence that think tanks have over political
parties and in parliament undermines democracy in the UK.
Think tanks are bodies or experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain
topic(s): to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable
economic, social or political issues.
For Against
Para 1 Para 2
- Think tanks are unelected and - Think tanks employ academics and
unaccountable. experts to research and write
- This is bad because they have policy papers.
considerable influence on - They provide select committees
government policy which directly and government officials with high
affect the electorate, however, they – quality evidence on which to
cannot be held to account by voters. base their decision making and
- For example, the 2019 election voting choices.
manifestos of both major political - For example, The Joseph Rowntree
parties were produced in conjunction Foundation was name-checked in
with think-tanks. 157 documents between 2015 and
- The Centre for Policy Studies co- 2021, most relating to
authored the Conservative manifesto. employment, culture, or
- - The Institute for Public Policy education. The Joseph Rowntree
Research and the New Economics Foundation is a charity that
Foundation contributed to the Labour researches social policy and
manifesto. campaigns on quality-of-life issues.
- The extent of their influence in - Furthermore, the institute for
government policy is also shown Fiscal studies, a research institute
under the Johnson government when with particular interest in taxation,
the Institute for Economic Affairs and welfare benefits and education,
the Legatum Institute did much to which received citations in 150
guide Brexit policy, including the documents.
decision to withdraw from the - Therefore, think tanks are
customs union and the single market democratic as they help
when leaving the EU. government officials make fully
- The policy exchange document informed decisions, and ensure
‘Rethinking the planning system for legislation is of the highest quality.
the 21st century’ was clearly the
primary influence on the Johnson
government’s proposals to reform
planning laws.
Para 3: Para 4:
, - The work of think tanks is rarely - Think tanks offer varying views in
transparent. society which can enhance
- Think tanks are able to hold private representation.
discussions with government - The ten most influential think
ministers and MPs of which no record tanks in the UK according to Mace
has to be provided. Magazine, involve a range of think
- For example, Liz Truss’s meeting with tanks from varying political
the Institute for Economic Affairs orientations and aims.
during her time as prime minister - It contains left of centre think
were considered to be ‘private tanks such as Resolution
discussions’ thus, there is no record of foundation which aim to consider
their discussion. the impact of economic and social
- Furthermore, these think tanks often policies in society.
enjoy privileges due to insider status. - Also contains libertarian think
- For example, In February 2018, tanks such as institute of economic
Johnson allowed the think tank affairs and even independent think
Initiative for Free Trade to use the tanks such as institute for fiscal
Map Room at the Foreign Office for studies.
free for their launch event. - This enhances democracy by
- However, Sue Grey the head of ethics increasing democracy by
at the Cabinet office, criticised increasing the number of ideas
Johnson’s decision, saying that the that are discussed and considered.
think tank should have paid the
normal commercial rate for the use of
the room.
- Therefore, as think tanks often enjoy
insider privilege not open to everyone
else, they can be considered
undemocratic.
Para 5:
- Think tanks allow for foreign influence
in the British political system.
- Think tanks in the Atlas network- a
community of over 450 British &
American think tanks have formed
close ties with the Conservative party.
- This close relationship provides the
Atlas network a leverage into the
British political system even though
some of these think tanks are not
themselves British.
- For example, the Institute for
Economic Affairs, the Legatum
Institute and the Initiative for Free
Trade worked with US think tanks the
American enterprise institute and
heritage foundation to produce policy
, documents on Brexit.
- The subsequent direction of Brexit
policy, combined with the fact that
Boris Johnson & Michael Gove visited
the US for meetings with the
American Enterprise institute and the
Heritage Foundation, contributed to a
feeling that British policy was being
forged elsewhere.
Evaluate the impact of pressure groups on the political system.
A pressure group is a broad term encompassing any political group that attempts to
influence those in power without seeking power themselves.
There are two types of pressure groups; insider and outsider. While insider pressure
groups work with the government to achieve their aims, outsider pressure groups do not
work with government.
For Against
- Pressure groups especially those of - Outside pressure groups, however,
an insider status can affect have not secured similar successes.
government decisions. - These groups maintain their
- Insider pressure groups work with distance from the government to
the government and are often ensure ideological purity.
consulted by the government for - To influence government policy,
insights on how policies may impact they typically resort to public
a particular sector of society. awareness campaigns, protests and
- The National union of farmers, the civil disobedience.
confederation of British Industry and - Currently, in the UK, one of the most
the British Medical Association are out-spoken outsider pressure groups
all examples of insider pressure is an environmentalist pressure
groups. group known as extinction rebellion
- Often, these pressure groups have which weeks to pressure the
view that are in line with those of government to legislate on one of
the government. its objectives.
- The BMA managed to pressure the - Their actions, however, often lead to
government to increase spending by not only public disapproval but also
3.4% per annum from 2019 to 2024. legal repercussions that may harm
- The CBI, which speaks on behalf of the group’s legitimacy and future
British business, managed to survival.
pressure the government to give - Recently, for example, Extinction
more powers to devolved rebellion targeted BlackRock an
governments. asset management firm, by dumping
- In 2018, the Northern Ireland civil ashes in its office.
Service was provided more powers - Their radical methods limit their
, by the UK government. influence.
- It could thus be said that pressure
groups have had an increasing
impact on government decisions.
- lobbyists are another insider - The lack of transparency, however,
pressure group. in the work of lobby firms has raised
- They are firms paid for by private a red flag for the public. For this
clients (usually corporations or reason, Parliament passed, in 2014,
foreign governments) who seek the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-
government access to influence Party Campaigning and Trade Union
legislation to match the interests of Administration Act (2014), which
their clients. mandated that all lobbying activities
- Today, lobbying remains a large and are registered.
active business with almost 2 billion - It could be argued that the public,
pounds spent by corporations per by merit of being aware of lobbying
year. activities, checks the influence that
- Not only do these corporations these lobby firms may have.
seek, through lobby firms, to voice However, many would argue that
their concerns to the government, the works of lobbies are still not
but so does the government consult transparent enough.
with lobby firms to assess the - Thus, the influence they may have
impact legislation may have on key on the government and, certainly, as
industries. While this shows that a result of the ‘revolving door
lobbyists are certainly influential, system’, potential MPs, remains.
the lack of transparency in the work - It could, thus, be said that while
of lobby firms makes it hard to see lobbyist firms remain highly
what real impact lobby firms have influential in the UK, new legislation
on government decisions. that mandates transparency puts a
- However, politicians have often limited check on their influence.
switched between being in office
and working as lobbyists for
corporations. Colloquially, this has
been referred to as the ‘revolving
door’ between the political and
commercial world. 52 former
ministers practice today work for
such firms.
- Francis Maude, for example, a
former MP and Minister of Industry
worked as an advisor for the Oak
North Bank and the business
intelligence firm GPW.
- All of this shows that lobbyists do
wield a lot of influence over politics
and, oftentimes, have direct links
and connections to politicians.
