The Most Successful Pressure Groups Still Tend To Focus On Lobbying The Westminster Parliament Despite The Availability Of Numerous Other Access Points
The most successful pressure groups still tend to focus on lobbying the Westminster Parliament despite the availability of numerous other access points. Discuss (25 Marks) To begin with, the definition of “successful” depends on the goals or objectives each pressure group aims to achieve. Yes, some successful pressure groups still use the Westminster Parliament as their main access point in order to achieve their aims. However, in recent years most pressure groups realised that by not only using the Westminster Parliament but by using other access groups as well, they became more successful in the way that they achieved their goals in a more effective and faster manner that they would have done if they only relied on one access point, the Westminster Parliament. Insider pressure groups are usually the ones that rely mainly on lobbying the Westminster Parliament. This is because insider groups have better access to government and are regularly consulted by them, operating inside the decision making process. Lobbying is “the act of seeking the ear of a member of government”. Individuals or members of pressure groups may write to a government minister or visit parliament to lobby in person those persons who have influence over the group’s areas of interest or expertise. In recent years, groups tend to use professional lobbyist firms and they use their contacts on behalf of the pressure group. One real life example can be the lobbying firm of Iam Greer Associates that arranged contacts between Mohamed Al Fayed and the Conservative Junior trade minister, Neil Hamilton in an attempt to help him get citizenship. This is one of the methods that the insider groups use to achieve their goals, another method is through Westminster itself. Westminster remains a “fertile” ground for pressure groups. Parliament acts as a point of leverage (access point). Some pressure groups pay retaining fees to MPs in return for which they will raise relevant issues as much as possible