• Source: Pressure groups in Scotland

      • Pressure groups in Scotland serve as a means of influence by the public and individuals who share the same view on various different issues, and aim to influence and change Scottish Government policy, legislation and conduct. Pressure groups influence government policy and decision making by organising and participating in marches and rally events, creating petitions, "lobbying" members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), writing to politicians and newspapers, as well as engaging with other forms of media such as television and radio broadcasts, and aiming to increase publicity by engaging in publicity stunts, the majority of which are legal and peaceful, however, some can be disruptive and unlawful.


      Types of pressure groups




      = Insider groups

      =
      Insider pressure groups are groups which have the support of the Scottish Government. The government will frequently engage with insider pressure groups for advice on a range of issues relevant to their cause, as well as to discuss either new laws, or amendments to existing Scots law.
      The Educational Institute of Scotland is a prominent insider pressure group, and as such, rely heavily on mutual engagements and discussions with the government rather than organising marches and rallies.


      = Outsider groups

      =
      The opposite of insider pressure groups, outsider pressure groups are groups who do not directly engage with the government, or have any real influence over government policy and decision making. Most often, their views and actions do not always have the support of the government, as well as often disapproving of their actions. In order to gain the attention of the government and secure discussions to influence policy, outsider pressure groups rely on high-profile media campaigns and stunts in order to get their cause recognised by the government.
      Outsider pressure groups, such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, have held demonstrations and rallies in recent years against fracking in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom.


      Actions and means



      Individuals join a pressure group in order to voice their support for a particular issue, allowing them to collaborate with other individuals who share a similar view in order to influence Scotland's various systems of government – the Scottish Government, local government, community councils, and the UK Government.
      Some examples of pressure groups which have operated in Scotland in the past include:

      Average Speed cameras on the A9 are not the Answer – a local pressure group
      Friends of the Earth Scotland are a national pressure group
      Amnesty International is a large international pressure group
      It is commonly accepted amongst pressure groups operating in Scotland that they have the right to criticise the government and politicians, protest as long as they are lawful, informing Police Scotland and the local council of where and when demonstrations are expected to occur, information distributed by pressure groups are based on facts, and avoid intimidating politicians or the public as part of their cause. It is the responsibility of pressure groups to organise and hold meetings of their group with other members to discuss agenda and target setting and to represent the views of all members in their entirety. Pressure groups have the right to use the national media to gain attention and share their views as relevant to their cause. In Scotland, media sources such as BBC Scotland, STV, Daily Record, The Scotsman, The National and BBC Radio Scotland, amongst others, can all be used by pressure groups to broadcast and share the message of their cause.


      Examples of groups in Scotland


      Out for Independence (the Scottish National Party's LGBT wing)
      Rainbow Greens (the Scottish Greens LGBT wing)
      For Women Scotland
      Friends of the Earth Scotland
      Greenpeace
      Fathers 4 Justice
      Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
      Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
      Celtic League
      It's Scotland's oil
      Business for Scotland
      Campaign for a Scottish Olympic Team
      Ceartas
      Clì Gàidhlig
      Democratic Left Scotland
      Equality Network
      Exit (right-to-die organisation)
      Labour for Independence
      N-56
      Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
      Scottish Constitutional Convention
      Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values
      Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
      Scottish Wildlife Trust
      Siol nan Gaidheal
      SNP Trade Union Group
      Stop Climate Chaos Scotland


      See also


      Politics of Scotland
      Scottish Government
      Scottish Parliament
      Pressure groups in the United Kingdom
      Democracy


      References

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