Finance is a crucial factor leading to a pressure group being successful, since running effective campaigns can be very expensive, so wealthy supporters provides an obvious advantage. Also small pressure groups with large finances can use funds to finance political parties and so receive sympathetic treatment and gain rewards. For example, the governments refusal to ban all advertising on cigarettes, and the lack of action taken by them to break the brewers’ virtual monopoly over public houses. A more financed group can employ more people, therefore employees have the time and expertise to ensure that campaigns are organised in a professional manner, however linking this back to size, it does not guarantee success.
A lot has to do with the pressure group itself and organisation is an important factor which can lead to success and the pressure group meeting their aims and targets. The members of the pressure group play a vial part in the organisation of a group as it is them who make sure campaigns run effectively. They recruit member, raise funds, research facilities, make decisions and establish methods for creating publicity etc. A strong organisation is required to achieve their aims and targets, before they put their case into action. For example the fuel lobby, which opposed high petrol duties, showed high levels of organisation since they used resources such as the internet to organise a large number of protesters from all over the country in a short period of time. Therefore, timing is another factor since the government can be put into a position where they have to agree.
Pressure groups need to let the public know what they are campaigning or fighting for so here the media can influence the public and decision makers. Media attention makes it less easy for the prime minister or government to ignore. Many issues such as smoking and animal cruelty have been able to attract support through TV, radio and leaflets etc. Some pressure groups are even supported by celebrities on certain issues or campaigns, which is a significant advantage since they are well-known personalities.
Pressure groups also have an effect on the society which is why holding a strategic position is another important factor. The community and government are reliant upon particular groups such as fire workers, farmers and ambulance workers. The government are reliant on fire workers to put out fires, farmers to produce food for the people and ambulance workers to help the ill. So if for example, the ambulance workers were to go on strike this could be disastrous and could lead to severe consequences and therefore, to put things right the political party would have to fulfil there wishes. If however the government do not take no action and let them continue, they could be risking the lives of those people who are ill and need to be looked after.
A sympathetic public is also very helpful to a pressure group. The aims of the group are legitimised by public support. An effectively run campaign together with a sympathetic public is a potent combination. This combination has resulted in important policy changes and developments, over past years such as equal pay for women, experimentation on animals, reducing the age of consent for homosexuals to eighteen and relaxation of the alcohol licensing laws. The Snowdrop Appeal founded after the Dunblane Primary School massacre was successful in a way. Although the group appealing wanted handguns to be banned completely, public sympathy due to the large numbers of people involved, forced the government to tighten rules on gun ownership.
At times, pressure groups face oppositions not only with the government, but at times they are ranged against other pressure groups. In these cases, the government simply acts as arbiter between competing claims. Examples include the anti-smoking lobby vs. the tobacco industry, transport 2000 vs. the motorcar industry and the animals rights campaigners vs. the fur trade. The successful pressure groups are those who are imaginative and tactical in their campaign, so the effectiveness of action will most probably determine success.
Overall all of these factors contribute to the success of pressure groups and it is when they have fulfilled their aims and gain public support and attention that they have truly succeeded.