Pressure Groups

1. Pressure Groups An example of using new media

4. Mums Net • www.mumsnet.com • This a web-based pressure group which campaigns for mothers rights. • The decision by the Coalition government to change the Child Benefit from being Universal to ending it for Parent/Parents in the 40% tax ban in 2013 – those who earn over £44000.

5. The Campaign • This change in Child Benefit is an attack on a key area of support for the Conservatives – stay-at-home mums (school gate mums) who’s Husbands earn over £44000. • If a couple both earned £40000, then they would not have their benefit cut! • Mumsnet Founder on BBC • Mumsnet have 1.2 million members using the site every month.

6. Mumsnet has become one of the most powerful influences in British public life. • Politicians – including prime ministers and party leaders – normally form an orderly queue for an audience with Justine Roberts and the other co-founders. • At the Conservative Party Conference in Sept 2010, Mumsnet had their own delegation which could be evidence of them being considered an insider group. • Many Tory/Lib Dem MPs received a huge number of letters and emails objecting to the issue and Mumsnet handed in a petition to Downing Street.

7. Were they successful? • They did force the government into a concession with an offer of allowing married women at home to transfer their tax allowances to their working husbands to help ease the burden. • On the other hand, it still looks as though the change will go ahead.