The British Medical Association
The BMA is a cause group that look to protect the interests of doctors and public health. Their largest and most documented campaign was to ban smoking in cars carrying children. In 2007, there was a ban on smoking in public spaces, and the BMA saw cars as the next stage.
The plans were first publicised in November 2011 when the BMA said that smoking in a confined space can cause many health risks. They first began by asking for a ban in cars completely, but there was little support for this. The government had no plans to introduce the legislation at the time but preferred to discourage drivers from smoking in cars by highlighting the risks. Other pressure groups supported the campaign, such as Asthma UK which made the plans seem more rigid.
Their methods from there included asking members to write emails and letters to their MPs and making a case to the House of Lords. As a result, an amendment was made to the 2014 Children and Families Act, which was introduced and signed in October 2015. As a result of this, the BMA achieved their aim of banning smoking in cars carrying children. They want to take it further and introduce a total ban on smoking while driving, but this is yet to be completed.
Rail, Maritime & Transport Union
2017-19: Guards Dispute
In the months leading up to January 2017, there were consistent strikes by members of the RMT Union against government plans to remove guards from trains and introduce automatic doors on trains across the UK. It sparked so much controversy that a televised debate was held on the BBC in January 2017 in which the Department for Transport and RMT Union attempted to settle their differences and face public grilling.
The debate did little in terms of stopping the strikes, and a continuous 27-day strike was held throughout December 2019, and more were planned throughout 2020. Commuters were angered by the strikes as rail fares seemed to be increasing while service frequency and spaces were cut. Union members were angered as their jobs were at risk if government plans to remove guards became legislation.
2022-present: Pay and conditions dispute
Since June 2022, the UK has seen extensive rail striking by the RMT Union over an ongoing dispute regarding pay and working conditions.