ABSTRACT
We would define the poverty lobby as those national voluntary organizations which regularly attempt to influence the income maintenance policies of government in favour of the poor. Again, although they were involved in social security policy making in the 1970s, trade unions are 'producer' groups which are rather different from the 'consumer' groups that make up the poverty lobby. However the churches, and in particular the Church of England, occupy a significantly different position in the policy-making system from the voluntary organizations of the poverty lobby. As with trade unions, it is better analytically to treat the church as a potential ally rather than as part of the poverty lobby. Despite the fact that the term 'the poverty lobby' is used very frequently by academics, journalists and other commentators, the lobby has never been clearly defined. In looking at the groups in the poverty lobby, all cite the desire to help their particular client group as their primary aim.
