As we enter the final days of the campaign, Partner James Barge gives an overview on how we will be helping our clients navigate the post-election political landscape.
It is highly likely that the unexpected General Election brought a premature end to carefully thought out public affairs plans. With a (very welcome) end to political hostilities now in sight, it’s time to dust those plans off, reassess and reshape them to fit a new landscape and new agendas.
Having spent some time in-house, I’m sure your first priority come June 9th will be to shake off the excess of the night before, update an expectant business on the outcome, the winners and losers and what this means for your sector. A lacklustre and underwhelming campaign from the Conservatives, alongside some significant unforced errors, has seen the polls close and the expected tidal wave of blue recede somewhat. That said, betting on anything other than a Conservative victory would be unwise.
That said, you should have absorbed both the ‘Strong and Stable’ and ‘For the Many not the Few’ editions of the manifesto carefully. The growing trend for state intervention is no longer limited to the latter, with 2015 Labour policies now firmly rooted in the Conservative governing mind set.
At a nuts and bolts level, what are we doing at Pagefield for our clients? Well, the manifesto analyses have been shared – you can see them here. Alongside that we have drilled down and delivered client specific briefs.
Once we have got our General Election briefing event out the way on June 9th – invitation here – we’ll be cracking on with mapping the new constituency MPs, special advisers, relevant backbenchers and ministers.
Following that, it’s time to sit down and build the strategies to deliver against your priorities. If the current style of Government continues, the audience for your message is a small inner circle in Number 10. Which means building your coalition of support is all the more important.
So we’ll be assisting you in:
- Getting the congratulatory/introductory letters out, reminding special advisers, MPs and ministers of your agenda and the need to meet;
- Arranging face to face meetings in Westminster;
- Assessing the runners and riders for your relevant Select Committees; and
- Re-engaging with the one consistency you have: the civil service, making sure your departmental contacts know you haven’t gone away.
That’s the priority short-term activity done, then the hard work begins. Pagefield specialises in public affairs campaigning, it’s at the heart of what we do. Check out some of our case studies and, if you want to talk through your own programme, then drop me a line at james.barge@www.pagefield.co.uk.
