four principles for campaigners working with a new government
TRANSCRIPT
FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR CAMPAIGNERS WORKING WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT
CHRIS WALKER23 AUGUST 2016
AIMS OF THIS PRESENTATION
Explore four principles of working with a new governmentIntroduced to NCVO’s Guide to Good CampaigningConsider the opportunities to engage with ex-ministers and other prominent backbenchersUnderstand the pros and cons of governmental change.
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WHAT DOES GOVERNMENTAL CHANGE MEAN FOR CHARITIES• New opportunities to engage and build
relationships• Opportunities to revisit old policy decisionsBUT• Potential loss of good relationships/political
capital• Loss of ministerial expertise may mean you
have to start again from the basics
FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR WORKING WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT1. Well thought through is better than immediate2. Focus on your expertise, and how it fits with
the new agenda3. Have clear specific actions that new ministers
can take4. Enable links with your beneficiaries
1. WELL THOUGHT THROUGH IS BETTER THAN IMMEDIATE
By © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35619683
2. FOCUS ON YOUR EXPERTISE AND HOW IT FITS WITH THE NEW AGENDA
By HM Government - http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/government-structure/, OGL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20492558
KEY ASPECTS OF THE MAY AGENDA
• Social reform put at the heart of the government’s agenda
• A return to traditional Conservative values?• Opportunities for public service reform, but
potential challenges
CHANGES IN DEPARTMENTS AND APPROACH• OCS has moved to DCMS• Department for Energy and Climate Change
scrapped and moved into expanded BIS – concern for environmental charities
• A Dfid-sceptic secretary of state
3. HAVE CLEAR, SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT NEW MINISTERS CAN TAKE
By xlibber, Margaret Thatcher’s Dispatch Box, CC BY 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/xlibber/11030430605
4. ENABLE LINKS WITH YOUR BENEFICIARIES
By DFID - UK Department for International Development - Theresa May and Justine Greening speaking at #YouthForChange, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38901202
NOT JUST ABOUT MINISTERS
• Special advisers – list starting to come together• Senior civil servants – a number of key officials
have new jobs or new responsibilities• Officials – provide a degree of stability and
certainty, and the best way to find out about departmental changes and new priorities
NEW GOVERNMENTS PRESENT NEW PARLIAMENTARY OPPORTUNITIES• Former ministers• Select committee changes• New backbench dynamics• Opportunities to work on long-term projects
and campaigns
TWO LABOUR PARTIES?
• No imminent split likely, but in parliament Labour will function as two parties while Corbyn remains leader
• Important to engage with different wings of parties to improve the chance of your message getting through
• Lords even better for amendments than normal
UPCOMING TRAINING/EVENTS (2016)• Campaigning conference – 6 September • Leadership in Campaigns - 6 October• Developing a winning campaign strategy and plan -
14 October• Certificate in campaigning – starts 18 October• Influencing parliament – 25 November• Influencing select committees – 9 December
READINGNCVO Good Guide to Campaigning and Influencing
NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteer movement to create a better society.We connect, represent and support over 11,500 voluntary sector member organisations, from the smallest community groups to the largest charities.
This helps our members and their millions of volunteers make the biggest difference to the causes they believe in.• Search for NCVO membership• Visit www.ncvo.org.uk/join• Email [email protected]