get ready for the 2015 general election
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#readyfor2015. Get ready for the 2015 general election. a chieving impact and influence. Who are we?. Sara Petela Public Affairs Officer The College of Occupational Therapists [email protected]. Emily Wallace Director Connect Communications [email protected]. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Get ready for the 2015 general election
achieving impact and influence
#readyfor2015
Who are we?
Emily WallaceDirectorConnect Communications
Sara PetelaPublic Affairs OfficerThe College of Occupational Therapists
This session • Politics and what it means for COT• The political timetable and road to 2015• Polls and pundits – what are they saying• Big picture political positioning • Health in the manifesto’s• COT - looking ahead• Working better together
How political are you?
Why is politics important for COT• change policy and priorities• raise profile of people/issues/organisation• manage and motivate members• manage and build your reputation and
recognition of your organisation• extend your networks• generate positive relationships – with
stakeholders, partners, media
Forthcoming elections 2014 2015 2016 2017English local governmentNorthern Ireland local council Mayoral electionsEuropean ParliamentReferendum on independence for Scotland
UK ParliamentNorthern Ireland Assembly**Northern Ireland local governmentEnglish local governmentMayoral elections
National Assembly for WalesScottish ParliamentLondon AssemblyMayor of LondonEnglish local governmentMayoral electionsPolice and Crime Commissioner (England and Wales)
English local governmentMayoral electionsScottish local government
The next year in politics
Electioneering Summer reshuffles
4 JuneQueen’s Speech
18 SeptemberScottish
referendum
Sept / OctoberParty
Conferences
30 MarchDissolution of
Parliament
Official campaign and
manifesto launches
7 MayGeneral Election
New Government
Polls and pundits
Scottish referendum
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Yes
No
May 2014
The polls are narrowing
Big picture positioning?
Conservative key messages
we’re on the right track
we need to keep going for the long
term security of the country
we would be even better with a
majority Conservative Government
Labour hasn’t changed and they can’t be trusted on the economy
Labour key messages
a recovery for all, tackling the cost of
living crisis
the Tory Government is
out of touch
One Nation
we must devolve money and power
to local communities
Liberal Democrat key messages
the country needs us in government as an anchor to the centre
ground
we have softened the hard edges of the Conservatives
Labour still can’t be trusted to govern alone
Health and social care big messages
Privatisation:you cant
trust Cameron
with the NHS
Quality and safety:
You can’t trust Labour with
the NHS
The NHS can’t afford another
Labour Government
The NHS is safe under Labour
Integration integration integration
No new money
The Conservatives’ Health Manifesto
The Conservatives’ Health Manifesto
Unpopularity of health reforms identified as one of top ten election “risks” for Conservatives
Likely health policy campaign themes
• No more structural change• End of soviet tractor type targets• Integration and improved social care, possibly including social housing• More private providers – but managed market• Positive about personalisation agenda• The “Patients’ Party”?
Labour’s Health Manifesto
Labour’s Health Manifesto
NHS identified as one of the top election assets for Labour
Likely health policy manifesto themes:
• Whole person care• An integrated health and social care service fit for 21st century• Social care free for all at point of use and staff into the NHS?• Repeal (parts of) Health and Social Care Act • Focus on limiting marketisation/privatisation with a move back to
preferred provider model• Devolve all funding to local authorities (with no ring fence and CCGs
to become advisory)?
Liberal Democrats’ Health Manifesto
Liberal Democrats’ Health Manifesto
Health policy campaign themes
• Better and more integrated care• Dignity at home – transforming social care• Dilnot cap on social care costs• More focus on mental health • More mutual providers• More democracy – strengthening HWBs
What are we doing
Strategic aim: Be the voice of the profession
Recent successes include: • Professional Advisor for Children & Young People appointed as
an Expert Advisor to Lord Freud • CEO about to complete 3 year term as a Social Care Fellow for
NICE • Sit on numerous committees and advisory boards; e.g. DFE
advisory panel on developing the SEN Code of Practice• Influenced the Care Act 2014• Respond to hundreds of consultations across all four countries
Looking aheadWhat’s on our radar? Current and upcoming areas of focus include:
• Integration • Prevention and early-intervention• Reablement • Vocational rehabilitation • Children with SEND • Age-friendly communities • Public Health
Working better together
• How can you help?• Tell us what you’re doing • Share feedback on our activities • Send us case studies and evidence - from you
and your service users• Be politically active in your local area – write
to your MP, host site visits, attend MP surgeries and ask questions, etc
Any questions
what’s the difference?
• management of internal and external comms to create and maintain a positive image
• primarily engaging with a public audience
• often through the media, but also involves launches, events, social media
• promotion of an organisation or cause amongst political or policy audiences
• primarily engaging with politicians, officials and other stakeholders
• through legislation, regulation, and policy formation
PR PA
know what’s going on
• political monitoring •media/social media• political parties and manifestos• conferences and events• trade bodies and partners• networking
The OppositionOther trade unionsPolitical
parties
Public opinion Civil Servants
Media
Social media
Formal/informal advisors
Campaign groups
Businessand industry
Think tanks
Blogs
MPs
Select Cttees
Ministers& former Ministers
Peers
Decision maker
who influences?
current relationships?
• advisers• Ministers/Government• MPs• officials • media• supporters/allies • industry/sector
who are your key advocates?
the who
• where are your strongest relationships?
• who are your most influential advocates?
• are you effectively communicating to decision makers?
• are your supporters and advocates speaking on your behalf?
the what
• what are your key messages?• what arguments have the
most impact?• are there different messages
for different audiences?
the how, when and what!
• one-to-one meetings
• events• Parliamentary event• stunts/lobbies• research/briefing • media and social
media
• case studies/advocates
• coalitions and partners
• using members• Parliamentary activity• opinion polling• party conferences
segment your stakeholders
rank your stakeholders
what could you rank? • importance
o nowo in the futureo on policyo for income
• accessibility• statutory role• degree of support
• geographical location• influence• potential to grow
relationship• strength of
relationship
top tips
• know what you are trying to achieve
• find out who is making the decision and who is influencing them
• keep up to date with changing circumstances
• understand the difference between policy and politics