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The new politics puts new demands on businesses
seeking to have their voices heard
Page 2
With all these difficulties, what can a weak Government achieve and what does this mean for you?
What can a weak Government achieve?
What does this mean for business?
Tax and spend
The Government can tax and spend, but only once it has passed a Budget
You will need more than good arguments to engage with the Budget – you will need to demonstrate leadership and build wide coalitions of support inside and outside Parliament
Legislation and reform
A weak Government will find it difficult to pass new laws on anything controversial
You will need to understand what can be done within existing legislation, and what reforms can be passed without Parliamentary approval. Relationships with senior civil servants, regulators, the EU and devolved powers are crucial
Exerting pressure
Without legislation, the success or failure of policies could hinge on the ability of ministers to exert informal pressure
You will need strong relationships and coalitions of support to help Government pull levers of control, as they can no longer do this alone
Backbench activity
Backbench activism will become more important as the ministerial ladder becomes less predictable and the PM cannot offer a reliable career path
Working with groups of backbenchers on their own debates and bills will grow in importance, as will your ability to relate your priorities to MPs constituents’ priorities
Whatever your priorities, you will be competing with any array of strong and organised voices trying to set the agenda
Page 3
Green taxes, corporate taxes and higher public
spending
Lower taxes and weaker EU involvement
More powers for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and fewer cuts across the
UK
Communities against infrastructure with the support of local MPs
The more voices there are at the table, the harder it will be to pass controversial legislation. This puts a greater emphasis on policies where consensus can be achieved
Page 4
Budget responsibility "triple lock":
Mansion tax on properties valued at over £2m
Raise minimum wage to more than £8ph by 2019
No rise in VAT, NI or basic and higher rates of income tax
Reverse corporation tax cut but freeze business rates
200,00 new homes a year
Extra £2.5bn for NHS
Access to childcare from 8am-6pm for parents of primary school children
Freeze energy bills until 2017 and give energy regulator new powers to cut bills this winter
Devolution to city regions
Commitment to Trident
Ensuring value for money from HS2
Reform of rail management and franchising, including public ownership
National infrastructure commission
No referendum on EU membership
Eliminate the deficit and be running a surplus by the end of the Parliament
No increases in VAT, National Insurance contributions or Income Tax
Extra £8bn above inflation for the NHS by 2020
Extend Right to Buy to housing association tenants in England
200,000 new homes over the Parliament
Legislate to keep people working 30 hours on minimum wage out of tax
30 hours of free childcare per week for working parents of 3&4-year-olds
Referendum on Britain’s EU membership
Commitment to Trident
Commitment to HS2 and planning for HS3
Devolution to city regions
Consensus?
Reduce the deficit
Tax reductions or pay increases for those on low
pay
No rise in VAT or NI
Devolution to city regions, although Labours prefer a one-size-fits all approach
HS2 phase 1
Trident
House building
Extra cash for the NHS
More spending on childcare
Overall, we will also see more high-profile decisions made away from the Cabinet table
Page 5
With the PM constrained, political, civic and business stakeholders will also need to work with coalitions of local leaders to get things
done
New combined authorities could become the testing ground for
innovation
Business needs a louder voice in Brussels and with politicians losing control, Whitehall civil servants and regulators will also grow in power
It is Westbourne’s longstanding view that the old certainties are fading and power is leaking from the centre.
Majority single-party Government’s have been the norm, but it is clear that they are not the future.
Any public affairs professional needs to respond to the new environment, including weaker Government and stronger backbenchers.
This is the new normal.
Conclusion
Page 7
Westbourne believes you must
build your own broad coalitions
Government can no longer act
without partners and supporters
delivered by you
Westbourne believes you must
demonstrate leadership and
take a view
With a wide array of voices
competing to be heard, you must be part of the big debates shaping
our politics
Engage with new centres of political
power
A successful communications strategy must
include engagement with the new centres of political power –
international, regional and local