The new politics puts new demands on businesses

seeking to have their voices heard

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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