The highs and lows of new government

February 26, 2010

Lunch at the Cinnamon Club on Wednesday with members of CharityComms - and I don’t even start as the new director until next week. Now that’s what I call a welcome to the sector.

The burning topic for debate was the challenges a new government might bring, particularly one of a Conservative persuasion. Despite the convivial surroundings and excellent opportunity for networking with nearly 50 communications professionals from across the sector, a surprising number of guests applied themselves with vigour to the question under discussion.

I can’t attribute quotes to specific individuals, not through any post-Bullying-Helpline sense of safeguarding privacy, but simply because as a newcomer to the sector I don’t yet know everyone’s names. But whoever those high-powered and articulate diners were, they raised some interesting points:

• While many charities currently work with mature backbench and even maverick MPs willing to challenge party orthodoxy, the 300-odd shiny new MPs starting work in May/June will be very whippable and therefore less susceptible to persuasive argument from charities.
• The Conservatives’ emphasis on localism will make it harder to take the Government to account.
• Hung parliament or no, post-election politics will be temporarily paralysed.
• There is great potential to divide and rule, with charities competing against each other and the private sector for service delivery or research funding.
• Lack of funding from a new government of whichever variety will mean more social division and inequality. The economy will take precedence over environment and development.

So far so negative. But to balance the sense of doom in the dining room, some more positive sparks chipped in:

• Those 300 new MPs will all be looking for a chance to shine brighter than the rest of the crowd, and associating themselves with a specific cause could help them carve out a niche.
• The Tories are making encouraging noises on Gift Aid and have promised to ring-fence international development aid. They have also said they are interested in listening to real people’s voices, which many charities with local groups or community involvement can provide.
• A hung parliament – or an outright winner with a small majority – could provide compelling opportunities for tactical opposition lobbying.

A change in government after 13 years will mean charities will need to tread carefully to avoid the charge of partisanship. Whatever the shade of government, they will need to communicate effectively across the political spectrum. As the new director of CharityComms, I can’t wait to be part of helping charities rise to those challenges – even if the quality of lunch goes downhill from now on.

Vicky Browning is Director of CharityComms