Gavin Duff’s Post

My thoughts for PRovoke Media on what media strategy we can expect from the main parties and what the next few weeks holds for public affairs and comms advisers.

👀 Well, I’m not sure we were expecting that… I’ve been in Leeds this week at UKREiiF (I’ll write more about that at some point), and the first whisper arrived late morning, with a growing swirl to confirmation of a No10 announcement breaking during a mid-afternoon panel I was speaking at - does explain why everyone was looking at their phone! I hot footed it back to my hotel room to watch the announcement live, and later discussion at dinner confirmed this had been a big surprise for us all. This morning’s media is covering what happens next in Parliament, but you might be surprised to hear that the announcement of a general election (GE) will have a big impact on local government too. Here’s a little run through of why that is; ▶️ local government is responsible for delivering all elections, including GEs. Electoral Returning Officers (EROs) who lead this process have only just finished wrapping up the May local elections, and possibly not cheering that they’ve now got to unpack all those polling booths and ballot boxes, along with organising the wider workforce needed to deliver a successful GE. This is a significant task for local authorities, utilising many staff across a number of services, so if you want an excellent insight into how it all works, I’d highly recommend Gill Marshall and the #behindtheballotbox hashtag. ▶️ outside the delivery of the election by the council officers, local councillors will also be busy campaigning, including some standing for Parliament. Whilst most council business will continue as usual, a lack of availability for councillors will likely lead to a short pause in policy making and scrutiny. This will have no impact on residents and day-to-day services, but will mean local government news goes quieter as we all spend our time knocking on doors. This also goes hand in hand with guidance around council comms during the pre-election period (previously known as purdah). There’s a separate post here on that alone. ▶️ And finally - though this list is by no means exhaustive - the GE will also throw into doubt some of the things local government were working towards, including productivity plans (due mid July). Whilst the uncertainty will be for a fairly short time, it does leave local councils wondering what will be required of us, whoever is in charge nationally, particularly emphasised as we haven’t really heard much policy detail from any party on local government, so lots of unknowns. Well, a wet Wednesday afternoon announcement is going to lead to a very interesting 6 weeks. In my experience, whilst GEs are exhausting for all involved, they are also a fascinating process to be part of. And whilst I will return to talking about councils and regeneration shortly, covering some of the process and impact of GEs on local government sounds like something that’s worth covering as we head towards 4 July. As ever, questions and requests encouraged! #localgovernment #leadership #electioncountdown

Nearly a week on from the news that the UK will hold a snap election this summer, many businesses are grappling with the same question: what does this mean for us, and how can we navigate the coming months? In our most recent read, we discuss what the election season could mean for your brand, and why now's the time to invest in public affairs expertise. #PublicAffairs #Policy #Regulation #SnapElection #UKElection2024

As I sit here on the evening of advance polling for our Municipal elections, I'm reflecting on something that leaves me puzzled. Let me explain. For transparency, I’ve been working with a local candidate in a different election, and this has kept me informed about the ongoing conversations among candidates. One issue that seems to have captured the public’s attention is “travel expenses.” In particular, there's concern about councillors traveling for conferences and meetings. Now, it's important to note that these councillors stayed well within their allocated budgets, which were approved by their respective councils and finance departments. Yet, the narrative some are pushing is that these trips are a waste of taxpayers' money, with no clear benefit to the town. Here’s where I see things differently. Let’s start by acknowledging the danger of being closed-minded or operating in isolation. There’s a whole world of ideas, advice, and potential partnerships beyond our town of 8,000 people. Attending conferences with other municipal leaders creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, connections, and collaboration. It’s no different than a business leader attending industry conferences—there’s always a wealth of new ideas and fresh perspectives that I could never get by staying at my desk. Secondly, consider the value of professional development. To illustrate, think about this scenario: If I had two employees, one who’s eager to learn from others, open to new ideas, and willing to travel to gain new skills, they would be far more valuable than someone who says, “No thanks, I know everything I need to know right here.” See the difference? As a voter (and to clarify, I’m not voting in the election I’m working on), I’d cast my ballot for the candidate who recognizes the value of collaboration, growth, and learning from outside perspectives. Just some food for thought as election day approaches.

Millions of UK voters are headed to the polls on Thursday to determine the future of the nation's Government - meaning big changes could be just around the corner, particularly for businesses trading in the region. If you read one thing today, make it our recent article on the UK Snap Election, and how it could impact your operations. 4-minute read, here 👇 #UKElection #UKSnapElection #UKElection2024 #PublicAffairs #GovernmentAffairs

With only two weeks to go until millions of UK voters head to the polls, many businesses are feeling a sense of uncertainty on what lies ahead. Whether you expеct a direct or indirect impact on your brand (or you're not sure), it's worth preparing for the potential shifts in your operations. Here's a 4-minute read on why now's the time to invest in your public affairs. #PublicAffairs #ElectionSeason #GeneralElection #SnapElection #UKElection

Our CEO Sophie Shrubsole stayed up all night to watch the #UKGeneralElection results come in live. Here is her analysis of what unfolded and the parallels that business can draw from those results. Top Line Data 📣Sir Keir Starmer has led his Labour Party to a seismic shift in the number of seats won at a General Election, gaining 211 seats (with two still to declare as I write)  ⚠However, no Government has ever come to power with a smaller share of the national vote (less than 35%)  🔷It is clear that the Conservative Party lost this election. The uptick in Labour vote share is very slender and Sir Keir actually lost 17% vote share in his London seat 🔶The Liberal Democrats have seen a meteoric rise in Parliamentary seats won, but only increased their national vote share by 0.5% since 2019 Business Parallels ➡Many would argue that the Conservatives abandoned their core vote, forcing traditional Conservative voters to either stay at home or to vote Reform. Business owners can draw strong parallels if they fail to service their customers or take them for granted. The Labour Party must learn this lesson. Large majorities can come and go, and important customers can do the same too. ➡The Reform Party spent the vast majority of their campaigning funds available on online ads and social media campaigns. Businesses that identify their audience avatar and target their marketing effectively are much more like to see ROI in their spend. ➡ The Reform Party has taken 14.3% of the popular vote, the third largest party on that measurement. But, how much of this is down to the effect of their leader, Nigel Farage? If a business is centered on one person with no succession plan, all previous efforts can go to waste. What's Next? ✅ Westminster Business Council looks forward to working with the new Cities of London and Westminster MP for the benefit of all businesses and our wider community. Congratulations Rachel Blake. We will also continue to lean upon our fantastic members to provide clarity around any policy changes and impacts on business.

It’s hard to believe, but there were actually supposedly expert professional advisors running the Tory election campaign. It’s hard to find a strategy. It’s tactics and messaging veered all over the place. It’s targeting was at best confused. At the end it seemed to veer to a Schrödinger’s vote for us strategy of simultaneously “we can win” and “don’t let Labour have a super majority”-( ignoring the fact they mis-defined what a super majority was). At best they dug out a mixture of previous fave messages…tax bombshell, demon eyes, don’t let in the communists, etc. However, with little regard for the current reality or perception in which those messages would be received. It kept in the news, but with such poor brand consistency with own goals from D Day to Gamblegate. Then we have the slogan answer has to be 6 words in 2 word couplets. ‘Clear plan. Bold action. Secure future’. What on earth did that ever mean? Stunt policy announcements is not a plan. When previous Tory PMs have done “bold actions” with consequences, like Get Brexit Done and Truss’s mini-budget. When people are living with them in a cost of living crisis after 14 years and believing also saying “secure future” and not expecting cynicism is naive. If you were an agency or consultant in another field you would now be toast as an advisor. Your credibility damaged and your other clients looking to review. Instead, a few of these people will likely be given honours and go again elsewhere. There is no denying it was a tough brief. But nobody ever did the hard yards to define cohesively what the Tory brand is or what it’s values are. Knowing who you hate and why you hate them may work as campaign ideas for Brexit and getting Johnson in Vs Corbyn. At some point, you have to do strategy and communication in the real world you are in not just the media echo chamber you fed in power. Somebody in the advisors should have said, we need to get beyond just stealing the brand position of the Daily Mail. In contrast Labour did one simple word. “ change”. It’s messaging strategy was growth via stability is the answer( achieving it is another thing). When the FT and The Economist and many major businesses come out for Labour, I wonder if anybody wondered at Tory HQ …” I thought we were the party for business…what happened to that?”

NEW BLOG | Levelling up: The crisis this election forgot Levelling up has been hardly mentioned in this #GeneralElection campaign. But 10 years on from George Osborne’s first Northern Powerhouse speech, the problem is as large as ever. Read our latest blog from Paul Swinney 👇 https://loom.ly/OsUd6cE

Let’s focus on the big issues that face all of us and stop treating political parties like sports teams and elections like they’re the playoffs. The solutions required for society’s complex issues and the amount of time politicians spend campaigning versus governing highlights a fundamental challenge in contemporary politics. As issues become increasingly complex and multifaceted, the need for sustained, thoughtful governance becomes ever more critical. However, the reality is that politicians often find themselves caught in a perpetual cycle of campaigning, which detracts from their ability to effectively govern. Complex issues, such as climate change, healthcare reform, and economic inequality, require long-term, multifaceted solutions that cannot be adequately addressed through short-term, superficial approaches. Yet, the relentless focus on campaigning, driven by the demands of fundraising, media attention, and electoral cycles, can hinder politicians' ability to devote the necessary time and attention to governing. Moreover, the prevalence of partisan gridlock and short-term political calculations further exacerbates this problem, as politicians prioritize scoring political points and satisfying their base over engaging in the hard work of consensus-building and policy implementation. This imbalance not only undermines the effectiveness of government but also erodes public trust and confidence in the political process. When politicians spend more time campaigning than governing, it can create the perception that they are more interested in maintaining power than in addressing the needs and concerns of the people they represent. To address this challenge, there needs to be a concerted effort by “all” of us to rebalance the priorities of politicians and political institutions. This may involve implementing reforms to reduce the influence of money in politics, reforming electoral systems to incentivize long-term thinking, and fostering a culture of bipartisan cooperation and compromise. Ultimately, by acknowledging and addressing the inverse relationship between the duration of government solutions and the time spent governing versus campaigning, we can work towards a more effective and responsive political system that is better equipped to tackle the complex challenges of the 21st century. It’s up to us to tell our politicians what the priorities are. Not the other way around.