By Tendo Director Paul Gaffney
The 2024 General Election seems an awfully long while ago. At times it seems easy to forget that Labour has a majority of 77 and that the two parties riding high in the polls have a combined total of 13 MPs.
What is undeniable, is that we are living in new political environment and one that as a country, and as public affairs professionals we are in unchartered territory. With devolved and local elections looming on the horizon, this territory is likely to become more fractured not less.
But what does this new environment mean for public affairs and how should organisations adapt to it?
Don’t get too distracted, a big majority is still a big majority
Labour faces several challenges, with commentary resting on how they respond to the rise of Reform and the Green Party and balance the loss of support to the left and the right. The clearest impact of this will be that the coalitions within the Parliamentary Labour Party will be harder to read, and the balance of power will likely pivot from issue to issue.
But what will not change and what is the driving focus of the Government and what they hope will negate the electoral quagmire is the growth and the cost of living. The debate will range on how they achieve this, but engagement must be shaped in how to tackle this central challenge.
Three Nations, Three Governments
Remarkably, Labour losing power in Wales is now universally accepted, which combined with a likely continuing SNP Government will give Great Britain three Governments, all ran by different parties – potentially with three differing approaches, ideologies and aims. Simply put, taking a UK wide approach will not cut it.
This will also be sharply felt by those for whom engaging at a local level is business critical, with an understanding of Reform, the Greens and the Lib Dems no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
Backbenchers matter more than most give credit for
The fracturing of our politics places a greater emphasis on individual MPs and the power of Parliament – as we have seen clearly in the rise of U-turns. Successful engagement should always focus on the role that parliament can play in driving, shaping and changing policy. But in the current climate, ignoring parliament and failing to understand its power will leave many behind.
Understanding the new reality
One of my earliest memories in public affairs is the 2010 Party Conference season, and particularly the Liberal Democrat Conference in Liverpool. The first of the coalition years, it was in exercise for many in confusion. For years, many had understandably focused on engaging with the incumbent Government and the Conservatives, the regular leaders in opinion polls.
Suddenly, many businesses had to understand the (then) third party of British politics.
In 2026, it is vital, that whilst engagement must be shaped in the now, that organisations do not ignore the trio of Reform, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats.
What would a Reform Government mean for you? Are you ensuring that your future planning is based on reality and engagement and not pre-conceptions?
How would the Greens and/or the Lib Dems holding the balance of power impact you?
And, whilst many organisations have written off the most successful party of British political history the Conservatives, they do so far too easily. At present, they look unlikely to march into power, but that does not mean that they may not have power.
All in all, our fractured politics make public affairs more complex, but also more integral to organisations, from current challenges, risk management and future plans.
