©

Influencing the Political Process in Wales

Huw EdwardsWCVA Volunteering Conference

July 2014

©

Huw Edwards

• Independent Training Consultant

Parliament GovernmentLegislation

• Member of ParliamentMonmouth (Lab)1991-92 1997-05

©

Origins of Lobbying Washington or Westminster?

Willard Hotel in the 1860s President Ulysses S Grant refers to those seeking to influence him as ‘lobbyists’

Central Lobby of the UK Parliament where constituents meet their MP

©

Rationale for Lobbying

‘Lobbying industries exist where there are democratic governments which are open to external advice and influence’

Lionel Zetter

©

Why is lobbing necessary?

Why do companies, charities, trade associations, trade unions, pressure groups and professional groups lobby government?

Because governments represent either threats or opportunities to those organisations

©

Threats

• Government could ban or restrict a company’s products of services.

• Or give their competitors an advantage

• What are the consequences?

©

Opportunities

• Government s can also boost your organisations’ principle activity.

• Or that of your competitors

• What are the consequences?

©

Threats and Opportunities

• In lobbying what is an opportunity for you may be a threat to another organisation and what is a threat to you may be an opportunity elsewhere.

• Both protagonists and antagonists are therefore likely to deploy lobbying techniques.

©

Protagonists Antagonists

©

Why should the politician support you?

• Constituency interests– Jobs– ‘good local MP/AM’– votes

• Support your strategies

• Agree with your values

–

• Personal interest or expertise

• Opportunity for campaign and publicity

• They are decent, helpful people!

• Remember the opposite of all this!

©

Why are AMs important?

• Hold Ministers to account– Questions - Scrutiny Committees - Short Debates

• Put your issues on the record

• Propose legislation

• Amend Assembly Bills

• Get access to Ministers

©

Role in the Assembly

• Represent constituency interests

• Initiate and contribute to debates

• Sit on Committees: Scrutiny, Legislation etc

• Propose, oppose and amend legislation

• Raise national/local causes

• Support Cross Party Groups

©

Politician’s Toolkit ‘I will make representation’

• Correspondence - Ministers / WG, Local Authorities, Health Boards etc

• Speaking in Assembly Debates / Statements

• Ask PQs / Assembly Questions – oral and written

• Meetings - Ministers and others Formal/Informal

• Seek Publicity

©

Campaigning Role

• Politicians are bombarded with lobbying material - briefings, press releases, annual reports, questionnaires etc

• Most goes in the bin

• 1001 Good Causes

• How do you capture their interest and keep your material out of the bin?

©

Campaigning Role - A Politician’s Focus

How does this affect my constituency and constituents?

Do I believe in this cause? Do I believe in it enough to be active in supporting

it?How can I help this cause? Who will support me?Who will oppose me? Should I get publicity?

©

Political Supporter• Agree with your cause • Meet with you• Attend reception• Ask a Assembly Questions • Support private members

legn. Support amendments to Bill

• Sign Statements of Opinion• Get publicity for you • Join All Party Group• Be known as a supporter

• Low to Medium level of commitment

• Who’s helping who?

©

Political Champion• Show strong commitment to

cause • Take you to meet Minister

etc• Organise receptions• Regularly ask PQs/AQs• Introduce legislation • Table amendments• Table Statements of Opinion• Organise All Party Group • Get regular publicity • Want to be identified as a

champion

• Medium to high level of support

• Are they helping you help the people you want to help?

©

Lobbying Politicians – Some Do’s• Research their interests

• Identify ‘champions’

• Have clear campaign objectives

• Provide clear, readable, briefing material

• Offer support in terms of expertise, research

• Provide opportunities to have personal experience of the campaign - visits, meetings,

• Remember they have staff who can assist

• Use cross party coalitions

©

Lobbying politicians- Some Don’ts

• Don’t overwhelm them or be over persistent

• Don’t believe your cause is their main priority

• Don’t disregard their conflicting loyalties

• Don’t expect them to have your expertise

• Don’t expect to win all aspects of your campaign at once

©

The Minister’s Role Take executive decisions under

powers given to them in law

Propose Legislation through – Assembly Bills

Develop policy and strategies

Make Subordinate Legislation – rules, regulations, orders etc

Answer to the National Assembly through Statements, Questions and Scrutiny Committees

©

The Civil Servants Role

• ‘Civil servants advise Ministers decide’

• Advice is rational and based on the facts but in accordance with Govt’s commitments.

• 3-4 options are put to the Minister with ONE recommendation

• In Welsh Govt civil servants prepare 3 types of folder (2-4 pages) for Ministers

– Submission Folder – Legislation Folders– Information folders

©

‘The Box’

• Private office will place official papers for Ministers in ‘the Box’

• Usually done by Ministers at the end of the evening and at weekends

©

Into the box not the bin!

©

Example: Organ Donation Campaign

©

Manifesto Commitments 2011

• Labour

We will introduce an Assembly Bill in order to move to an ‘opt out’ system of donation, backed up by a comprehensive communication programme.

• Conservative

No ref

• Lib Dems

..focusing the attention of healthy people on the importance of organ donation and improving the rates of donation by establishing an opt-out programme for organ donation.

• Plaid Cymru

We will complete the process of legislating to introduce a system of soft presumed consent for organ donation.

©

From Manifesto to Statute Book

The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act provides for an opt-out system of organ donation that would improve the rates of donation in Wales.

©

And Finally...

• Essential to lobby on issues important to you

• Good campaigning can be successful

• Have confidence and belief!