The new Opposition: four ways to engage with Badenoch's Tories

With the next General Election years away, it is tempting to overlook the Opposition’s impact, especially given Labour's significant majority. Yet, the Conservatives’ key function in the coming years will be to shape the narrative and framing through which the Government’s actions are assessed and held accountable.

All public affairs professionals know that ignoring the Opposition comes with its own longer term political perils - but even without an election on the horizon, the official role of the opposite benches can be hugely useful for building champions and advocacy within Parliament.

Below are the WPI Strategy team’s top four tips for engagement with the Conservatives in opposition:

1. Align with the Opposition’s ‘campaigning mode’: It’s essential to align with the Conservatives, who, as the new Opposition, are in ‘campaigning mode’ as they seek to hold the government accountable, particularly on areas of disagreement. At this early stage in a five-year parliamentary term, Conservatives are not likely to make specific policy announcements, so any engagement should adopt a campaign-focused approach. Suggestions of working with the Shadow Cabinet and Tory backbenchers to campaign against a particular government policy, such as a particular fiscal announcement or legislative policy, are likely to be effective. The recent National Insurance hike for employers is an example of this, with the Conservatives coalescing against this core Budget announcement.?
2. Offer useful ‘toolkits’ in the face of (newly) limited resources: The Conservatives are making a significant transition from government, where former ministers had the support of Special Advisers and the full resources of the civil service, to having more limited resources - one or two political staff, and a small parliamentary office. Providing packaged ‘toolkits’ of hard-hitting data and evidence that can be used in parliamentary settings, such as parliamentary questions, Westminster Hall debates or other interventions in the Chamber; via the media through opinion pieces; or utilised at engagement events, will be especially impactful. What is crucial is to give clear, concise information and arrange visits to help new shadow ministers become familiar with their briefs.
3. Maintain productive relationships:?Businesses often incorrectly assume that the Opposition’s role is less relevant, especially in the early years of a Parliament. It is important to keep engaging with opposition parties, regardless of the government’s majority size; maintaining these relationships can pay off when the gap between parties in polls narrow, or when parties begin drafting their manifestos. Keep your relationships consistent across the whole term, not just in the year or so prior to an election - they will remember. This includes treating researchers and Political Advisers as you would a Special Adviser: they are the gatekeepers to these offices and are hugely important to build strong relations with. They may indeed become the Special Advisers of the next Parliament, too.
4. Avoid getting into the specifics of new policy: The Conservatives are currently focused on rebuilding their party, through rebooting its structures and finances. They are effectively in the position that Keir Starmer found himself in, in 2019, with many aspects of the party requiring an overhaul. Specific policy development will come later down the line, once the party finds its footing under Badenoch. In the current environment, it would therefore be misjudged for businesses to present detailed policy recommendations when engaging.

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Ysabel Chen is a Junior Consultant at WPI Strategy.