By Simon Benson, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs London
Lord Mandelson has been enjoying this week. Perhaps buoyed by last weekend’s Sunday Times opinion poll, he has been on a one man mission to cause as much havoc to the credibility of Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft as possible, whilst simultaneously distracting the Tory spin machine and causing general irritation within the Cameron camp. For the first tim…
2010 United Kingdom General Elections
Additional election analysis by the Fleishman-Hillard public affairs team in London:
Conservative lead in key marginals shrinks
Format of first UK TV debates finalised
By Simon Benson, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs London
The tone of General Elections in the UK changed forever this week with the final details of the first ever live TV debates between the party leaders being announced by British broadcasters.
The debates will centre around three themes; domestic affairs (chaired by Alastair Stewart in the North West and staged by ITV); international affairs (chaired by Adam…
The Politics of the Polls
By Simon Benson, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs London
The weekend’s Sunday Times YouGov poll made grim reading for activists at the Conservatives’ Spring Conference in Brighton. It suggested that Cameron’s lead had shrunk to just two points which it claimed would give Labour enough seats to lead a minority Government in a hung Parliament.
This poll, however, came only a few days after another in a natio…
Televised election debates: Will Brown gain?
By Ian Tennant, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs, London
In December 2009, the leaders of the main UK parties finally struck a deal with the BBC, ITV and Sky to air three televised live debates during the 2010 General Election campaign. Televised debates have been on the agenda for decades, but Prime Minister after Prime Minister – including the very telegenic Tony Blair turned them down time and again. Thei…
New MPs: Should all-women shortlists be compulsory for the UK?
By Rebecca Lury, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs
The Speaker’s conference recently concluded its investigation into parliamentary representation. What they found may not have been revolutionary: the UK needs more women, black and minority ethnic, and disabled people in parliament. But its conclusions only reinforce that action is needed now.
The report considered the introduction of quotas for women and…
Cameron’s Conference speech
David Cameron has just finished his big keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. He talked about ‘releasing Britain’s potential’ and speculated on the Britain he would like to be Prime Minister of – namely a country where everyone can ‘pull together, come together and work together’. His themes reinforced those of the last twelve months, on ‘broken Britain’ and economic recovery…
Will Cameron’s Frontbench Gender Pledge Anger Male MPs?
By Rebecca Lury, Account Executive, Fleishman-Hillard London
The next general election will deliver a huge number of new MPs to Westminster. Over 100 MPs have so far announced their intention to stand down at the next election and current polling suggests that the Conservatives are likely to sweep to power with a healthy majority.
Gordon Brown said at conference earlier this week that the Conservatives would brin…
The Biggest Change in U.K. Public Affairs for 13 years
Are you ready for the biggest change in public affairs for 13 years? In just over eight months time it will be the UK Election Day: Thursday 6th May. The next eight months will see the biggest – and most important changes in PA since Tony Blair’s historic 1997 win. This is for three reasons.
Firstly, the next eight month period will focus politicians’ minds more than ever on one thing – winning votes. This means that from a G…
Lead Bloggers
Nick Williams
Nick Williams has 15 years of experience providing senior communications advice to both the Labour Party (1993-97/2001/2005) and to major international com…
Simon Benson
Simon Benson joined Fleishman-Hillard after two and a half years in the heart of government as a special adviser to two Cabinet members, Hilary Armstrong M…
Useful Links
Major Parties
- The Labour Party is a centre-left political party, founded in the early 20th century. Its current Leader is the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, who is looking to secure an historic fourth term for his Party. Its previous Leader, the Rt Hon Tony Blair, became the only Labour Leader to win three General Elections, after re-marketing it as a progressive centre left Party which could work with business. During the 1980's, the Party had moved radically left, securing its place in the political wilderness. The 'New' Labour badge was created by Blair, Lord Mandelson, and current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP. Learn more at the Labour Party Web Site.
- The Conservative Party was the dominant force in British politics for most of the 20th Century. It went into decline after 18 years of Government (1979-1997), but has had a renaissance under new Leader, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, who looks set to win power at the next General Election. Baroness Thatcher won three General Elections as Conservative leader and modernised by restricting the power of the unions and the mass privatisations of assets. During her premiership, more people became shareholders than members of Trade Unions. David Cameron is modernising again, concentrating on 'compassionate Conservatism' with an emphasis on green politics and social change. He is helped by a united party hunger for power. Learn more at the Conservative Party Web Site.
- The Liberal Democrats were formed by the merger of the old Liberal Party with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the latter being formed by disillusioned centre-ground Labour politicians in the 1980s. They have become a large force in local Government, but although they increased their seats at the last General Election, they remain the third party in UK politics. Nonetheless, its leader, Nick Clegg MP, could become an important power broker in the event of a General Election. The height of their recent popularity was during the Iraq War, as the only Party which opposed that war. Since the end of those hostilities, the Liberal Democrats have struggled to find a focus. Learn more at the Liberal Democratic Party Web Site.
Goverment Structure
- Parliamentary democracy comprised of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government (executive), including the civil service. The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The UK Parliament is comprised of the unelected House of Lords (Upper House) and the elected House of Commons (Lower House).
- The General Election is the election of all Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons under a first past the post system. The Leader of the political party which gains a majority of the 650 seats available is appointed Prime Minister by the Queen. General Elections are usually held up to a maximum of five years apart, although both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair chose to hold them every four years. The timing of a General Election is the choice of the Prime Minister.