While speculation continues about who Andy Coulson’s successor will be, a couple of reports caught my attention today. The first was the front page story in PR Week which states that Andy Coulson helped push through “a radical restructure of the Downing Street comms operation” just days before his resignation as comms director.
The new structure will see the merger of Number 10 and Cabinet Office comms units which has resulted in seven different teams:
*No 10 Press Office
*Deputy Primie Minister and Political Reform
*Government Reform and Efficiency
*National Security Council and Afghanistan
*Cross-Government Campaigns
*Digital Communications
*Events and Visits
As I read this list I wondered where the regional media fitted in with Coulson’s grand plans. No 10 and Westminster are far removed from the real world for most constituents, and while it has to remain the nucleus for communications, I feel it is also important to have a strong regional media presence to maintain strong relationships with the local press, their political correspondents and voters throughout the whole parliamentary term of office, and not just in the run-up to an election.
Politicians should never take grassroot support for granted and need to actively communicate with them more. Everyone is very concerned right now about many important issues which affect our lives, from public sector cutbacks and education, to rising fuel prices and pensions, and may welcome the opportunity to talk to politicians about it. ConservativeHome Editor Tim Montgomerie in today’s Daily Mail said how important it was to keep in touch with the grassroots – though he advocates this should be done via a new Conservative Party Chairman.
I would like suggest one way this can be achieved. I really liked Cameron Direct, the Conservative roadshow which travelled around the country and gave voters the chance to question David Cameron directly about Conservative policy. They were hugely successful and always well attended, and I would like to see something similar being held in each region once a year with MPs from that area attending and being held to account and listen to the grassroots messages. I would like it to include politicians from all political parties too as I don’t feel we should just engage in open debate during election campaigns. After the expenses scandal, it is vital they work at rebuilding public trust.
I know the coalition is keen to listen and I felt really positive about this after learning how David Cameron and his key Cabinet members met representatives from the third sector recently to find out about their challenges. I also know that Tim Loughton, the Children and Familes Secretary, is having a round-the-table discussion about the adoption process with interested parties in the next week and will hopefully make it a smoother process. I’m sure many more similar meetings are being held.
The government is listening, but let’s take that out to communities and grassroots as well.
Politics needs to reach out to the people more, and this is just one idea how it can be done; please let me know if you also have any ideas.
The coalition keen to listen ?
David Cameron offered a package to voters in his election manifesto and then ditched virtually every promise he made. That he effectively lost the election – in front of an open Labour goal – was down to the fact that he’d already abandoned core Tory voters and offered us Conservative lite. In other words he didn’t listen to grassroots before the election, he’s not listening after the election and I doubt that he ever will..
It’s difficult to see the Tories going beyond one term in office. Erstwhile Labour voters aren’t ever going to vote for a government of ex Bullingdon members and Tory voters are left dismayed and reeling by these broken promises – who is he trying to appeal to ? The Notting Hill set ? Not many votes there.
Soft Thatcherism is an oxymoron. I see lots of pain with no gain.
Ellee: One of many things I admire about England is what I perceive as lively engagement in dialogue about issues of importance for all people. Here in the U.S., there is mounting frustration about this very process. We are dealing with much of the same: broken promises, people feeling left behind and skepticism about so many issues being addressed properly.
Coulson will end up in jail
the investigation so far has only scratched the surface but when politicians have been phone-tapped, someone is going to get in deep water and all roads will lead back to him.
I might add ( apropos connecting with grass roots) that extrication from the coalition with the LibDems at the earliest opportunity might help.
I hope Cameron reads your blog and takes your advice, Ellee!