PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE
Public Affairs Campaigning
Richard Jarman, Head of Government & Community Relations
Wednesday 15 February 2012
What do I mean by public
affairs campaigning?
Government:
Westminster/ Whitehall; EU
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Community:
City & County Councils and the people
they represent
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Why engage with national
politicians?
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Can be a useful foundation for a press
release/ news story/ newsletter/ social
media campaign
Stimulate debate/ inform public opinion
Influence decisions/ affect change
Impact agenda
Donor relations: UK Government & EU
are major funders
University of Oxford: Research
income breakdown 2009-10
(Total £486.4 million)
Research
Councils
EU
UK government &
health authorities
HEFCE block
grant
UK industry &
commerce
Charities
Other overseas
Other bodies
Campaigning in Westminster/
Whitehall
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Contacting ministers and
parliamentarians – and ongoing
engagement
Events in Parliament
Visits to Oxford
Using parliamentary devices
Party conferences
Make contact:
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www.parliament.uk
Call Parliament: 0207 219 3000
Consult Dods
email or write
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW
Write to ministerial office
Events in Parliament
BASICS:
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Ask MP or peer to book room
No room hire cost only cost of catering/ drinks/ AV/ staff
Tuesdays and Wednesdays best days
Can invite non-parliamentarians
Theme:
– Show & tell
– Launch research/ report
– Celebrate anniversary
Format:
– reception with speeches
– theatre-style lecture or panel discussion
– roundtable
– sit-down dinner or lunch
– briefing
Exhibition display
Visits
BASICS:
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See and do things they cannot do in Westminster/ Whitehall
office
 Give a speech or lecture
 Roundtable
 Take part in experiment/ demonstration
 …or invite somewhere other than Oxford
Must be concerned with their brief
Need at least 3-6months advance notice
Courteous to inform Vice-Chancellor’s Office & relevant ProVice-Chancellor(s)/ Divisional Head
Advisable to inform University Marshal
Security issues: confidentiality & press
Possibility of cancellation/ curtailment - and at last minute!
You have to lead and control internally
TABLE DEBATES & PARLIAMENTARY
QUESTIONS:
 Ask a PQ of a minister – written or oral
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Apply for an Adjournment Debate/
Westminster Hall debate
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In the Lords: ask a starred question
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Introduce a Private Member’s Bill/ TenMinute Rule Bill
EXAMPLE OF A PQ:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what
assessment they have made of research
supported by the charity, Natural Justice,
on the impact of diet with supplements
containing omega 3 fish oils and whether
there are any plans to incorporate these
findings into guidelines for dietary
requirements for the prison population?
EXAMPLE OF AN ADJOURNMENT
DEBATE:
3 May 2011
1.30-2.00 - Medical students
Andrew Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East
moved a debate on funding for medical
students which received an answer from
the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State for Health, Anne Milton
TABLE OR SIGN AN EDM
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DIABETES RESEARCH: That this House
recognises that type 2 diabetes represents one of
the most significant global challenges to health;
notes that in the UK alone 2.6 million people have
diabetes and that 95 per cent. of these have type
2 diabetes; congratulates Professor Mark
McCarthy of the University of Oxford and his
group of international scientists who have
identified 12 new genes associated with type 2
diabetes; believes that a better understanding of
type 2 diabetes will help to prevent people from
developing the condition; and calls on the
Government to encourage and support further
research in this field.
Select Committees
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Concentrate on Government
departments
Run inquiries and reports
You can respond to a call for evidence
You can draw your campaign to their
attention
Invite to Oxford
The Backbench Committee
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Meets weekly on Tuesdays at 1pm to
hear representations from MPs for
debates in backbench time.
The committee can consider any
subject for debate, including those
raised in e-petitions or national
campaigns but an MP must make the
case for their consideration.
ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY
GROUPS:
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Informal groups
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By subject or country
DEPARTMENTAL GROUPS:
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By party, mirroring Government departments
ANNUAL PARTY CONFERENCES
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Attend and raise your messages in
meetings and debate
Host your own fringe meeting or with a
partner (e.g. a think tank)
 MPs/
ministers on your platform
 Listing in conference guide
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Get one of your academics onto
someone else’s fringe meeting
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Findings of 2009 community
consultation
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Those already engaged are broadly positive; those
who are not tend to be negative
 ‘Disengaged’, ‘aloof’ and ‘closed’
 Internal awareness of activity is low
 No overall coherence
 Business links ‘appear to work very well’
 Local authority links ‘could be improved’
 Engagement ‘high brow’ and ‘passive’
 Impact of students seen negatively in specific
areas of the city
:
Communicate what you do to
local councillors and the
community
Take part in …
Promote the benefits Oxford
students bring to the
community …
Review of Engagement
with Wider Society as
part of University’s draft
Strategic Plan 2012-2016