#readyfor2015
Get ready for the 2015 general
election
achieving impact and influence
Who are we?
Sara Petela
Public Affairs Officer
The College of Occupational Therapists
Emily Wallace
Director
Connect Communications
sara.petela@cot.co.uk
e.wallace@connectpa.co.uk
This session
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Politics and what it means for COT
The political timetable and road to 2015
Polls and pundits – what are they saying
Big picture political positioning
Health in the manifesto’s
COT - looking ahead
Working better together
How political are you?
Why is politics important for COT
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change policy and priorities
raise profile of people/issues/organisation
manage and motivate members
manage and build your reputation and
recognition of your organisation
• extend your networks
• generate positive relationships – with
stakeholders, partners, media
Forthcoming elections
2014
2015
2016
2017
English local
government
UK Parliament
National Assembly
for Wales
English local
government
Scottish Parliament
Mayoral elections
Northern Ireland
local government
London Assembly
Scottish local
government
European
Parliament
English local
government
Referendum on
independence for
Scotland
English local
government
Mayoral elections
Mayoral elections
Northern Ireland
local council
Mayoral elections
Northern Ireland
Assembly**
Mayor of London
Police and Crime
Commissioner
(England and
Wales)
The next year in politics
4 June
Queen’s Speech
Summer
reshuffles
Official
campaign and
manifesto
launches
18 September
Scottish
referendum
Sept / October
Party
Conferences
7 May
General
Election
30 March
Electioneering
Dissolution of
Parliament
New
Government
Polls and pundits
Scottish referendum
The polls are
narrowing
50
45
40
35
Yes
30
25
No
20
15
10
5
0
May 2014
Big picture positioning?
Conservative key messages
we’re on the
right track
Labour hasn’t changed and they can’t
be trusted on the economy
we need to keep
going for the long
term security of the
country
we would be even
better with a
majority
Conservative
Government
Labour key messages
a recovery for all,
tackling the cost of
living crisis
One Nation
we must devolve
money and power
to local
communities
the Tory
Government is
out of touch
Liberal Democrat key messages
the country needs us
in government as an
anchor to the centre
ground
we have softened
the hard edges of
the Conservatives
Labour still can’t be trusted
to govern alone
Health and social care big messages
Privatisation:
you cant
trust
Cameron
with the NHS
The NHS is safe
under Labour
Integration
integration
integration
No new
money
Quality and
safety:
You can’t trust
Labour with
the NHS
The NHS can’t
afford another
Labour
Government
The Conservatives’ Health Manifesto
The Conservatives’ Health Manifesto
Unpopularity of health reforms identified as one of top ten
election “risks” for Conservatives
Likely health policy campaign themes
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No more structural change
End of soviet tractor type targets
Integration and improved social care, possibly including social housing
More private providers – but managed market
Positive about personalisation agenda
The “Patients’ Party”?
Labour’s Health Manifesto
Labour’s Health Manifesto
NHS identified as one of the top election
assets for Labour
Likely health policy manifesto themes:
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Whole person care
An integrated health and social care service fit for 21st century
Social care free for all at point of use and staff into the NHS?
Repeal (parts of) Health and Social Care Act
Focus on limiting marketisation/privatisation with a move back to
preferred provider model
Devolve all funding to local authorities (with no ring fence and CCGs
to become advisory)?
Liberal Democrats’ Health Manifesto
Liberal Democrats’ Health Manifesto
Health policy campaign themes
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Better and more integrated care
Dignity at home – transforming social care
Dilnot cap on social care costs
More focus on mental health
More mutual providers
More democracy – strengthening HWBs
What are we doing
Strategic aim: Be the voice of the profession
Recent successes include:
• Professional Advisor for Children & Young People appointed
as an Expert Advisor to Lord Freud
• CEO about to complete 3 year term as a Social Care Fellow
for NICE
• Sit on numerous committees and advisory boards; e.g. DFE
advisory panel on developing the SEN Code of Practice
• Influenced the Care Act 2014
• Respond to hundreds of consultations across all four
countries
Looking ahead
What’s on our radar? Current and upcoming areas
of focus include:
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Integration
Prevention and early-intervention
Reablement
Vocational rehabilitation
Children with SEND
Age-friendly communities
Public Health
Working better together
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How can you help?
Tell us what you’re doing
Share feedback on our activities
Send us case studies and evidence - from
you and your service users
• Be politically active in your local area – write
to your MP, host site visits, attend MP
surgeries and ask questions, etc
Any questions
what’s the difference?
PR
PA
• management of internal
and external comms to
create and maintain a
positive image
• promotion of an
organisation or cause
amongst political or policy
audiences
• primarily engaging with
a public audience
• primarily engaging with
politicians, officials and
other stakeholders
• often through the
media, but also involves
launches, events, social
media
• through legislation,
regulation, and policy
formation
know what’s going on
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political monitoring
media/social media
political parties and manifestos
conferences and events
trade bodies and partners
networking
who influences?
Political
parties
Other trade
unions
The Opposition
Ministers
& former
Ministers
Business
and industry
Campaign
groups
Decision
maker
Think tanks
Formal/informal
advisors
Blogs
Civil Servants
Public opinion
Peers
MPs
Select Cttees
Media
Social media
current relationships?
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advisers
Ministers/Government
MPs
officials
who are your
media
key advocates?
supporters/allies
• industry/sector
the who
• where are your strongest
relationships?
• who are your most influential
advocates?
• are you effectively communicating
to decision makers?
• are your supporters and advocates
speaking on your behalf?
the what
• what are your key messages?
• what arguments have the
most impact?
• are there different messages
for different audiences?
the how, when and what!
• one-to-one
meetings
• events
• Parliamentary event
• stunts/lobbies
• research/briefing
• media and social
media
• case
studies/advocates
• coalitions and
partners
• using members
• Parliamentary activity
• opinion polling
• party conferences
segment your stakeholders
rank your stakeholders
what could you rank?
• importance
o now
o in the future
o on policy
o for income
• accessibility
• statutory role
• degree of support
• geographical location
• influence
• potential to grow
relationship
• strength of
relationship
top tips
• know what you are trying to
achieve
• find out who is making the
decision and who is influencing
them
• keep up to date with changing
circumstances
• understand the difference
between policy and politics