IFG - We need to rewrite the political rulebook

31 Mar 2015 11:59 AM

As Parliament is dissolved and we face the prospect of another hung parliament, the Institute for Government learns the lessons of coalition, calls on overseas experience – and advocates reform

The long-established two-party rule of UK politics has changed – possibly forever – and many aspects of the system need rethinking, argues a new paper by the Institute for Government. Westminster in an Age of Minorities offers insight and recommendations on how politicians and civil servants can respond to the shifting political landscape.

With 20 days between the election and the anticipated date of the Queen’s Speech, another hung parliament would set the clock ticking on negotiations. As the paper explains, we’ve learned a lot about how to run a coalition effectively; but politicians shouldn’t discount the alternatives of confidence and supply deals or even simple minority government.

Akash Paun, Fellow at the Institute for Government and author of the paper, said:

“The trend towards pluralism in the British party system is well-established and hung parliaments will probably become more frequent, even if majority victories also still occur. The British political system will have to adapt in various ways over the coming years, no matter what the result in 2015.”

The paper sets out a series of recommendations, including:

• The rules around transitions should be clarified and more clearly communicated, minimising the chances of confusion and creating a more informed public debate around the formation of a new government;
• In future, the process of ‘pre-election contacts’ between opposition front-benchers and departmental permanent secretaries should be expanded to cover the minor parties, and to enable more two-way dialogue;
• The civil service should spend more time learning about the policies and priorities of the minor parties, in case their MPs get ministerial jobs or manifesto pledges make it into coalition or confidence and supply arrangements;
• A system should be introduced to assess and cost opposition parties’ policy plans before elections, so that any post-election negotiations are on the basis of sound evidence;
• In post-election negotiations held following the election of a hung parliament, more thought should be given to the machinery, processes and principles underpinning any agreement;
• Parties should be more open to using civil service expertise to inform policies agreed during negotiations. Once in a coalition agreement, poor policies are hard to revise.
• Any new coalition deal should consider building in plans at the outset for a mid-term review;
• In the longer term, the House of Commons should make its first business an explicit vote on who should become Prime Minister, making clear that who forms a government is decided by the House.

View report: Westminster in an age of minorities

For requests for information/interview please contact Nicole Valentinuzzi on 07850 313791