Layla Theiner, Public Affairs Manager for the EU at Cancer Research UK, delivered this presentation at the free Forum for Change seminar on working with a hung parliament on Thursday 27 May 2010.
The Forum for Change is a national network of campaigners and policy workers across the community and voluntary sector. For more information about the Forum for Change please visit www.forumforchange.org.uk.
2. Lessons from Europe
• Coalitions are common across Europe
• Italy is often held up as an example of
instability that can accompany coalitions
• However, Finland, Germany, Ireland
and the Netherlands, for example, all
show it can be done
• Tailor messaging to the position of the
coalition (or party leading on a particular
policy area)
27 May, 2010
3. “In the German football team, players from
different clubs need to get on with each other
both on and off the pitch. In the grand
coalition, Christian Democrats and Social
Democrats sit in the same boat and need to
pull in the same direction.”
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
(during „grand coalition‟)
27 May, 2010
4. Coalitions in Scotland and Wales
• Scotland's first two governments after
devolution were Labour-Liberal
Democrat coalitions
• SNP minority government since 2007
elections
• In Wales, Labour and Plaid Cymru
agreed to form a coalition government
in 2007
27 May, 2010
5. Experience from Scotland and Wales
• Working with coalitions is very similar to working with a
majority Government
• The aim is to get the Government „on side‟
• Where there is an agreement in place, and coalition holds
together
• Focus on Government
• But keeping political messaging palatable
to a wider audience, as was generally the case
27 May, 2010
6. Experience from other coalitions
• Usual rules apply
• Fit messaging to the tone of Government
• Tailor messages to audience but consistency with other
messages
• There can be more opportunities for lobbying
• Benefit of a coalition – if on side, can show broader support
• Early days for Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition but
got used to it quickly in Scotland and Wales
27 May, 2010
7. Additional insights
• Liberal Democrats in Scotland had thought more about how
a coalition would work and therefore used their leverage
very effectively
• Different parties in coalitions have worked together closely
• Although there can be issues where there is a free vote
or just different political consensus
• However, coalitions can also change the political
landscape on certain issues
• Fill in any gaps in contacts
27 May, 2010