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Briefing Strategies for New Ministers

This document provides advice for civil servants on preparing for a new government after a general election. It outlines goals such as building good relationships with new ministers, understanding their aims and helping them adapt to working within government. It stresses the importance of making a positive first impression through competent staff and avoiding negative appearances. The document advises being prepared for potential turmoil from changes but responding positively without showing upset, as the system is designed to support civil servants through transitions of government.

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Simachew Demissie
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8 views2 pages

Briefing Strategies for New Ministers

This document provides advice for civil servants on preparing for a new government after a general election. It outlines goals such as building good relationships with new ministers, understanding their aims and helping them adapt to working within government. It stresses the importance of making a positive first impression through competent staff and avoiding negative appearances. The document advises being prepared for potential turmoil from changes but responding positively without showing upset, as the system is designed to support civil servants through transitions of government.

Uploaded by

Simachew Demissie
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Preparing for a New Government and

Meeting New Ministers

I prepared these notes when briefing colleagues before a previous


General Election:-

It is an exciting time … and an opportunity to make a big difference


by helping a new set of Minsters settle in, and start achieving their
objectives. Enjoy the challenge!
What do you want to achieve in the first few days?
• A good relationship with new Ministers
o Mutual respect
o You need to be seen as non-political but committed to
achieving their objectives
o Understand individual Ministers’ characters, styles,
needs
o They will be a mixture of excited, knackered, terrified,
suspicious.
• Get to understand Minister(s)’ long term aims
• Well-briefed, knowledgeable Ministers
• Ministers who [are beginning to] understand how to work
within government, and in particular with civil servants
o Particularly important in GEO in view of need to ‘punch
above weight’ in influencing other departments’ policies.
o Need to avoid ‘departmentalitis’
Personal chemistry very important.
• First impressions very important
• Transactional analysis
o Aim for mutual respect if Minsters signal they want to
work effectively with officials
• Initial Ministerial meetings need to be with impressive staff.
Do not field inexperienced, nervous or loquacious
colleagues.
Passion is good – but it needs to be directed towards implementing
new policies. It is important not to appear negative when new
Ministers suggest change, and important to avoid appearing to be
committed to predecessors’ policies.
• Avoid “this department’s policies”
• Beware of appearing too well connected with pressure
groups – and Europeans!
• Make sure your assertions are evidence-based – particularly
when repeating assumptions of previous Ministers
• Discontinue use of previous Minsters’ language (e.g. Tories
do not like New Labour’s ‘stakeholders’)

Offer frequent briefings to staff colleagues


• Oral briefings best
• Emails good as long as carefully drafted – positive tone
• Pass information around between teams – inc. to/from
other departments.
• Keep close to Private Office and SpAds

Be mentally prepared for turmoil.


If it happens then react positively. Do not show you are upset. The
system will support you.

Enjoy being part of exciting change.

Links to other useful advice:-


Working with Ministers
Giving Advice to Ministers
Speaking Truth to Power

Martin Stanley
Editor – Understanding Government

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