Mon 15 Jul 2024
By David McVean
On July 5th, the country awoke to find it had elected Sir Keir Starmer as the next Prime Minister, number 58 by my reckoning. Since then, there have been a wide range of policy announcements, many of which are likely to require legislation. Why? Even getting rid of existing legislation, ironically, requires legislation. And why’s that? Because every piece of our legislation is enacted by the will of the House and the blessing of the monarch and stands until it is revoked. Are you ready with the skills and knowledge to deliver the new government's ambitions? They are clearly a government in a hurry!
Working on legislation is fascinating. Some may say it is too much pomp and circumstance, but as a former Bill Manager (2005 Education Act), this remains one of the highlights of my 30-year civil service career. Yes, the officials box is small and cramped and definitely not recommended for long sessions. But you get to see democracy in action, and to sit (in the Lords at least) opposite the Throne is breathtaking and remains a great memory.
“First reading, second reading, amendments, committee stage, Grand Committee, report stage, third reading, briefings, meetings, speeches”, all stages and aspects that most civil servants are likely to have to become familiar with. But working on a Bill is more than process, it is project management, stakeholder analysis, stakeholder engagement, risk management, policy design, political insight, understanding parliament, policy debate management; all done through remote control when the Minister stands at the despatch box. Above all else, you must build the closest of working rapports with your Minister. You have to challenge them, and they challenge you. Get it right and the simplest of signals from the officials/despatch box become codes for action. For the Bill Manager, it is also a role in leadership, knowing when to leave the team to get on with it, quality assurance of key speaking notes, whilst making sure the Minister, who already has multiple other jobs and lives, has time to build their confidence in the material being put before them. It is often exceptionally long hours (regularly 100+ hours a week), so knowing where the best local takeaways are is key (you have to eat, even at 1am in the morning).
You learn to depend on relationships – policy leaders, SCS colleagues, Private Office, Parliamentary Clerk, the appointed Whip, the drivers who help make sure the Minister is where they need to be when you need them; your Bill Team become your guardian angels. You need to learn how to network like fury, both inside and outside of government. You must be demanding, assuring, cajoling, diplomatic, at times even threatening (and by the way, grades don’t matter). You learn the art of negotiating and where you can or cannot compromise. You must deliver the ministerial ambitions. Manage all that and it is routine for promotions to be had; fail and….well….they are not!
There are a wealth of courses on the Government Campus catalogue, run by people who have been on that legislative and policy journey. There is time as the government assesses its plans, ahead of the King's Speech and even before the Party Conference season. Who knows, this may be your time to refresh or learn some new skills and play your part in what the government is calling the Great Renewal.
To find out more, download the Off the Shelf brochure here.
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