Public affairs and communications management

"Next week's elections for the Chairs of Commons Select Committees mark a significant step in the modernisation of Parliament and of UK politics. Previously government whips suggested candidates for select committee chairs, with the lucky candidates elected by the membership of each committee (which the whips also had a big role in influencing). Now it is up to the whole House of Commons to chose who chairs each of the 23 committees.

The elections signal a new era in parliamentary accountability, with committees now freer to hold government to account on policy and public spending. So the new rules formalise the independent streak inherent in the Select Committee system, not just since it was introduced in 1979, but from when the Public Accounts Committee, as the first Select Committee, was created in 1861.

It also reflects in parliament what the coalition government has represented in government - a willingness of political parties to cooperate more. Every candidate for the Select Committee chairmanship needs the support of all main parties in order to succeed. So you have MPs from one side of the political spectrum supporting candidates from the other side - as shown with the election for the influential Treasury Select Committee, where (Labour MP and ex-chair) John McFall is backing (Conservative MP) Michael Fallon's candidacy for the chairmanship.

What does this mean for public affairs and, specifically, parliamentary lobbying? On a basic level it shows that Select Committees will been keen to get on with their work of scrutinising government and will want challenging viewpoints and representations from outside interests. But it also shows how parties are collaborating more and more as part of the new politics. Public affairs consultants must get used to the consensus-building trend - developing support from all main political parties will become increasingly important to those seeking to work with government and influence policy."