The personal is political

20th May 2011

"This week has seen revelations at both a national and international level involving the personal lives of senior political figures. At the IMF, the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Khan has thrown the international body into chaos, with his resignation casting doubt over the credibility of the bailout measures and austerity packages it is seeking to impose on economies crippled by profligate financial management.

Closer to home, Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, continues to face trials and tribulations with regard to allegations in respect to previous speeding offences. The continued coverage of whether or not he asked other people to take points on their licence for him has, along with the Dominque Strauss-Khan story, dominated the news over the last week.

The current news surrounding Huhne threatens to overshadow his work at Energy & Climate Change, where the Coalition is seeking to drive through policies aimed at securing the UK’s security of energy supply along with implementing policies aimed at tackling climate change. The focus away from policy, towards the probity of the Secretary of State, has led to concern from figures within the Coalition, along with the expected outcry from the Opposition, that personal problems affecting a Cabinet member will act as a block to the effective implementation of Government reforms. Whether this will be the case remains to be seen, but the story acts a perfect example of the old maxim about a week being a long time in politics. In the case of Huhne, he has gone from being the man most likely to mount a credible Liberal Democrat leadership challenge to having to defend his ministerial position almost overnight.

For companies and organisations with an interest in engaging with government, the events of the last week serve as a reminder as how quickly the political landscape can change. As well as being immersed in the details of policy, there is a need to remember that, rightly or wrongly, the personal is political and an effective public affairs strategy, mapping out all eventualities including the potential for a turnover of key figures, will ensure a campaign is able to survive the unexpected."

Simon Darby - Account Executive