Preparing for Government

This article reviews a recent report by the Institute for Government on how opposition parties in the United Kingdom should prepare for power. The article comments on the distinctive constitutional context in the UK regarding government transitions, the provisions in The Cabinet Manual on access by opposition parties to the civil service prior to a general election, how opposition parties can make effective use of these access talks, and the specific challenges facing the Labour Party as it prepares for the prospect of a change of government later in 2024. It is argued that the current guidelines in The Cabinet Manual on access talks need clarification on several crucial matters, not least the timing of their commencement during a parliamentary term, which opposition parties should be eligible to participate, and under what conditions.