Transition Talks Between Opposition And Civil Service Should Start Immediately, Says New Report

Transition talks between the Civil Service and opposition party should begin in January if Keir Starmer’s Labour is ready to govern the country effectively, a new Institute for Government (IfG) report has warned.

Labour has averaged a double-digit lead over the incumbent Conservative Party for more than a year and are the favourites to win the next election, with the possibility of gaining an overall majority well within the leadership's grasp. 

Access talks between the opposition party and civil service have been commonplace for more than 60 years. For both the 1997 and 2010 elections – which saw new incoming administrations – access talks began at least 16 months before the end of parliament, according to the IfG think tank.

For talks to begin Starmer must write to the Prime Minister and seek permission from Rishi Sunak for shadow ministers to work with Whitehall and prepare for government. The IfG said if the newspaper reports are correct that Sunak has rejected Starmer's letter then this must be “rectified” immediately.

Emma Norris, the IfG’s deputy director, said while campaigning for political parties is crucial, preparation for government is now “most important”.

 “The final months before a general election are a critical time for any opposition party. Whilst campaigning will always come first – and there is understandable pressure to avoid looking complacent about victory – preparation for governing is most important in this period,” she said.

“When done well, it provides a foundation for faster, more enduring policy change and for more effective and stable government,” she added.  

The cabinet secretary usually asks the prime minister to give access talks between the opposition and Whitehall the green light. They