Module 4: How to Advocate
Josh Artus
Centric Lab
Featuring:
In this lesson Josh from the Centric Lab team walks us through a framework for how to navigate the politics of place. Josh focuses on the different drivers and motivations of key figures in the advocacy space such as local councillors and policy writers.
The lesson aims to help people identify who in the supply chain they want to engage with and what tactics, data, relationships help in advocating.
Key Learnings: Definitions
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An all-party parliamentary group is a technical group in the Parliament of the United Kingdom that is composed of members of parliament from all political parties, but has no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament, such as lobbyists or charities, in their administration and activities. These are spaces that debate the potential ability of proposing or amending legislation on a particular topic - such as air pollution.
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Legislation is law; a formal, legally binding rule or set of rules made (or authorised) by Parliament or other law-making bodies. It has statutory force that must be followed and is enforceable by the courts. The law is overwhelmingly created by Acts of Parliament - votes on proposed legislation and sent for Royal Approval if the required numbers are needed. For example, The Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Equality Act 2010 are all Acts that have become legislation through passing and govern our lives and activities. They create rights, duties, and powers, such as defining what local planning authorities can approve, or what conduct constitutes an offence.
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Policy is guidance or principle adopted by a government, public authority, or organisation to help achieve particular objectives. It informs decisions, but does not itself have the force of law. It’s not legally binding in itself (unless incorporated into law). It can influence decisions but cannot override legislation. Policies are developed by ministers, government departments, or local authorities. Sometimes set out in policy papers, strategies, or frameworks. Examples can be National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Clean Growth Strategy, Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, Local Development Plans. Their purpose is to explain how local, regional, and central governments intend to apply the law or pursue certain goals (e.g. how planning applications should be assessed within the framework of planning legislation). It has a high level of accountability meaning that it can be challenged in court if applied unlawfully (e.g., if a public body ignores its own published policy without justification), but Parliament doesn’t vote on it as a law.
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A regulation is a form of law - a specific, enforceable rule made under the authority of legislation (usually by a government minister or public body). It has legal force, meaning that compliance is mandatory. They are developed under an Act of Parliament (primary legislation) - e.g. through Statutory Instruments (SIs) or other secondary legislation. They are intended to implement or clarify Acts of Parliament - fills in the practical details of how a law is applied. Examples include: Building Regulations 2010 (under the Building Act 1984); Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (under the Environmental Protection Act); Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015.
Key Learnings: Our Thoughts
Different actors within the state-managed system hold different levels of responsibility, agency, and motivation. Understanding these helps identify who matches our goals.
Local councillors can arguably be referred to as “cheerleaders” given their capacity to celebrate local activities within local government actions. They may at times also be in some positions of power by being a part of committees that influence very real outcomes such as planning committees or commercial shop (alcohol/food) licensing committees.
Members of Parliament hold a high level of office and are responsible for representing their constituents interests in Parliament. However, they may be disconnected from the daily and more nuanced matters of the places in which they serve. They can address matters in Parliament, and may look to set up APPGs, however they are limited by the scope of their Parliamentary powers.
Policy writers are apolitical and are tasked with designing policy intended to cover a diverse range of potential applications. They are not to hold bias or prejudice and instead are tasked with ensuring that policies have interpreted the law correctly in a way that meets local needs. Policy writers typically are risk averse and work in long-term horizons, often looking for solutions that are low risk and are long-term in their outcomes.
Laws, regulations, and policies all have different powers and routes to influence. Deciding which one to focus on influencing is critical to achieving success. Whilst the law is all-powerful it’s very hard to change, therefore leaning into the drivers and motivations of policy writers and suggested supplementary policy guidance on special issues may be an easier route to create the type of change you want to see.
What in this lesson stood out for you?
Prompts
These questions are framed to help you apply your own experience and perspectives to points raised in this lesson.
What contacts and relationships do you already have and can navigate?
Does the organisation you’re trying to influence already have an agenda that you can build on, such as having a climate action plan?
The UK charity mySociety have developed a handy web tool to search local authority declarations that you can use to find out - https://cape.mysociety.org/
Rather than stating the problem, what solution can you bring to someone in power - think about what skills you have, and can access, and how you might be able to propose a solution that a time-strapped person can champion for you?
Next Lesson:
Module 4 Lesson 2