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Whitehall is planning for a hung parliament – and local government could have a key role in ensuring stability. Senior officials at the Cabinet Office briefed colleagues across Whitehall last week that they expected the most likely outcome of the poll – probably being held in May – was that no single party would be able to form a government. That view is supported by the latest opinion polls, which this week showed the gap has narrowed between Labour and the Conservatives. A senior civil servant, present at one of the briefings, told The MJ: ‘Traditionally, we are told what to expect, based on one party's plans for continuity and direction. But the first option seen as most likely at the top is a hung parliament, and the message was, "We don't know what will happen after that", as it is new territory.' The malaise in central government has led to initiatives crucial to local government being put on ice. A Treasury official admitted to The MJ: ‘Most of the medium-term work is on hold across government. We're working day to day.' But a hung parliament could prove an opportunity for local government to advise on a way forward. George Jones, emeritus professor at the LSE, said a hung parliament did not mean weak government. He said: ‘Such arrangements would not necessarily be unstable. Local government has much experience of hung councils, and they have worked well, where the parties want them to. ‘Cross-party agreement, indeed, might strengthen the Government's legitimacy to deal with the unions over painful public spending cuts which, for local government, means it might be supported by the Government in confronting the unions.' He added: ‘Scotland and Wales have experienced power-sharing, as have many countries in Europe, and the skies did not fall in.'

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WHITEHALL

Local government's 'key role' in hung parliament

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