Sunak authorises Labour and civil service talks ahead of election

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has allowed talks to go ahead between Labour and the civil service, ahead of the general election expected this year.

The talks are aimed at ensuring a smooth transition in the event that an opposition party wins power.

The meetings would enable Labour to establish relationships with civil servants and exchange information.

Simon Case, who heads the civil service, will oversee and arrange the discussions.

Confirming the move, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: "In line with the long-standing process set out in the cabinet manual, the prime minister has authorised access talks between the official opposition and civil service."

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The next election must be held by 28 January 2025 but it is up to the prime minister to pick the actual date.

Last week Mr Sunak told reporters: "My working assumption is we'll have a general election in the second half of this year."

Access talks are usually held in the build up to an election and in order to get the process started, the opposition leader must write to the prime minister requesting the meetings.

By convention, the prime minister is expected to authorise the talks, but has discretion over when they can start.

The Cabinet manual, which sets out the procedures for government, says the meetings take place "on a confidential basis, without ministers being present or receiving a report of discussions".

"These discussions are designed to allow the opposition's shadow ministers to ask questions about departmental organisation and to inform civil servants of any organisational changes likely to take place in the event of a change of government.

"Senior civil servants may ask questions about the implications of opposition parties' policy statements, although they would not normally comment on or give advice about policies."

In 2019, talks between the civil service and Jeremy Corbyn, then Labour leader, were authorised in October, two months before the election was held.

According to the Institute for Government think tank, in 2009 then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave the go-ahead for talks between the Conservative Party and the civil service 15 months ahead of the general election.