The theory is pretty unequivocal. You normally go to consultation where there are decisions to be taken, policies to be adopted or programmes to be developed, and where stakeholder views can be expected to exert influence. There are few exceptions to this, but is this one of them?

Try this little test. Switch on Radio 4’s Today programme when you wake up and estimate how long you have to wait before the word consultation is used. It won’t be very long! Here is proof positive that publishing a consultation exercise works as an agenda-setting device, far more potent than the press release!

Successive Governments have clearly found this to be useful, and regularly use such exercises to fly some policy kite or other; if the purpose is to stimulate debate, it undoubtedly works, and many an otherwise-obscure policy area has got the full force of John Humphry’s’ forensic attention on more than one occasion.

Indeed, a consultation is a press officer’s delight, for it offers publicity opportunities at its announcement, when key stakeholders contribute, when the consultation closes and when the feedback is published. As a news story, it automatically replenishes ….wonderful! Consider how Michael Gove has used this device this year to parade his green credentials over the single-use plastics issue. On the day when we were finalising the text of The Politics of Consultation for publication, this story blew away virtually all the competing items from the BBC’s news on that day. We had to include it in the book!

Leading edge local authorities and other public bodies have also been quick to seize upon the promotional angle. A banner headline proclaiming, “We want your views!” should not, of itself be a news story in its own right – but a good communications expert can make it feel as if it is.