Last week, it was perfectly reasonable to argue that the scale and nature of consultations might not be much different whoever won the General Election. But few people foresaw the extent of Boris Johnson’s victory. Does the size of his majority change anything? It might.

His programme was criticised for being too vague, but there was enough in it to have built expectations which will now need to be fulfilled. If there were debate as to whether the commitment was for six hospitals or forty, the new Government would surely have to deliver big. Indeed, on BBC television this morning, the respected journalist, Anne McElvoy commented that there were dozens of newly-elected northern Conservative MPs travelling south expecting to see Boris and his Cabinet deliver on specific promises of a new hospital, new roads and much-improved rail services. Moreover, this would happen all on an expanding, vibrant economy with austerity a distant memory.

Not all of this will be easy to deliver. Still, Governments have learnt that public consultation is a perfectly sensible step to take if only to give the impression of activity. One should not be too cynical. Finding a local community’s priorities and preferences is an important preliminary to preparing major proposals. Expect lots of these in the next twelve months. Also be prepared for high levels of participation, as we have experienced a very divisive election where trust in both main parties was in short supply. Those who will be determined to hold the new PM to his promises will surely pay close attention to relevant consultations – and be sure to take part.

Three issues may dominate the Government’s consultation agenda:

• Future post-BREXIT policies; those that most need reconsideration once we have left the EU. Farming and fishing are among the more obvious examples, and some consultation has already taken place. But there are dozens of others from immigration policy to labour laws that will provoke debate and disagreement.
• Infrastructure projects, whether they are ‘shovel ready’ or merely cautious speculation in a Manifesto. Even if they manage to simplify planning laws, and by-pass some of the traditional checks and balances, there will still be a sequence of consultations to determine whether and where anything major is built.
• Climate change may dominate. So far, 261 upper-tier local authorities have declared a climate emergency, and those Councils who are furthest ahead are considering radical programmes that involve big changes to people’s behaviour. Any thought that these can be pushed through without considerable local dialogue is fanciful.

Much may depend upon the style adopted by the new administration. A combative, aggressive approach polarises and provokes. A more conciliatory, ‘one nation’ style of Toryism might work differently. There may be an appetite for local consultations to move away from the formula so prevalent in the time of austerity. Whereby public bodies proposed unpopular reductions in service received almost universal objections from stakeholders and consultees but went ahead anyway because “We simply do not have the money”.  Would that mean we could return to past days where consultations were used to solve emerging problems, devise new community solutions and consider all those positive ideas to enhance the lives of local people? Wishful thinking?

Big Parliamentary majorities are supposed to bring stability, and there are many public bodies that will give three cheers for the blight of BREXIT to be lifted so that their plans and projects can be properly considered. To that extent, the Institute will undoubtedly be busy as many currently on-hold initiatives are released for implementation.

But 2020 may also bring about a change of mood as members of the public begin to realise the power of public participation. In today’s other reflection on the election result – The revenge of the thwarted majority,  we raise the possibility that consultors will need to have better regard for any majority view that emerges from a consultation. Boris Johnson’s five-year term, therefore, may see huge increases in the numbers who want a say in key decisions. With social media still gathering momentum and the ways to exert influence changing, the next decade may yet hold surprises we can barely imagine.

For many people, last night was one of them!