Labour's re-election with a reduced majority will give civil servants an opportunity to demonstrate their traditional skills, the FDA Whitehall union has said.

The organisation, which represents senior civil servants, is beginning its annual conference with a call for a change of approach from Tony Blair.

General secretary Jonathan Baume is urging the prime minister to "get off the sofa and back into the Cabinet room".

He call comes in the wake of criticism from the Butler report into the handling of intelligence on Iraq, which was critical of the way government decisions have been taken under Labour.

Senior commentators are now expecting the prime minister to adopt a different approach to governing during his third and final term in office.

Blair is expected to put more emphasis on working with Labour backbenchers as he reorganises his Number 10 staff in the wake of the departure of Baroness Morgan from the post of director of government relations.

And Baume is also calling for ministers to treat parliament with more respect.

"All too often the views and processes of parliament appear to have been treated with disdain," he said ahead of the FDA conference.

"Does the government really believe that coherent policy-making and effective Cabinet government, led by the civil service in support of ministers, is somehow out of date or redundant? Not quite 24/7? 

"The FDA believes that it has been the unwillingness to embrace those civil service skills that has helped to weaken the government's effectiveness and the government as a consequence has paid an electoral price.

"With a reduced majority the government will need to genuinely listen and consult much more about its more controversial policies, striving for consensus.

"This is an opportunity for the civil service to demonstrate its traditional skills and strengths."

Baume sought to remind ministers that "effective Cabinet government is good government", whatever inconveniences it might bring.

"More coherent debate, and a more focused opposition, may irritate ministers but they can add real value to policy making, as well as helping to win back greater public support for our political system," he said.

"Lord Butler's report offered a damming critique of the way in which the structures of Cabinet government had been neglected in recent years. I hope we will see a final end to 'sofa government'."

The FDA chief said that the government's botched effort to reform public sector pensions was one example of where more dialogue and consultation could have delivered better policy.

With a replacement for Sir Andrew Turnbull likely to be announced within weeks, Baume said the next Cabinet secretary should seek to address the issues.

The new top civil servant should "ensure that our members can hold their heads up and say with dignity that they are proud to be civil servants", he added.