United Kingdom

Over the past two years, a widespread sentiment has emerged that “Britain is not working.” This perception is partly due to crisis fatigue and a sense that after thirteen years of Conservative Party rule (the first five as a coalition government), it is “time for a change.” Additionally, people encounter increasing problems in public services in their daily lives. The UK government, responsible for services in England and overseeing spending for devolved governments, faces criticism for issues ranging from unfilled potholes and crumbling school classrooms to unreliable trains, difficulties in obtaining healthcare, and persistent problems in social care. A recent study highlights that “almost across the board public services are failing to deliver for citizens.”

In the UK government, the prime minister has considerable powers of appointment and patronage. While this can facilitate centralization, it can also lead to difficulties when conflicts arise at the heart of government. Evidence presented to the public inquiry into the pandemic has revealed numerous political and administrative shortcomings within the UK central government, including ministerial indecision in handling the crisis. The “first-past-the-post” electoral system usually ensures strong governance, but political instability has been the norm since the Brexit referendum announcement in early 2016. The UK has seen five prime ministers since then, with one famously outlasted by a lettuce, as demonstrated by Bild Zeitung. Frequent turnover of cabinet ministers in key policy areas such as housing and transport has further contributed to uncertainty. The Maude review of the UK civil service suggests that a fresh approach is needed regarding the extensive powers vested in the prime minister and civil service accountability.

Despite these challenges, the UK has sound provisions for sustainable governance, with policies and frameworks aligned with many central goals of the SGI and similar positive initiatives in devolved governments. Recent UK government initiatives, such as the Innovation Strategy and the approach to the circular economy, are promising but remain untested. However, as noted in several responses in this report, implementation is often deficient, targets are not met timely, and there are inequalities in service delivery. One example is the “temporary” reduction in the overseas aid budget in 2020, now not planned to be restored until late in the decade, despite being a legal obligation. Another example is the delay in intermediate targets for moving toward net zero, even though the UK has made good progress and has a strong legal commitment. Criticisms have also been directed at governance mechanisms such as impact assessments, which appear robust but fall short in practice.

The interlinkages between policy areas also deserve attention. A lack of social housing affects recruitment in low-paid jobs such as social care, whose shortcomings add to the pressures on an already struggling healthcare system. High migration has partly resulted from failures in skills policy, pushing employers to recruit from abroad, particularly in social care, a practice tacitly encouraged by the government despite political concerns about the social consequences. Inflexible planning systems inhibit house building and infrastructure development, while local service provision has been constrained by years of budgetary restraint. The stagnating economy and cost-of-living pressures stem partly from a weak record on productivity, affected by low business investment. While public finances are sustainable, they are stretched.

The protracted saga of Brexit, followed by the pandemic, has undeniably created major governance problems. Some of these concerns are now being addressed, but the political system often lurches from crisis to crisis, as evidenced by the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The legacies of these problems and the need to rethink crucial elements of sustainable governance, starting with the health service, are undeniable.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-governance-and-accountability/independent-review-of-governance-and-accountability-in-the-civil-service-the-rt-hon-lord-maude-of-horsham-html

https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/

https://www.ippr.org/articles/the-breakdown-of-the-social-contract-and-what-is-to-be-done