Government

Letter to My MP

/ Alison Pope

I am increasingly concerned by the poor example this Government sets in its conduct, it’s lack of respect for the standards in public life and its use of numerous internal investigations to avoid independent scrutiny from public inquiries, the media, the courts and above all Parliament.

The Government seems to think the PM gave a fulsome apology yesterday. He did not. Nor have the many questions been answered. They were not answered in either PMQs or the UQ, they were not answered in the lobby briefing.

An internal investigation into the many reports of gatherings in Government contrary to the guidance the Government issued to the public is necessary but insufficient.

Ministers need to answer questions put to them by MPs in Parliament.

Their testimony should be fully transparent.

Civil servants may investigate the civil service for the purposes of internal disciplinary proceedings but they are not in a position to investigate ministers or make a judgement on the legality of their conduct.

A Government that prizes the sovereignty of Parliament above unelected bureaucrats should recognise that.

The high court ruling this week that the use of VIP procurement lines during covid was unlawful (and it seems also unnecessary) provides another recent example of why the calls for an independent public inquiry into the pandemic response should not just be heeded but be expedited. 

That investigators are not getting the evidence they need due to (mis-)use of private devices for Government business also needs investigating. There should also be an inquiry, including digital forensics, into the Government’s poor record keeping practices. The opaqueness of the evidentiary basis for these internal reports undermines their veracity and rigour.

I have no confidence in these internal investigations. I have no confidence that the Government has any intention of abiding by the ministerial code of upholding the standards of public life.

Our democracy depends on the checks and balances evolved over centuries across the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. I fear this Government is fatally undermining these. 

Apparently, the only comment on the Government’s conduct that matters is the ballot box. I shall use my vote accordingly.

Reorganising Government

/ Alison Pope

With a new majority Government there is not just talk of a reshuffle but potentially a more radical reshaping of Whitehall, possibly in February once the EU withdrawal legislation has been passed.

Whilst we wait to see how the new administration will rewire government, I thought about how I would arrange cabinet and the structures of government to make the well being of people and communities and environmental stewardship more prominent.

Any of us can blog and generate ideas but hopefully any actual reform of government and Whitehall will be led by a responsible Minister, not an unelected or unaccountable bureaucrat, and co-designed with all relevant stakeholders, especially those most affected by it.

Government Business (5)

Firstly, there are the cabinet posts providing the central management and coordination of Government.

  • Number Ten

Provides strategy and leadership across Government. Sets a framework for lean and enterprising government that combines innovation with tradition and continuous improvement with respect for people.

  • Cabinet Office

Oversees government operations, the civil service and the values of public service. The Cabinet Secretary deputises for the prime minister. Our civil service is excellent and this department would ensure it continues to grow, adapt, recruit and advise informed by our best traditions, the principles of public life and future needs.

  • Leader of the House of Commons
  • Leader of the House of Lords

Manage Parliamentary business across both houses.

  • Attorney General’s Office

Provides the government with legal advice.

Offices of State (16)

For me there are four big themes of state: wellbeing, economy, environment and diplomacy. I’d have a Secretary of State for each of these areas as well as for individual departments to improve coordination and joined up thinking at a more strategic level. Each Portfolio Secretary would focus on coordinating three departments as well as cross-portfolio alignment.

Wellbeing

This portfolio would be charged with coordinating policies for happier and healthier people and community based initiatives.

  • Communities and People
  • Health and Social Care
  • Culture, Media and Sport

Health and social care, and culture media and sport I would keep much as they are though with a genuine effort to integrate health and social care for lifelong, community based wellbeing backed by world class specialist expertise. The biggest structural change in this area would be a new department that combined welfare, work and pensions (the current DWP) with responsibility for rights and equalities (a much tossed about floating ministry at the moment), communities and local government and takes over drugs and alcohol policy, immigration policy and vulnerable people from the current Home Office.

Economy

The Chancellor of the Exchequer would lead this portfolio coordinating efforts to improve our prosperity and productivity via a strong, balanced and resourceful economy and secure but flexible employment.

  • Treasury
  • Industry, Enterprise and Trade
  • Knowledge and Skills

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury would have responsibility for the Treasury and fiscal and financial management. Business, industrial policy and international trade would be combined into a single department and there would be a single department for lifelong learning, vocational training, research, innovation and knowledge management.

Environment

This portfolio would be responsible for sustainability ensuring that we, and the diverse life we share our part of the planet with, have healthy, safe places to live and are connected by integrated systems.

  • Habitats and Land
  • Energy and Networks
  • Security and Justice

Habitats and land would look after housing, agriculture, rural affairs and environmental stewardship whilst energy and networks would run our logistical networks from energy, to transport to digital infrastructure. The parts of the Home Office not in communities and people would merge with the Justice ministry to concentrate on our safety and security.

  • Diplomacy

    • This portfolio looks after our global presence and international relations.

    • Foreign and Commonwealth Office
    • International Development
    • Defence

    These departments remain as they are but the overall portfolio ensures the difference facets of our geopolitical functions are better coordinated.

    Offices for the Nations (5)

    Finally, there are the departments for each of this constituent nations.

    • England
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Northern Ireland

    This should include England. Even though England doesn’t have its own assembly I see no reason why it shouldn’t have its own office of state to represent English matters in government and coordinate with the growing number of metropolitan and civic mayors.

    Government Hierarchy

    This structure adds in a layer of government hierarchy, the idea of a portfolio of departments, to try and improve joined up thinking across departments. It’s a bit radical because in effect it downgrades the traditional great offices of state and replaces them with the four great portfolios of state.

    The levels of seniority in this government organisation would therefore be:

    1. Prime Minister
    2. Cabinet Secretary (de facto deputy)
    3. Secretary of State (Portfolio)
    4. Secretary of State (Department)
    5. Minister of State
    6. Under-Secretary of State