Government efforts to reform public services and shift power away from central control are currently not on track to meet their stated goals, according to a new analysis by the Institute for Government (IFG).
Centralization Concerns
Last summer, the government outlined three core principles for public service reform – organizing services around people’s lives, prioritizing preventative measures, and devolving power to local communities. However, the IFG’s assessment indicates that none of these objectives are likely to be achieved by the next election, expected by summer 2029.
Stuart Hoddinott, a public services expert at the IFG and author of the report, stated that, “on the government’s current trajectory, public services will be more centralised, integration will have slowed or even reversed, and a measurable shift towards prevention will not have occurred.” He described this outcome as “a failure on its own terms” and a “historic missed opportunity.”
Whitehall’s Influence
Sources familiar with Downing Street’s plans suggest that the ambition to localize public services has faced resistance from ministers and officials in Whitehall who prefer to retain central control. This preference is reflected in recent structural changes.
The abolition of NHS England, for example, has brought greater control of health services directly under the Department of Health. Similarly, in local government, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working to eliminate lower-tier local councils in favor of larger unitary authorities.
The IFG report notes that reorganizations within the police, local government, and the NHS have consistently involved consolidating smaller organizations into fewer, larger bodies. This trend, the report states, demonstrates “a preference for centralisation, with control over four key services… being moved closer to ministers.”
Digital ID and Potential Shifts
The IFG suggests that any course correction would require intervention from senior figures close to the prime minister, such as Chief Secretary Darren Jones, potentially utilizing the public services cabinet committee for coordination. Jones is currently leading the development of a digital ID system intended to integrate public services and improve accessibility.
The stated aim of this digital ID is to create “a new digital state that delivers public services directly to you, a state that can move fast and fix things.” However, a timeline for public access to the digital ID remains unclear, with hopes for its availability before the 2029 election.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the government’s stated goals for public service reform?
The objectives are to make public services “organised around people’s lives”, to improve outcomes by focusing on prevention of problems, and to devolve power to local areas.
What changes have already been made in the health sector?
NHS England has been abolished, bringing power more directly under the control of the Department of Health.
What is the role of digital ID in these reforms?
Darren Jones is leading the government’s move to bring in digital ID which would integrate more public services under one platform and make them easier for people to access.
Given these findings, what steps might the government take to align its actions with its stated goals for public service reform?