Political reporter Becky Morton reports that in a forthcoming speech, Sir Keir Starmer intends to reduce regulatory costs by promoting an “active government.” He will criticize the inefficiencies caused by excessive checks and blockages in the delivery process for the working class, arguing that the state has grown larger but weaker. To enhance efficiencies, new AI and tech teams will be deployed in public sector departments.
Sir Keir Starmer recently urged his ministers to take more responsibility for decisions rather than relying on regulators, emphasizing a desire to decrease the influence of quangos – non-governmental bodies – which is expected to be a part of the prime minister’s strategy. The reduction of quangos has been a common goal for incoming governments, but Sir Keir aims to delve deeper into what they are and what functions they serve.
Quangos, which stands for Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations, are bodies funded by taxpayers but not under direct government control. Ranging in size from major organizations like NHS England and HMRC to smaller bodies such as the Gambling Commission and the British Film Institute, these entities play various roles across the UK. Despite a decline by more than half since 2010, there are still over 300 quangos in existence.
The total budget for quangos in the latest published figures for 2022/23 is £353.3 billion, with nearly 60% of day-to-day government spending flowing through these bodies. Critics like the TaxPayers’ Alliance have long voiced concerns about quangos, arguing that they allow ministers to avoid accountability for failures and can result in inefficiencies and high costs. Whereas think tanks like the Institute for Government suggest that abolishing public bodies can lead to cost savings and improved service delivery, they also highlight potential disruptions and loss of expertise during transitions
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