Report

Grown up government

This report from UK think tank Reform examines a comprehensive model of political support.

Unlike in high-performing organisations in other sectors, and indeed governments of comparable countries, Britain’s politicians are significantly limited in their ability to shape the teams they have around them, and to appoint outside experts and aides to help deliver their priorities. It is the equivalent of tying one hand behind a minister’s back.

Building a higher functioning system of political support means moving beyond the hair shirt argument that political appointments are a form of ‘necessary evil’, to be limited. Instead there should be a significant expansion in the specialist expertise and experience ministers can draw on, through special adviser appointments, appointments to non-political roles, and by prioritising talent in private office.

‘Grown up government’ sets out 14 detailed recommendations, which together comprise a new approach. These include allocating special advisers to ministers based on the workloads of their departments; introducing light touch line management and training for special advisers; creating ‘Integrated Ministerial Offices’; empowering ministers to make a variety of types of appointment; and uprating SpAd pay to attract the best possible talent into government.