Report

Time to move out

Think tank: Onward

Author(s): Will Tanner; Adam Hawksbee

February 8, 2022

This report from UK think tank Onward looks at the case for civil service relocation.

The Government’s desire to “level up” economic opportunity and govern in the interests of historically left-behind areas is being undermined by slow progress in moving large numbers of civil servants out of Whitehall. Our analysis shows that, despite bold ministerial commitments, ambitions to radically alter the footprint of the civil service are faltering. This is particularly true of market-facing parts of government, including economic departments, regulators and commercial functions.