Reform

Reform is established as the leading Westminster think tank for public service reform. We believe that the State has a fundamental role to play in enabling individuals, families and communities to thrive. But our vision is one in which the State delivers only the services that it is best placed to deliver and that both decision-making and delivery is devolved to the most appropriate level.  

We believe the State should act in the long-term interests of the nation, ensuring services and programmes are outcomes-driven and sustainable, and based on a fair funding settlement for current and future generations. We are committed to sound public finances and ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely.    

We are determinedly independent and strictly non-party in our approach. This is reflected in our cross-party Advisory Board and our events programme which seeks to convene likeminded reformers from across the political spectrum.”


Latest reports

Metromentum: taking strategic authorities from patchwork to powerhouse

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out a practical roadmap for realising the full potential of Strategic Authorities by evolving them to become more decisive, accountable, and capable. England’s devolution agenda is at a turning point. A new generation of Strategic Authorities is being rolled out across the country. They are intended to...

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Quangocracy

This report from UK think tank Reform looks at the quality of public body oversight and sets out recommendations to strengthen government’s grip on what they deliver. Public bodies now account for around 60 per cent of day-to-day government spending, providing some of the most important and high-risk services. Despite this, departments are unclear on...

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Rebooting regionalism: an essay

This report from UK think tank Reform makes the case for the strategic regional tier that would be required to unlock the full potential of devolution. England’s approach to regional governance is at a crossroads. While devolution has made significant strides, with the expansion of Combined Authorities and metro mayors, the system remains fragmented and...

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AI and the productivity revolution in government

This report from UK think tank Reform presents a set of policy ideas for enabling this cultural transformation and identifies four cross-cutting opportunities. Adopting AI more widely across the public sector can make public services significantly more efficient and effective. And yet AI’s deployment throughout the public sector remains patchy and slow, insufficient to meet...

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Byte-sized budgeting

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out a new model for funding digital services in government. The Government has vowed to make the State “more like a start up”, investing in teams which will use a “test and learn” culture to improve public services. And with an ambitious set of Missions to deliver,...

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Back from the brink

This report from UK think tank Reform argues that only a whole-system approach can deliver a sustainable path forward. Local authorities are not just administrators of public services. They are crucial agents of social and economic stability within their communities. However, their ability to fulfil this role has been severely compromised. Local government in England...

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Full stream ahead

This report from UK think tank Reform proposes a new model for the Fast Stream, founded on more rigorous entrance exams and a new 'Executive Leadership Scheme'. The Fast Stream was set up to recruit the brightest and best for public service. And as government grapples with era-defining challenges, including how to build a resilient...

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The price of everything

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out a plan for the new Office for Value for Money. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a new Office for Value for Money, which she said at the Autumn Budget would “help us realise the benefits from every pound of public spending”. With five ambitious...

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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....

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Prescription for prevention

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out a new vision for primary care. 90 per cent of daily NHS activity happens in general practice and the community. If the primary care model is no longer fit for purpose, it weakens the foundations of the entire system and undermines the longstanding ambition to move...

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Getting the machine learning

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out practical recommendations for overhauling the approach to AI This report from UK think tank Reform is a step-by-step guide to adopting AI in the areas of government where it has the most promise. AI has the potential to drastically transform government for the better, increasing efficiency...

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The power of prevention

This report from UK think tank Reform focuses on three broad factors involved in people's attitudes to vaccination — confidence, complacency and convenience. Vaccines play a vital role in preventing disease and allowing people to live healthy lives. After clean water, they are the most effective public health intervention in the world. However, even before...

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Mission control

This report from UK think tank Reform is a how-to guide to delivering mission-led government. The growth of ‘wicked problems’, from climate change to rising economic inactivity and poor health – which have no single solution and are potentially devastating for society – cannot be reversed by the State alone. Nor, however, are they likely...

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Devolve by default

This report from UK think tank Reform sets out a new framework for devolution decisions and the assessment of local systems. At present, a great deal of Whitehall’s time and resources are absorbed by unnecessary centralisation: micromanagement of purely local affairs, management of bid-in pots for local actors, and the development of policy which would...

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Smart prescribing

This report from UK think tank Reform looks harnessing technology in the fight against AMR. The UK has been a world-leader in the fight against AMR, but further action is needed if we are to slow its spread. One of the key levers in tackling the growth of AMR lies in prescribing: antibiotics are often...

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