Plan for government

Re:State’s ‘Plan for Government’ programme provides a series of ready to implement products that the current or an incoming government can use to rewire Whitehall.

Successive governments have pledged to reform the Civil Service. Yet while there have been some changes, the fundamental and systemic problems plaguing the Civil Service remain. While most ministers quickly come to realise that reform is required, by then they are in the midst of trying to deliver their administration’s priorities, and lack the time and expertise to achieve fundamental Whitehall reform. Simultaneously, the absence of a self-reforming culture, and bias towards the status quo, means that the Civil Service is not itself driving the change required to ensure it is fit for purpose. The result is continuing frustration with a machine that embraces process over outcome, confuses impartiality with passivity, too often stifles creativity and dynamism, and fails to reward ownership, drive and delivery.

Rather than producing policy papers and briefings in the hope that civil servants or ministers will translate them into implementable products, this programme cuts out this translation step. Re:State’s ‘Plan for Government’ will produce the draft codes, guidance, legislation, rules, frameworks and management plans that are needed to unstick Whitehall and ensure it is fit for the future.