Downing Street Criticised for Lack of Control Over Whitehall, Experts Say
Downing Street has been criticised by experts for its lack of grip on Whitehall, with delays in policy delivery attributed to layers of regulation and numerous arm's-length bodies. Ex-adviser Paul Ovenden warned of a "political perma-class" and a "stakeholder state" that distract the government from voters' priorities, citing the handling of the Alaa Abd el-Fattah case as an example. Ovenden called for the dismantling of parts of this system and for a government with a stiffened spine and renewed purpose to address these issues.
Insiders at Downing Street, including the prime minister, acknowledge that these regulations and arm's-length bodies often slow delivery. The Institute for Government analyst Alex Thomas highlighted a weak centre within a centralised state, noting challenges such as civil-service churn and poor performance management, and stressed the necessity for sustained political agency to improve outcomes.
Dave Penman of the FDA union remarked that ministers have the political will to change the system if they choose, emphasizing that the civil service did not establish these structures. John McTernan argued that ministers, including those at No 10 and the Treasury, bear responsibility for policy errors such as issues with winter fuel payments, disability payments, and the two-child payment cap.
Meanwhile, Tom Baldwin cautioned that focusing too heavily on reforming Whitehall could distract from delivering key voter-priority policies, underscoring the need to balance organisational reform with effective policy implementation. Ovenden resigned in September after sending inappropriate messages about Diane Abbott, a departure seen as a setback for Starmer's team.
