Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire/Reform UK) has come out with a bold statement for the future of Government in the UK, on behalf of his party, Reform UK, who have felt destiny at their fingertips in recent months. His blueprint for the heart of the Civil Service – centred on more power for Number 10 and a streamlined network of public servants at its beck and call – is called “Fixing the Centre” in an official party policy document.
The idea of turning Downing Street into a “Politics Hub” is nothing new. In fact, Tony Blair is credited with trying to do it, but this is now a distant news story for Reform UK. Their raw approach is gaining ground – and plaudits – and it seems natural to take aim at this, too. Why not empower the famous office even more and guarantee results by literally telling people face-to-face until they do it?
The reason it probably won’t happen is hinted at in the reactions of the many thousands of Civil Servants who work in high office – and have heard this all before. Their only duty is to serve the country. It may look too self-serving. The advance of Reform UK is admirable, but to think the average Civil Servant would lay aside their concerns to permit its rewiring is ambitious. They won’t let go of it so easily.