Last week was a marked contrast to all those that have come since President Trump's inauguration, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s focused the nation’s attention on his domestic reforms.
From the abolition of NHS England to civil service reforms and anticipated welfare changes, Starmer showed his commitment to restructuring public services and redefining how government operates. But while the ambition is clear, questions remain about execution and potential fallout.
The biggest headline of the last week was Starmer’s plan to abolish NHS England, integrating its functions back under the Department of Health and Social Care. This restructuring aims to streamline healthcare management, cut bureaucracy, and direct more resources to frontline care. However, critics warn that without a clear transition plan, the move could lead to administrative chaos and delayed reforms. The change puts more power for reform into Wes Streeting’s hands, with News Night asking whether this was him “trying to be the Fat Controller”.
The ‘bonfire of quangos’ appears to be continuing this week with The Sun reporting that senior government officials are even considering ditching the independent football regulator. The Football Governance Bill was set to introduce a number of restrictions on Premier League club’s activities to protect their financial sustainability and fan interest, all of which would have been overseen by the proposed regulator.
Alongside regulatory changes, the government also announced civil service reforms that they hope would boost productivity. Measures include performance-related pay and a push to remove under-performers. While Starmer argues these changes will create a more accountable and efficient government, unions and civil servants have raised concerns about lack of clarity and potentional scapegoating. It is worth noting that this is far from the first time a cash-strapped government has turned to civil service efficiencies (cuts) as a means of balancing the books. Each time these reforms are announced the requisite savings and productivity boosts appear to be somewhat absent.
Looking ahead, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil the Spring Statement on 26thMarch, with expectations of significant welfare reforms. The government is seeking to reduce welfare spending by promoting employment and potentially introducing significant benefit cuts. These proposals have already sparked debate, with MPs and charities warning that they could disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
However, over the weekend the government appeared to be watering down its cuts, particularly the blanket reductions to personal independence payments (PIP). Politicochalked this up to the amount of backlash No.10 had received in the wake of the announcements. Despite this, the government is still likely to significantly tighten eligibility criteria for PIP payments and cut or freeze payments to long-term sick and disabled people on Universal Credit. As such, the Department for Work and Pension’s appearance in the Commons this Monday for oral questions looks to be fraught.
The challenge for Starmer, at least as much as he would want it framed, will be balancing fiscal responsibility with protecting those in need. The move to restrict benefit recipients in this way is shocking from a Labour government; it will be a serious test of the Labour MPs conscience in the face of achieving the moniker of fiscal prudence. Regardless, the fact this decision is having to be made is a sign of the desperate strain public finances are under.
Starmer’s rhetoric has been strong—declaring an end to governmental inertia and promising an ‘active state’ that works for the people. However, the IfG and other experts argue that while the ambition is commendable, there is a worrying gap between vision and implementation.
What’s On in Parliament
Monday 17th March
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Work and Pensions
- Legislation: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Remaining Stages
- Westminster Hall debate: e-petition relating to compensation for women affected by state pension changes
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: Implementing a strategy to prevent violence against women and girls
- Legislation: Football Governance Bill - report stage
- Short debate: Policy with regard to the Ukraine war following the new policy of the government of the USA
Tuesday 18th March
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Energy Security and Net Zero
- Westminster Hall debate: Free school meals
- Westminster Hall debate: Role of shipyards in economic growth
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: Success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy in comparison to voluntary sugar, salt and calorie reduction and reformulation measures
- Oral Questions: Role of Great British Railways resolving industrial action
- Oral Questions: The implications of tariffs imposed by the USA on EU goods for trade in Northern Ireland
Wednesday 19th March
House of Commons
- Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Opposition Day debate
- Westminster Hall debate: Improving transport connectivity in the North West
- Westminster Hall debate: Defence industries in the West Midlands
House of Lords
- Legislation: Armed Forces Commissioner Bill - committee stage
- Legislation: Finance Bill – second reading and remaining stages
- Oral Questions: Safety of commercial vehicles sold in the UK
Thursday 20th March
House of Commons
- Oral Questions: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Westminster Hall debate: British Sign Language Week
- Adjournment: Face-to-face GP appointments
House of Lords
- Oral Questions: Impact of working from home on the productivity of the public sector
- Oral Questions: Givings schools the capacity to make assessments of commonly-occurring special educational needs
- Debate: 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights
Friday 21st March
House of Commons
- There are no debates scheduled.
House of Lords
- There are no debates scheduled.
Consultations
- Small business access to finance – closes 8th May
- Consultation on the CMA’s Proposed Recommendation on the Assimilated TTBER – closes 11th April
Statistics
- UK overseas trade in goods statistics January 2025: import and export data – published 14th March
- DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics: February 2025 – published 14th March
- GDP monthly estimate, UK: January 2025 - published 14th March