Tomorrow I am writing a blog about the need for a better Prime Minister, and the need to make positive things happen.
I reference Klopp’s ‘gegenpress’ – the idea in football that was about being very positive, be proactive, be energetic, on the front foot.
I think it is a good simily for what the UK Government needs to do.
It seems that the Government – of left and right – have just got bogged down by circumstances. To be fair, from the 2008 global financial crisis, Brexit, Covid, the Ukraine impact on food costs, it has been much of a perfect storm.
Whether politicians are by nature second rate can be debated – see tomorrow’s blog – but they have all been reactive, off the pace (I hate slang like ‘behind the curve’ but it is an apt description). They have brought hardly any positive initiatives, and failed to grip the big issues.
So what actually needs doing? Basically it is about improving the economy.
It’s tempting to mention the welfare, pensions and demographic timebomb. This also highlights another problem – you really need to take a 20 year view to address this, rather than just fend it off before the next election. We simply need to decide what we can afford – say 10% of GDP, and make the discussion about how you split it up. It’s a hard truth, but if you go for a larger perentage, GDP will fall, and leave less in the pot to allocate…..
I think my best example is that of large projects. HS2, nuclear power stations, major road developments, and so on. Ship building, weapons, you name it Other countries do it quicker, we did similar things quicker in wartime.
If the life of your child depended on it, you would do it quicker.
So, the Prime Minister should decree that all such projects can only commence or continue if within a five year ‘start to completion’ time scale. The project manager can be given ten days to produce the critical path. The top auditors should be required – maybe ‘pro bono’ in the national interest – to send in (very) small teams to validate these timecales.
You can predict that the actual construction or engineering components are likely to be quite reasonable. The issues are probably procurement and contractual issues, rules and regulations, approvals, consultation.
The ‘gegenpress’ approach is that you cue up the start on site right away, get on with it, and leave the ‘bureaucrats’ to hang onto your coattails.
You could offer 10% bonuses to the contractor for an early finish, 10% penalty if late.
The major projects should have to report weekly to a ‘Prime Minister’s Unit – staffed maybe by military officers seconded for a period – they would be accountable to the Prime Minister, and any delays reported. There would be no tolerance or excuses for delays.
Third, there is no doubt that Brexit has had an adverse effect, with few benefits identifiable. We need to re-join Europe and expand our market for goods and services.
We need growth. In the private sector, goods and services (not in the ‘nanny state’). This needs investment, but also people with enthusiasm, inspired and innnovative people. Existing in a positive environment. I’ve argued for it elsewhere, but why not make all ‘growth’ tax free for five years. That would set the tone….
Finally, we need to make typical families better off. They have seen their net incomes at best stagnate. No wonder they are disenchanted with mainstream politics – it is doing nothing for them – and provoking what might be mainly ‘protest votes’ for extremists.
If I was Prime Minister, I would explain that we are determined to help them. Tell them that we will be cutting governent spend by 5% and putting it in their pocket. Many people would say this is wrong or too difficult, but, again, if your child’s life depended on it, it would suddenly be possible,,,,
Cut overseas aid, reduce the ‘green’ spend, cancel HS2. I love opera and ballet, but I would cancel all related government spend for the time being – it’s a luxury we can’t afford. Ditto arts spend, and any ‘woke’ initiatives. We appear to be funding PhD research in bizarre ‘social’ areas. Cut the hierarchy in the Military, ditto Police. I read that there are 5,000 people working in the Cabinet Office, you could start there. Then cut ‘Royal’ subsidies.
You could then talk to the people, the ‘workers’ at all levels, and explain the aims. You could add that when the economy starts growing, there will be a limited new fund for things like Overseas Aid and ‘culture’ about which they would be consulted.
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