NEWS STORY : Government Orders Sweeping Quango Review in Push to “Rewire the State”
STORY
Every public body across government is now under scrutiny as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden MP, orders departments to justify the existence of all arms-length bodies — or face closure, merger, or reintegration into core government departments.
In a move billed as a key part of the Prime Minister’s “Plan for Change,” the government says the sweeping review will “rewire Whitehall” to create a more productive and agile state. Officials say the changes aim to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate duplication, and ensure that decisions of national importance are made by elected ministers, not unelected bodies.
The directive to review all quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations — commonly known as quangos — has been sent to every government department, with the presumption that unless a body can prove its necessity, it will be restructured or dissolved.
Streamlining for a New Era
The government argues that in an age of increasing global instability, a more streamlined and accountable civil service is essential. “Only by fundamentally re-wiring the state can we deliver our Plan for Change to secure Britain’s future and serve working people,” McFadden said. “We are taking action to ensure decisions that affect everyone are made by those who have been elected to do so.”
The review follows last month’s announcement that NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care, a move the government says will end duplication and empower frontline staff.
Four Tests for Survival
Each quango will be assessed against four key principles:
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Ministerial Oversight – Major national policies must fall under the control of elected officials.
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Efficiency – Any duplication of effort between departments and public bodies must be eliminated.
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Stakeholder Management – Engaging with stakeholders is no longer a valid reason for a body’s separate existence.
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Independent Advice – Only bodies that deliver genuinely independent advice or legal scrutiny will remain untouched.
Crucially, the review will consider legislative changes where necessary to overcome past difficulties in reforming public bodies established by law.
Accountability and Reform
While watchdogs that scrutinise government or uphold the rule of law will be protected, most others will need to make a compelling case for survival. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, along with Secretaries of State and Permanent Secretaries, will be held directly accountable for any arms-length bodies that remain.
The reforms are expected to result in many policy-heavy quangos being brought back into ministerial departments. Ministers argue that this approach will restore democratic oversight while retaining the expertise of specialist staff.
A Politically Charged Shake-Up
The announcement is likely to reignite debate over the role of quangos in modern governance. Critics of previous attempts to slash public bodies have warned that such reforms risk undermining expert-led advice and oversight. Supporters, however, argue that bloated public bodies too often escape accountability and stifle innovation.
As the Plan for Change gathers pace, the government says this latest overhaul will help deliver its core pledges: kick-starting economic growth, rebuilding the NHS, and strengthening Britain’s borders.
The review begins immediately, with changes expected to follow in the coming months.
