Nearly six months ago, the country voted for change. The desire for change was palpable, it oozed out of every doorstep conversation, over pub bars and across dinner table discussions. Whilst the country was desperate for change, people were yet to be fully convinced by Keir Starmer, but they were willing to give his Labour Party the opportunity to govern.
The message the new Prime Minister chose to deliver on the doorstep of Number 10 on his first day in office focused on returning the Government to serving the interests of working people. A “Government of Service”, “Country before Party”. Just six months on and the optimism of the election and the initial confidence in both the Government and the Prime Minister personally has fallen far and fast.
How did this happen? Did the public have unreasonable expectations of a new Government? Did they think that a new Government would be able to fix the NHS, tackle immigration and make them feel better off overnight? Does our political discourse, particularly during a General Election, drive a level of optimism that is unrealistic and undeliverable? How did this Government disappoint so quickly?
In the UK, governments change literally overnight, with all the drama and pageantry in the spirit of a 60-minute makeover, delivering the veneer of change whilst the fundamentals really stay the same. A new Government takes office with gusto and momentum, keen to make its mark, define the narrative, and look like it knows what it is doing whilst still trying to work out how it all works.
In reality, change is not a single event, it is a process, and despite the rocky start, this Government is ambitious about wanting to do things differently, govern with integrity and reform the state and the way it works for people.
For those of us following the day-to-day ups and downs of the political world, it’s easy to be sucked into the bubble and lose perspective. To see all the mistakes and missteps, the tensions and factions, to be drawn into the pull of the ever-present undercurrent of gossip, rumour, subterfuge and conspiracy.
In truth, we are six months into a five-year term of a Government with a Parliamentary majority of over 150. This Government has both time and the means to deliver real change, and beneath the daily tittle-tattle of Westminster, the tectonic plates are starting to move.
There is a steely determination to make the tough decisions, and despite the rocky start, they are standing steadfast and united (for now). They remain committed to a radical new way of governing, changing the culture and mechanics of how the state thinks and works.
In terms of policy, they are doing what they said they would, unblocking the planning system, unlocking investment, and putting the building blocks in place to drive growth whilst keeping a grip on public spending, all whilst prioritising the ordinary worker.
It feels like the Government is only now finally getting to grips with how the machine works, or could work, and there is clearly frustration with the wiring and mechanics. The levers of power are hard to manoeuvre, the engine of government is still in first gear, but the brakes are definitely off and the wheels are turning.
The workload is ramping up, the public affairs community is drowning in consultations, strategies and reviews, there is a sense of urgency heightened by the poor start, and there is absolutely no complacency. A mantra of delivery delivery delivery permeates through every department and every discussion.
Encouragingly, there is a commitment to make decisions, to have the difficult conversations, all whilst maintaining a sense of purpose and, to use the buzzword of the year, mission.
It hasn’t been the smoothest transition into power, but I’m still optimistic that this government can deliver the change we were promised.
