A new statutory role for the civil service?

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After a turbulent decade in British politics and government, the civil service faces a crisis of authority. Politicians question its legitimacy and effectiveness, permanent secretaries have been summarily dismissed and officials have been drawn into “partygate” and procurement scandals. A new paper from the Institute for Government will argue that the civil service needs a new statutory role to underpin its constitutional position and improve its accountability and effectiveness.

Government reform also creates an opportunity to improve policy making in the UK. Chronic policy problems like housing supply, social care and regional inequality have been left untackled for too long. A second IfG report, also to be published on 3 March, will set out ways for the civil service to be held more accountable for the standards of its policy advice and the expertise of its staff.

Our panel to debate these new papers will be:

• The Rt Hon The Lord Herbert of South Downs, former Minister of State for Policing and Social Justice
• The Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP, former Chair of the Public Accounts Committee
• Polly Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Demos and former Director of Policy to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg
• Ian Watmore, former First Civil Service Commissioner

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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