New Green Thinktank Advocates for 'Doge of the Left' to Unlock £30bn in Annual Savings
A groundbreaking report from the newly established Verdant thinktank argues that a 'Doge of the left' could rescue UK taxpayers up to £30bn each year by aggressively targeting waste, fraud, and tax avoidance. This initiative, launched as interest grows in the Green party's future manifesto under Zack Polanski, aims to redirect substantial funds towards enhancing public services.
Co-Chairs and Political Context
Verdant is co-chaired by James Meadway, a former adviser to Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and civil society campaigner Deborah Doane. The thinktank positions itself as a counterpoint to right-wing narratives on government savings, which it claims have had disastrous outcomes. Meadway emphasised, 'Breaking the false economies of Treasury thinking and vested Whitehall interests is essential. A 'Doge of the left' would rinse out the tax avoiders, the profiteers, and the fraudsters, and help deliver the high quality public services we deserve.'
Comparison with US Doge and Proposed Measures
The report contrasts its approach with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in the US, which focused on slashing 'woke' projects but fell short of its $2tn savings goal. Verdant proposes practical UK-specific measures:
- Appointing a 'chief savings officer' to hunt out waste and fraud, inspired by New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's model.
- Empowering the National Audit Office to halt hopelessly overspending public projects.
- Opening public procurement, including costly defence projects, to more transparent competition.
- Establishing an internal consultancy function, similar to the Government Digital Service, to reduce reliance on expensive private consultants.
Breakdown of Savings and Key Recommendations
The estimated £30bn in annual savings is derived from independent assessments of losses due to fraud, waste, under-collection of tax, and lack of procurement competition. Notably, Verdant calls for scrapping £3.6bn in annual tax reliefs and government support for oil and gas producers, arguing that 'at a time of rising fossil fuel prices globally, there is little to no justification for lavish expenditures on socially harmful production of this kind.'
Green Party's Economic Vision and Broader Implications
With the Green party gaining traction in polls, Verdant's ideas could shape its manifesto. Zack Polanski, leader of the Greens in England and Wales, recently outlined an economic policy including rent caps and a wealth tax. He diverged from Labour's focus on GDP growth, stating, 'Actually, I'm much more interested in growing people's mental health, growing our public services, growing cohesion in our communities.' Polanski also pledged £8bn to protect all consumers from energy price hikes due to the Iran war, contrasting with Rachel Reeves's approach.
This report underscores a shift towards prioritising efficiency and transparency in government spending, offering a potential blueprint for any political party seeking to bolster public services without increasing debt.
