Darren Jones Announces Sweeping Whitehall Reforms to Boost Efficiency
In a major speech delivered at a technology company in west London, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, has unveiled ambitious plans to fundamentally 'rewire' the machinery of government. Standing before a neon sign proclaiming 'move fast, fix things', Jones argued that the British state is 'broken' and requires a complete digital and cultural transformation to better serve the public.
A New Era of Accountability and 'Jeopardy' for Senior Officials
Central to the proposed reforms is a significant shift in accountability for senior civil servants. Jones stated that performance indicators for top officials will now be set directly by ministers, with those failing to meet expectations facing dismissal. He highlighted a stark statistic to underscore the current lack of consequence, revealing that only seven out of 7,000 senior civil servants are currently on formal improvement plans.
'Instead of the sideways shimmy to another team or department if you fail to perform, I'm afraid you will be sacked,' Jones declared. He emphasised that future promotions and substantial bonuses would be reserved for 'the doers, not the talkers', signalling a clear intent to reward tangible achievement over bureaucratic process.
Introducing Agile 'Two Pizza' Task Forces to Bust Bureaucratic 'Sludge'
To tackle specific, persistent problems within government services, Jones announced the creation of small, nimble task forces. These units will operate under a principle borrowed from the startup world: the 'two pizza' rule. This theory posits that any team too large to be fed by two pizzas is too unwieldy to be truly agile and effective.
Cabinet ministers will be able to bid for these task forces to assist their departments. While Jones did not specify all target areas, he earlier pointed to childcare policy and the management of driving tests and licences as examples of services in need of urgent improvement.
Streamlining Processes and Legislative 'Sludge Busting'
The reform agenda extends to cutting red tape within government processes themselves. Jones cited a pilot scheme at HMRC where a cumbersome 40-step approval process was successfully reduced to just two layers, showcasing the potential for efficiency gains.
Furthermore, a dedicated 'sludge busting' initiative will be led by Attorney General Richard Hermer and Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. Their remit will be to identify and remove legislative, regulatory, and procedural obstacles that hinder effective policy delivery.
Union Response and the Challenge of Risk-Taking
The proposed changes have elicited a mixed response from civil service unions. During the speech, Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA union, questioned whether the government could convince civil servants to embrace risk if they fear becoming political scapegoats when initiatives fail.
Jones responded that he was comfortable with a greater degree of risk-taking to drive up public sector productivity. Meanwhile, Mike Clancy of the Prospect union expressed cautious support, noting that thousands of specialist 'doers' in areas like science and data are already eager for reform but are often underpaid and undervalued.
'If the government wants a more agile and productive state,' Clancy stated, 'reforming the pay system to recruit and retain key specialists is the place to start.'
Acknowledging Past Failures with a Promise of Digital Transformation
Jones acknowledged that numerous previous administrations have attempted to reform Whitehall with limited success. However, he insisted this effort would be different, combining internal competition with a relentless focus on improving the citizen's experience.
'The public rightly ask, if you can bank and shop online, in a quick and convenient way, then why can't it be done for public services too?' he said, framing digital transformation as a core public expectation. The overarching goal is to create a state that is as responsive and efficient as the best private sector services, marking a decisive shift in how government operates.
