Callum McGoldrick has a useful CAPX reminder that the Quangocracy is here to stay. Well worth reading because there is no evidence that any government has ever intended to tackle the problem, in spite of rhetoric claiming otherwise.
Political oversight of government by elected political parties has gone.
Quangos are out of control – and ministers like it that way
Calls for a ‘bonfire of the quangos’ have been made since David Cameron’s time as Leader of the Opposition all the way through to Keir Starmer’s premiership. Yet for all the rhetoric, the quangocracy has grown bigger, better staffed and more powerful, as is detailed in the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s new quango database.
With over 500,000 staff and a total expenditure greater than the GDP of Norway, the reliance on these ‘arm’s-length bodies’ by ministers, and therefore the impact on our lives, has never been greater. Since Anthony Eden took office 70 years ago, every Prime Minister who has stayed in office for a full year has created a quango. Tony Blair created 92, the most of any Prime Minister. Even David Cameron, the man who first promised the great bonfire, created 54.
Quangos are out of control – and ministers like it that way
- Prime Ministers have been piling up new quangos for 70 years: Tony Blair created 92
- Britain’s quangos have a total expenditure greater than the GDP of Norway
- Keir Starmer’s Government created 27 quangos in its first eight months
Calls for a ‘bonfire of the quangos’ have been made since David Cameron’s time as Leader of the Opposition all the way through to Keir Starmer’s premiership. Yet for all the rhetoric, the quangocracy has grown bigger, better staffed and more powerful, as is detailed in the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s new quango database.
With over 500,000 staff and a total expenditure greater than the GDP of Norway, the reliance on these ‘arm’s-length bodies’ by ministers, and therefore the impact on our lives, has never been greater. Since Anthony Eden took office 70 years ago, every Prime Minister who has stayed in office for a full year has created a quango. Tony Blair created 92, the most of any Prime Minister. Even David Cameron, the man who first promised the great bonfire, created 54.
5 comments:
My question is what legal powers do these quangos have and from where are any powers derived? For example: Let's say Ofcom want to fine GBNews - They have no minister at their head so where is their power from when the 'trangression' they see is based entirely on their opinion, but there is no clear cut legal judgement involved.
Woodsy - it's an interesting point. Presumably their power comes from legislation and in some cases that has to be confirmed in court, but whether this is always the case would be worth knowing.
Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Starmer,
If you think we're on the run?
We are the boys who will stop your little game.
We are the boys who will make you think again.
'Cause who do you think you are kidding Mr. Starmer,
If you think old England's done?
Mr. Brown goes off to town on the eight twenty-one,
But he comes home each evening and he's ready for some fun.
So who do you think you are kidding Mr. Starmer,
If you think old England's done?
Quangos, yes, then financially top-heavy fake charities ... maybe look at SpAds after that. And political party donations.
dearieme - ha ha, very neat and he isn't kidding anyone.
James - they all seem interlinked too, with revolving door executives.
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