Public Policy in the UK – left, right and the third way

1. Public Policy in the UK – left, right and the third way

2. Questions to consider • What is the Third Way? • Is it a new definition of socialism? • How does it relate to neo-pluralist discussions? • What is involved in New Labour’s modernising agenda? • What impact does this have on developing and implementing public policy?

3. Introduction • Departure from left-right politics to a new ‘Third Way’ • Beyond both Old Labour and New Right – why? • Acceptance that battle between market and public sector was over • More than just UK – Germany and US also! • Critics argue that the ‘Third Way’ is imprecise and subject to a variety of interpretations. • Others argue that it lacks any ideological basis and progressives on the basis of ‘what works’.

4. What is the Third Way? • It is an argument about change and the need to respond to change • Old ideological positions are rejected and a new position embraced • What matters is what works • There is not less, but more, for the state to do • Both markets and the state must work in the public interest • Social inclusion means ensuring a decent life chance for all • There are mutual obligations between citizens, and between the state and its citizens • There is a political strategy here as well as a political theory

5. Third Way Approach to Public Policy • State working in partnership w private and voluntary sector (pluralism ?) • Government regulator and guarantor but not direct provider of public goods (Street level bureaucrats?) • ‘Joined-up government’ developments (networks?) • Redrawing of ‘social contract’ – rights and responsibilities (rationalism?)

6. Positive Aspects • Endorsement of a mixed economy of welfare services; • Partnership in policy planning and implementation. • Active promotion of equality of opportunity (as opposed to the old way of equality of outcome) • Belief in broader values of welfare spending as investment in ‘social capital’. • ‘Helping people to help themselves’. • ‘Giving people a hand up not a hand out’.

7. Negative Aspects • Contradictory elements to it – endorses the market economy but points out that it can lead to social disintegration. • Not a centre-left project at all – more so it amounts to a shift to the right by endorsing global capitalism, backing tough law and order policies (Look at the current home office policies and examine this issue)

8. Modernising Government Policy • ‘For Labour, good policy making is strategic, holistic, focused on outcomes and delivery, evidence based, inclusive (in the sense of taking account of the impact of policy on different groups) and, finally, based on clearly defined objectives’ (Richards & Smith, 2002; 241). • Policy making is: 'the process by which governments translate their political vision into programmes and actions to deliver ‘outcomes’ – desired changes in the real world’. (Modernising Government White Paper, 1999)

9. Modernising Government Policy • Minister without portfolio/Minister for the Cabinet created • Policy Unit created • Strategic Communications Unit created • Performance and Innovation Unit created • Increase in political appointments – ‘special advisors’ • Reviews, task forces, advisory groups created • *NOTE ALL OF THE CHANGES ALREADY – Strategy Unit (2002), Delivery Unit (2001)

10. Modernising Government Policy • Can conclude that an innovative approach to policy making has been adopted under New Labour as a consequence of re-organisation at the centre (with all of the various new depts.) and the introduction of ad hoc committees to deal with specific policy issues. • Can also conclude that such reforms have increased a lack con-ordination and control at the center. Too many power bases have now been created and traditional departments no longer know where to go to secure their own departmental goals. Traditionally networks for securing policy success have become blurred.

11. Criticisms thus far… • ‘the Blair Government is sustaining the principles of parliamentary sovereignty, secrecy and elitism that underpin the core executive’ (Richards & Smith, 2002:250). • This contradicts with the governments constitutional reform agenda (eg devolution) which should increase pluralism through devolving power away from the centre. • Government plans for freedom of information also shows up many contradictions in terms of the policy process. ‘Your Right to Know’ vs Freedom of Information Bill  

12. Policy Problems for New Labour • Fuel protests 2000 • Foot and Mouth Disease 2001 • Railway Accidents 2001 + • Controversy over public-private partnership • DEL Learning account fraud • Constitutional Reforms THE SAME PUBLIC POLICY FAILURES THAT EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENT HAS HAD? Why?

13. The Hare and the Muddle Approach • Hare pattern in policy making – an over excitable centralist system that, however, has faced substantial barriers in delivery given the ‘ungrounded statist’ nature of British public policy • Muddling through – suggest that policy making is unable to offer coherent policy planning or overarching policy programmes esp in relation to civil service Martin Lodge paper, 2003

14. Key Documents • See Policy Hub Publication list for extensive list of material relating directly to POLICY under New Labour http://www.policyhub.gov.uk/publications/index.asp • Better Policy Making CMPS, 2001) http://www.cmps.gov.uk/publications/downloads/better_policy_making.pdf • Modernising Government White Paper (1999) http://www.policyhub.gov.uk/docs/modgov.pdf