More British state turf wars

["Michael Keaney" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

Penners

For some reason it is the Independent that is covering the machinations
going on behind the intermittently impenetrable walls of the British
state. This time it concerns Blair's reorganisation of the civil service
machinery around the office of the Prime Minister, and the developing
use of independent contractors and ennobled appointees in policy
formation and implementation. While the position of John Prescott has
been much weakened owing to a combination of the Blair entourage's
sidelining him and his own ineptitude (all quite sad, really), he
remains sufficiently symbolic that he should be kept "on side" in order
to shore up support within the Labour Party for New Labour. Or at least
he did. It's more likely now that, his credibility as intact as Robin
Cook's, he, as Deputy Leader, is simply hanging on because nobody knows
what to do with him -- least of all him.


MPs summon Prescott to ask him what he is doing

 By Andrew Grice, Political Editor

 The Independent, 31 August 2001

 John Prescott has been summoned by MPs to explain exactly
 what he is doing in his new role after growing concern that
 Tony Blair's post-election shake-up has created a bureaucratic
 bog at the heart of the Government.

 The Deputy Prime Minister moved from the disbanded
 Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions to run
 the Cabinet Office as cabinet co-ordinator, ensuring Labour
 delivers its promises on improved public services.

 But some cabinet ministers worry that the shuffle has created
 a network of overlapping "command and control" centres. Mr
 Blair has set up a Delivery Unit, an Office of Public Sector
 Reform and a Performance and Innovation Unit, while Lord Birt
 will work in a new Forward Strategy Unit. Mr Blair has merged
 the Downing Street Policy Unit with his office.

 "There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians," one
 minister said on Thursday. "It's a recipe for turf wars."

 Speculation that Mr Prescott has been sidelined has been
 fuelled by the uncharacteristically low profile he adopted during
 his period in charge while Mr Blair was on a summer holiday,
 which ended on Thursday. In previous summers, Mr Prescott
 has been accused of gaffes while minding the shop.

 MPs on the Commons Public Administration Select Committee
 have written to Mr Prescott asking him to appear this autumn
 to explain his role and how the system will work.

 In a letter to the Cabinet Office, the MPs stated: "The
 committee would like to take evidence from Mr Prescott on his
 whole range of responsibilities, including the operation of his
 office and its relationships with other parts of the Government,
 as well as his work on cabinet committees (especially
 Domestic Affairs).

 "A special emphasis will be laid on whether the new structure
 will help to improve the delivery of public services."

 The MPs believe that contradictory statements were issued in
 the aftermath of the election, when Number 10 said Mr
 Prescott "will act with the full authority of the Prime Minister in
 overseeing the delivery of manifesto pledges", while Mr
 Prescott issued a statement saying his deputy, Lord
 Macdonald, would report directly to Mr Blair and have
 "day-to-day responsibility for the working of the Delivery Unit,
 which supports the Prime Minister on matters to do with the
 delivery of public services."

Full article at:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=91564

Michael Keaney
Mercuria Business School
Martinlaaksontie 36
01620 Vantaa
Finland

michael.keaney@xxxxxx