Rebuilding Trust Requires A Strategic Response from Government | Kevin Keith
The immediate response to reject any future clothing donations was a missed opportunity by the government.
This issue around ‘freebies’ is an uncomfortable one, but it highlights a critical function of our democratic system: politicians making disclosures, and journalists holding them accountable in the public interest.
A more strategic approach would have been to embrace this scrutiny and encourage more of it.
In part to differentiate this government from its predecessors, especially since polling suggests that much of the public view all politicians as broadly the same.
But crucially to address the critical objective of rebuilding public trust, currently at record lows, by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability.
Returning a cake to the plate is not a diet. Thinking about everything you eat is.
There are signs the government is starting to recognise this.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden’s recent announcement that ministers will have to declare hospitality within 28 days – the same as shadow ministers and backbenchers.
The Prime Minister’s announcement that his government would bring forward new principles for donations and plans for political parties to publicly justify why they are appointing peers to the House of Lords.
But it has to be a cohesive, government-wide strategy.
The Prime Minister has emphasised the need for ‘deeds, not words’ to restore faith in governance.
The appointment of a COVID commissioner and the duty of candour are examples of this.
Returning to the diet analogy, they are healthy choices.
And like a jigsaw, each deed must connect to form a picture and reinforce a consistent narrative of a government committed to transparency, accountability, and openness.
This is a strategic approach and the only way to cut-through to the wider public and rebuild trust.
There are opportunities to advance this agenda: the House of Commons Modernisation Committee, the proposed Ethics and Integrity Commission, implementing powers for the independent adviser on ministers’ interests to start their own investigations, the updated Ministerial Code, and the next UK National Action Plan for Open Government.
Crucially the latter prioritises the involvement of experts from civil society and the wider public on policy relating to transparency and accountability. This could include political integrity. Whilst so often called the Nolan Principles, a better descriptor would be the People’s Principles. They are standards of conduct the public are entitled to expect.
In his book How to Run a Government, Sir Michael Barber, now back in government to support the delivery of its five key missions, quotes former Blair adviser Paul Corrigan: “You do the second most difficult thing in politics—win an election—and then, without time for a good night’s sleep, you start to do the most difficult thing in politics, which is to run a country.”
I believe the public recognises this: governing is no easy task.
But to paraphrase Barber, now it’s time to think about How to Run a Government Differently.
While focusing on what you deliver, and the five missions, is crucial.
Equally important is how you deliver.
This requires a broader strategy rooted in transparency, accountability and participation.
Kevin Keith is Chair of the UK Open Government Network which works with the government on the production of National Action Plans for Open Government.