Starmer: I will tackle our flabby state.
Record tax and spend has failed to improve front-line services, PM tells The Telegraph.
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the British state has become “overcautious and flabby”.
Writing in The Telegraph ahead of a major speech, the Prime Minister admits that record tax and spending in recent years has not led to improvement in front-line services.
He promises wholesale reform of the Civil Service, which he describes as “overstretched, unfocused” and unable to deliver security in an uncertain world.
He is also set to announce a new target to slash the cost of government regulations.
His comments echo the sentiments of Elon Musk in the US, who has promised to reduce the amount of taxpayers’ money wasted in his role as the head of the department of government efficiency (Doge).
They represent a move from the Prime Minister on to what is traditionally seen as Tory territory and risk a major backlash from Labour’s union backers. However, if he is successful in improving performance in the NHS and other public services, Sir Keir could finally see a reversal in his low public approval ratings.
On Thursday, he will unveil a new target to reduce the administrative cost of regulations by 25 per cent to “unleash” enterprise across the country. DT.
.jpeg)