Government Working Better
This is a set of ideas about how a future government might act more quickly and decisively.
The central suggestion is that the Prime Minister should have a limited set of special powers to get urgent national projects started quickly, before full parliamentary scrutiny and approval.
For example, this could apply to an initial programme of around 100 Acts or major decisions, designed to remove delays and begin important work immediately.
The aim would be to make government faster, clearer and more effective.
1. Energy Freedom
Open up the North Sea oilfields and the coalfield near Liverpool, where this can be done safely and responsibly.
The purpose would be to strengthen the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on overseas suppliers.
2. Foreshore and Energy Costs
Take the land on the foreshore, between high and low tide, into public ownership.
This could help remove unnecessary costs connected with electricity infrastructure crossing this land.
3. New City Development Corporations
Set up six City Development Corporations to create six new cities.
Each city could eventually grow to around one million people.
In the first year, each new city would aim to build 50,000 houses.
This would be a major national housebuilding programme, intended to tackle housing shortages and create new centres of opportunity.
4. Small Nuclear Reactors
Accelerate the development of small modular nuclear reactors.
This would involve reviewing and reducing unnecessary regulation, while still maintaining proper safety standards.
The aim would be to cut development time and make nuclear energy a more practical part of the UK’s future energy supply.
5. Review EU-Derived Regulations
Cancel or review the Statutory Instruments that converted EU regulations into UK law.
The purpose would be to decide which rules are still useful, which should be amended, and which should be removed.
6. The European Convention on Human Rights
Consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights if it is judged to prevent the UK from acting in its own national interest.
This would be a major constitutional decision and would need careful public and parliamentary debate.
7. UK Courts and European Court Decisions
Refuse to allow European Court of Justice findings to be used as binding authority in UK court decisions.
Cases where this has happened could be reviewed to ensure that UK law is being interpreted independently.
8. Pavements, Footpaths and Cyclists
Protect pedestrians by banning motorised carriages of all types from pavements, footpaths and grass verges.
Cyclists should have their own properly segregated byways wherever possible.
The aim would be to make walking safer, especially for older people, children and disabled pedestrians.
9. Self-Driving Vehicles
Make it possible to order a self-driving car or other autonomous vehicle anywhere in the UK.
This could improve access to transport, particularly for people who cannot drive, people in rural areas and those with mobility challenges.
Final Thought
The overall aim is to make government work better by acting quickly on energy, housing, transport, regulation and national infrastructure.
Some of these ideas would be controversial, but the central question is worth asking:
How can government become faster, more practical and more effective?
