Former UK Prime Ministers Sir John Major and Gordon Brown have recommended a series of sweeping reforms aimed at overhauling the structure of the British government. Their proposals, presented under the auspices of the Institute for Government, target what they see as the outdated and inefficient “centre” of government: Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury. These reforms suggest a radical reshaping to ensure a more dynamic and effective decision-making process, which includes reducing the Cabinet’s size and forming a new executive committee of ministers for strategic concerns.

In a detailed examination of the UK’s governmental system, which traces its roots back to the 18th century, the two former leaders pinpointed its overly centralised nature as a significant impediment to contemporary governance. Key recommendations include the transformation of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office into a unified Department for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, alongside a distinctive Department for the Civil Service. This restructuring aims to bolster the Prime Minister’s leadership support mechanism and streamline governmental modernisation and reform efforts.

The report also advocates for separating the combined roles of Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, arguing that this amalgamation dilutes effective governance. It calls for greater transparency and accountability within the civil service to improve reform implementation. These suggestions arrive as the Labour Party, ahead of a crucial general election, is contemplating a “mission-led government” strategy, highlighting the timing’s critical nature.

Gordon Brown, in particular, has underscored the necessity of a bold economic strategy to extricate the UK from a persistent low-growth trap. Alongside Sir John Major, Brown has called for the Treasury to adopt a more aggressive role in economic recovery, suggesting a departure from its traditional fiscal focus. This includes promoting collaboration between the Treasury and other departments to tackle the country’s stagnating growth, productivity, and investment levels.

Furthermore, both Major and Brown have criticised the current state of political affairs within the Conservative Party, noting the instability caused by having three Prime Ministers in a single parliamentary term. This criticism extends to the suggestions of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer potentially opting for a “gang of four” Cabinet model, which both former PMs view as potentially problematic without further refinement for inclusivity and effectiveness.

These proposals and observations by Sir John Major and Gordon Brown represent a significant critique of and set of solutions for the perceived inefficiencies and challenges within the core of the UK government, highlighting a cross-party concern for governance that better meets the requirements of the 21st century.