In many areas, the UK’s response to the pandemic have been hampered by internal inefficiencies in government. These issues have been exacerbated by scandals and clandestine decision making during the pandemic, reducing public trust in governance in the UK.
Trust and transparency are not the only cause for concern: there has also been an absence of coordination and government systems have lacked the resilience needed to handle systemic challenges. Long-term failures in dealing with inequality and insecurity have also come to a head during the pandemic.
In response, we recommend:
- The government should begin the process of a participatory national conversation on our response to Covid, along the lines of a deliberative assembly.
- The UK government should opt for ‘radical transparency’ wherever possible, taking cues from countries internationally who have adopted similar approaches.
- Measures should further be taken to rein-in lobbying and cronyism, such as tighter restrictions and a lobbying tax, the proceeds of which would go towards enhancing citizen participation in democracy in the UK.
pdf 345.7 KB
Authors
Related articles
-
How music perpetuates white male dominance
Comment
Olga Ivannikova FRSA Gabriella Di Laccio
Olga Ivannikova FRSA and Gabriella Di Laccio highlight research that revealed the dominance of white male composers and argue that for music to fulfil its potential to entertain and to drive social change much more diversity is needed.
-
Economic security and long-term conditions
Report
Hannah Webster James Morrison
In this briefing we identify six recommendations for national government and local systems to support people living with multiple long-term conditions.
-
The impact of health on economic security
Blog
Hannah Webster
Hannah Webster reflects on new research that highlights the difficulty for those with long-term health conditions to achieve economic security.