British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared the abolition of NHS England to “reduce bureaucracy” and restore management of the health service “to democratic control”.
He emphasized that decisions involving billions of taxpayer pounds should not rest with an “arms-length” body, pledging to enact extensive reforms aimed at enhancing patient care.
During a visit to Hull, Mr. Starmer stated: “I cannot, in all honesty, explain to the British public why they should invest their money in two layers of bureaucracy.
“That money could and should be directed towards nurses, doctors, surgeries, and GP appointments.
“Thus, I am returning NHS management to democratic control by disbanding the arms-length entity, NHS England.”
Mr. Starmer is also set to face opposition from the UK’s civil service unions after he committed to reshape the “overstuffed” state and reduce bureaucratic costs.
He noted that the civil service had grown by 130,000 since the Brexit referendum, yet services had not improved and it was “overburdened, unfocused, and incapable of delivering the security people need”.
However, union leaders accused Mr. Starmer of “utilizing blame-oriented language” to criticize officials and urged him to refrain from the “incendiary rhetoric” resembling Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the US.
In addition to pledging a 25% reduction in regulatory costs, Mr. Starmer will promise in a speech to realign the state towards his key priorities, creating “an active government that addresses major issues, allowing people to focus on their lives.”
He will target a “cottage industry of checkers and blockers that hinder progress for working individuals,” intensifying his critique of regulation in the UK.
Mr. Starmer plans to announce initiatives for increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology within the civil service, with the aim of ensuring that one in ten officials will occupy tech and digital roles within the next five years.
Prior to the speech outlining his agenda, Mr. Starmer wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “In these uncertain times, citizens desire a state that tackles significant issues, rather than an expanding state that demands more from them. We must operate at peak efficiency and capability.
“I believe in the state’s potential. I am not engaged in ideological debates about its size; my priority is its functionality.”
Currently, businesses contend with “an overly cautious, bloated state” that obstructs progress, he added.
The British government estimates that reducing the civil service size and increasing the proportion of officials in digital and data roles could save taxpayers up to €53 billion.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing senior officials, remarked that “many civil servants will be searching for tangible results and may feel that, once again, the Prime Minister is employing blame language instead of pursuing transformation.”
He added: “Ministers establish regulators to regulate—if there’s a cottage industry at play, it’s because previous governments sought it.”
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle rejected the comparison of the government’s civil service reform plans to Donald Trump’s DOGE administration.
“Accusing public servants of failing to execute their assigned tasks is merely cheap politics and reveals a pattern where the government seems more preoccupied with headlines than actual leadership.”
Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union, acknowledged that it was “appropriate for the government to advance plans for better utilization of new technology,” but cautioned that it would “struggle to attract the required skills” without increasing compensation.
He added: “Civil servants are not opposed to reforms, but these must be pursued collaboratively with staff and unions.
“I urge everyone in Government to steer clear of the incendiary language and tactics seen in the United States, and to clarify that reforms aim to strengthen rather than undermine the civil service.”
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle reiterated that the government’s plans for reforming the civil service are not analogous to Donald Trump’s DOGE.
He told LBC: “This is a disruptive initiative, but it is one we aim to positively steer and lead people through.”
“We do not want to instill fear about changes; we aspire to create excitement about the opportunities that come with change.”
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart criticized: “Labour is not committed to driving growth in Britain.
“The Prime Minister lacks a plan to reform the civil service or reduce public expenditure.
“Due to his budget, the state’s size is expected to reach an alarming 44% of GDP by 2030.”
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey dismissed Mr. Starmer’s proposals as merely “surface-level adjustments while our economy continues to falter,” advocating for an “ambitious new deal with the EU” to enhance trade and stimulate economic growth.
