First Secretary of State Louise Haigh has announced the formation of the OneGov Delivery Agency, a new body tasked with reforming the civil service, a move that has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Alex Burghart, the Conservative deputy leader, labeled the agency a "massive new quango," arguing that it would undermine ministerial authority by placing responsibility for functions such as government recruitment, civil service pensions, and security vetting without granting commensurate power.
During a statement in the House of Commons on "rewiring the state," Ms. Haigh asserted that the agency is intended to "streamline the state" and reduce bureaucracy. She stated that the central civil service is expected to shrink as part of the government's devolution plans, leading to fewer civil servants at the national level. Ms. Haigh emphasized a commitment to "tear away that red tape" and build the capacity of regional and local government, which she argued has been hampered by a decade of austerity.
Mr. Burghart expressed disappointment, suggesting that Ms. Haigh, who had previously described the Treasury as an "imperial" department, had not sufficiently challenged its influence. He questioned plans for "No10 North" to take charge of growth initiatives, which he believed had been diluted. He stated that significant power remains with the Treasury, which he characterized as a "behemoth created in its modern form by Gordon Brown, designed to control Whitehall."
Ms. Haigh countered that functions related to local economic growth and devolution strategy have been transferred from the Treasury and other departments to No10 North, describing this as "a little bit of a chip in its empire." She confirmed that No10 North is funded from existing Cabinet Office budgets.
The creation of the OneGov Delivery Agency was announced as part of a broader government strategy to address the cost of living, improve control over essential services, and foster community renewal through three new taskforces. Ms. Haigh indicated a continued focus on devolution and collaboration with regional mayors to implement these changes.