{
  "id": 6265034,
  "title": "Whitehall's latest plan to get things done: Less Whitehall",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/whitehalls-latest-plan-to-get-things-done-less-whitehall-6265034",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-08T09:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/public-sector/2026/09/08/whitehalls-latest-plan-to-get-things-done-less-whitehall/5294813"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UK government has decided to change the way it approaches policy-making, aiming to cut down on lengthy consultations and associated costs. In a letter to all ministers, Chancellor John Healey, First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, and Attorney General Ellie Reeves expressed concerns that the \"consultation culture\" had turned into an \"industry of dither and delay,\" resulting in policies that often end up at a \"lowest common denominator outcome.\"\n\nThe ministers argued that formal consultations often fail to involve those with the most relevant perspectives and can lead to less effective outcomes. To address this, they proposed fewer formal consultations, which should generally take place only when legally required, when not holding one would be \"conspicuously unfair,\" or when ministers decide there's a good reason to seek outside input.\n\nMoreover, departments have been instructed to reassess each case individually rather than relying on past consultations or commitments. The government also intends to remove thousands of unnecessary consultation and reporting requirements from the statute book, as these are seen as redundant. It plans to repeal these requirements unless there's a compelling reason to retain them, with departments encouraged to find opportunities to eliminate them through existing legislation.\n\nThis initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on consultants, with the government having promised in 2024 to deliver £1.2 billion in annual savings by 2026 through tighter controls on consultancy spending. Despite this commitment, recent contracts awarded to firms like Deloitte and PA Consulting for data and analytics services have raised questions about the effectiveness of these measures.\n\nIn addition to reducing consultations, the government is also encouraging ministers to accept a higher risk of legal challenge when implementing policies. The letter emphasizes that if there's a \"tenable legal argument,\" ministers can proceed even if government lawyers assess the legal risk as high. Guidance for government lawyers is expected to be updated to clarify this stance.\n\nFurthermore, the government is set to extend existing reforms limiting judicial review challenges beyond energy schemes to cover transport, water, and other major developments. This move follows the government's identification of consultations, legal caution, and judicial review as obstacles to more efficient policy-making. As Whitehall proceeds with these changes, the focus is on streamlining processes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles to achieve more effective government decisions.",
  "summary": "Ministers declare war on an 'industry of dither and delay' as consultations, legal caution, and judicial reviews get the chop",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Whitehall's latest plan to get things done: Less Whitehall",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/whitehalls-latest-plan-to-get-things-done-less-whitehall",
        "published": "2026-09-08T09:46:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}