A new study conducted by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, has found that the United Kingdom has experienced a decline in effective national governance, leading to economic stagnation and social unrest. The study warns that the next government must address these issues urgently in order to prevent further harm to citizens’ quality of life.
The report, released on Wednesday 26 June, 2024, highlights the impact of the last 14 years of Conservative rule on the UK’s governance. Using the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI), which assesses the quality of life in a population based on the strength of democratic accountability and government capacity, the study found a decline in both areas.
According to the report, the UK’s governance was among the highest performing countries globally at the turn of the millennium, but has since shown signs of stagnation and erosion. This is attributed to a lack of investment in infrastructure, growing regional inequalities, and political scandals that have eroded public trust in government institutions.
With the General Election in the UK approaching on July 4, polls suggest that the Labour party is on course for a return to power for the first time since 2010. However, the study warns that the incoming government will face several interlocking crises caused by past failings, and will need to take urgent action to restore public trust and rebuild the economy.
Labour has pledged to prioritize economic growth through a range of policies including strict rules on taxation and public spending, reforms to the planning system, and investment in clean energy jobs. However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has accused both Labour and the Conservatives of ignoring difficult choices on spending and taxes, and failing to address the struggling public services.
Despite these challenges, the UK’s governance still ranks among the highest of the 145 countries assessed by the Berggruen Governance Index. However, the report highlights a decline in the UK’s state capacity, with a five-point drop over the past decade.
The researchers attribute this decline to a combination of austerity measures and political dysfunction, which have led to a focus on divisive issues such as Brexit and migration at the expense of pressing domestic issues. This has weakened the UK’s governance structure and left the country with less disciplined leadership, making it ill-prepared to handle crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the report identifies economic issues as a key factor in the UK’s governance challenges. The country has not fully recovered from the global financial crisis in 2008, with austerity measures and a lack of investment leading to regional inequalities and sapping the economy of long-term growth.
The report also highlights the impact of the 2016 referendum on EU membership, which the researchers say “still haunts the UK economy and political system to this day.” The UK’s lagging behind the EU average for capital formation since 2020 is one measure of the lack of investment, leaving the country with crumbling infrastructure and a lack of affordable housing.
In conclusion, the researchers stress the need for urgent action to address the erosion of state capacity and regional inequalities in the UK. They call for the incoming government to prioritize regional planning and economic growth in order to prevent further damage to the country’s economy and social cohesion.
The Democracy News Alliance, a collaboration between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK), has offered this material for use by all recipients without the need for a separate subscription agreement. The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the main news services of the participating agencies, adhering to the same editorial standards of independent, impartial, and unbiased reporting.
For further information, please contact:
Christian Röwekamp, Democracy News Alliance, roewekamp.christian@dpa.com
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.