The Art of Delivery

of Sir Michael Barber’s leadership of Tony Blair’s PM Delivery Unit (See Blog 107) is certainly comprehensive, if a touch uncritical. The main takeaway is the need to work with the Treasury – which was a tough task when Gordon Brown and Blair were pulling in opposite directions. It does, however, illustrate the difficulty of wading through the Whitehall treacle – which I suspect is as glutinous now as it was 20 years ago. My regret is that nowhere does it seem to occur to those involved that better engagement with relevant stakeholders and a greater willingness to consult might make the delivery of complex, multi-faceted policies more deliverable. As Barber seeks to repeat the trick for the current PM, he has a chance to try it.