4. Governing

Abstract

‘Governing: still the strong centre?’ looks at the British reputation for strong government, and whether this is the same as effective government. Britain is a traditional example of a ‘power-hoarding’ polity, and the power of the British government was evident in the response to the financial crisis. However, there are tensions, not least between the priorities of ministers and civil servants. Historically, disagreements between prime ministers and their chancellors have led to breakdowns. Policy formulation is not the same as policy delivery, and governments have struggled to square their departmental structure and the need for collective strategy when actions are required outside the nation state.