In the UK we are at the end of the political cycle. There are little or no plans to address low growth and high levels of inequality within the economy. After decades of austerity public services and their funding models are at risk of obsolescence and must be replaced with longer term solutions for our most essential services. This review of the state of our public sector – and public finances – looks at the range of challenges for the UK, and how we can tackle them in the light of a slowing economy, a cost of living crisis and a Government that is unable, or unwilling, to tackle the long-term problems. 

The expertise and resilience of our public sector workers is not enough – they need a long term plan. The public needs to trust in the services provided by the public sector and good decision making is integral to this. Are productivity plans the answer or another distraction from systemic underinvestment and ongoing Governments’ refusal to act on fundamental reform needs? Why are we tinkering at the edges and ignoring fundamental reform?