Polly Toynbee is correct that there are few quick fixes for the biggest problems facing the country (Labour seems to be flailing, but keep faith: Starmer’s long-term plans are both radical and sound, 17 December). But we shouldn’t delude ourselves that political leadership alone is enough to shift the dial on many of these generational challenges.
While I have critiqued the detail of Whitehall reforms announced by Labour this winter, most of us who have worked in or with Whitehall would accept the need for these institutions to work differently. Central government must pay proper respect to the distinct contributions and roles of others – the devolved administrations; local government; public bodies; and the third and private sectors.
Furthermore, while people might poke fun at the language of missions and milestones, the prime minister and his team are right to try to paint a picture of better lives in an improved country. Since early in the 2000s, governments across the world and closer to home have been adopting so-called “wellbeing frameworks” comprising a long-term vision and ambitious cross-government outcomes for their populations. This sort of tool could help the UK government tell a better story about our shared ambitions and plans.
Sarah Davidson
Chief executive, Carnegie UK; former director-general, Scottish government
• At last, an article that goes against the grain of constant carping and tells a coherent, convincing story of what our grownup government is doing right. An account of the initiatives ministers and advisers have set in train over their first five months in office is welcome. These include the proposed anti-corruption measures that put the quibbling about gifts of Taylor Swift concert tickets into perspective.
How refreshing to read of cross-departmental working in recognition that so many of the policy challenges and changes are connected and, fuelled by the injection of public and private investment, they will restore the public realm. And they have every chance of reviving civic life after the ravages of the last decade and a half.
Hopefully those naysayers who seem to collude with rightwing media barons in finding fault round every corner might resolve in the new year to return with more balanced perspectives.
Bryan Merton
Leicester
• The government’s aspirations are indeed “exceptionally difficult”, as Polly Toynbee says, but populists lie in wait for the electorate’s “trust that the plans will work” to dissipate. Why is it waiting for “enough fruit” to ripen by the time of the next election, when the government should be acting now to stop voters deserting to the right?
Does Toynbee really expect us to trust in the government’s economic nous when its budget had hedge fund managers celebrating their “lobbying coup”? How can we have faith in a government that is helping to arm a country still breaking every international and humanitarian law in the book? Little point in having a “sound” long-term agenda when in the short term there is so little of the promised change being delivered.
Bernie Evans
Liverpool
• Polly Toynbee’s excellent article was very welcome. However, I feel that for the vast majority of voters who, sadly, do not read the Guardian, Labour’s plans remain a mystery. The old political adage of “Never explain” is for the neocons and the populists. “Engage and explain” will surely help to keep the voters onside. Treat us as the adults we are, keep us informed, about the “why” as well as the “what”, and we will surely keep the faith well beyond the next election.
Philip Oliver
Farnham, Surrey
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