Paul Ovenden, who previously served as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's director of political strategy, has alleged that a decentralization of governmental power to external entities is hindering the administration's ability to deliver on policy commitments. Speaking publicly for the first time since his resignation last September, Ovenden highlighted the case of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah as an example of what he characterized as a persistent diversion of government attention from domestic priorities.
Allegations of Power Decentralization
In statements published in The Times and made to the BBC, Mr. Ovenden contended that British politicians have transferred substantial authority to external bodies, including lawyers, activists, and regulators. He argued that this shift of power restricts the government's capacity to fulfill its policy pledges, leading to a British state that, while growing in size, has simultaneously become less effective in its operational capacity. Mr. Ovenden suggested that increased political determination could enable politicians to reclaim control over democratic mechanisms, expressing a belief that Mr. Starmer is well-positioned to implement such changes, given his awareness of these issues.
The Alaa Abd El Fattah Case
The case of Alaa Abd El Fattah was cited by Ovenden as a notable instance of government focus being diverted. Abd El Fattah had been imprisoned in Egypt for over a decade on charges related to spreading false information concerning torture. He was released and returned to the United Kingdom on Boxing Day, December 26th, after sustained lobbying efforts by successive British governments.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially welcomed Abd El Fattah's arrival, stating that his case had been a governmental priority. However, Mr. Starmer later faced scrutiny following the resurfacing of social media posts made by Abd El Fattah a decade prior, which included calls for violence against Zionists and police. Mr. Starmer disavowed these posts as "abhorrent," stated he was unaware of them, and confirmed a review of "information failures" related to the case was underway.
According to Ovenden, discussions regarding government priorities were frequently redirected to Abd El Fattah's situation. He stated that the repeated consideration of the case became a "running joke" internally due to perceived slow progress and its consistent reintroduction into meetings, particularly for those primarily involved in political strategy. He indicated that the case became emblematic of issues that absorbed a segment of government attention, which he believed politicians struggled to disregard due to having delegated authority to various arm's-length bodies, non-governmental organizations, and regulatory frameworks.
Broader Policy Distractions and Proposed Reforms
Ovenden connected the focus on Abd El Fattah’s situation to what he described as a broader challenge for the government in maintaining its focus on voters' core priorities. He attributed this challenge to influence from 'well-connected' activist groups and arm's-length bodies. This assessment aligns with comments made by Prime Minister Starmer last month, who expressed concerns that regulations, consultations, and arm’s-length bodies often extend the timeframe from policy initiation to implementation.
Mr. Ovenden identified other areas he perceived as diverting government focus, including:
- Discussions regarding reparations for former colonies.
- Proposals to ban vaping or smoking in pub gardens.
He argued that public dissatisfaction with politicians' ability to deliver is a logical outcome of these distractions and the delegation of authority, which he believes has shifted power to organizations capable of impeding government operations.
Ovenden proposed several policy changes aimed at enhancing government effectiveness, which he suggested could be implemented rapidly:
- Reducing some legal obligations, such as environmental regulations pertaining to construction.
- Limiting the scope for judicial reviews against government policies.
- Reducing welfare spending.
- Potentially ending the triple-lock mechanism for pensions.
He argued that current economic approaches involve taxing productive sectors to fund pension increases for high earners or maintain an unsustainable welfare system, and that regulatory burdens hinder small businesses.
Political Context
Mr. Ovenden's comments mark his first public intervention since his resignation last September, which followed revelations of inappropriate messages he sent eight years prior. He had been described as a close adviser to the Prime Minister since Mr. Starmer's time in opposition.
Separately, Chris Powell, who contributed to four Labour general election campaigns and is the brother of the Prime Minister's advisor Jonathan Powell, has advocated for a "fundamental reset" within the Labour government. Writing in The Guardian, Powell suggested this reset is necessary to address the electoral challenge posed by Reform UK, noting that voters exhibit frustration, skepticism about government effectiveness, and a sense of being disregarded. These observations precede a period of potential political challenges for the Prime Minister, including local elections scheduled for May and the possibility of internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party.