Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a striking critique against his own political side, condemning an 'excuses culture' that blames Whitehall and external stakeholders for the slow pace of change in government.
A Warning Against Fatalism
In a speech at the Institute for Government on Tuesday, Streeting expressed anger at hearing figures on the centre-left echo arguments typically made by the hard right about the public sector's inability to reform. He warned that such rhetoric only serves to 'roll the pitch' for those who wish to dismantle services entirely.
'The right encourage this argument,' Streeting stated. 'They are rolling the pitch to come in with a chainsaw and tear up public services entirely. Bafflingly, some on my own side of the political divide have begun to parrot the same argument.'
Taking Responsibility for Change
Streeting insisted that politicians must take ownership of their ability to drive change, rather than presenting themselves as helpless. 'We are not simply at the mercy of forces outside of our control,' he asserted. He likened the state to a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel, but argued that poor steering, not the defect, was the real problem.
'There’s no point complaining about the wonky wheel if you’re letting the trolley have a mind of its own, instead of steering it towards the destination you’re after,' he said. His comments are seen as a pointed response to recent frustrations voiced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former aides about bureaucratic delays.
The Stakes of Failure
The Health Secretary framed public service reform as one of the greatest contemporary challenges, linking failure directly to public disillusionment and the rise of populism. He highlighted urgent pressures across health and care, including rising demand for mental health services and special needs provision.
'They rightly ask: if I can track a parcel across the world, why can’t the state tell me what’s happening with my case?' Streeting said, emphasising the need for modernisation. He concluded with a stark political warning: 'If we tell the public that we can’t make anything work, then why on earth would they vote to keep us in charge?'
