In this insightful opinion series, initially published on LinkedIn, Peter Smith, former CIPS president and UK-based procurement thought leader, delves into the major UK party manifestos to see what they might mean for public sector procurement.
Conservative
As they are currently in charge, I will start with the Conservatives. Here are the mentions of procurement related issues with my brief comments. This is based on searching the document rather than reading every word, I should say…
“…Halving the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on external consultants. We will introduce controls on all ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ initiatives and spending.”
Been there, done that, seen the consulting spend get re-classified to ‘training’, ‘outsourced services’ and ‘interim staff’. Not a bad idea but the devil is in the (implementation) detail. EDI is just playing to the anti-woke audience. Spending is tiny in the greater scheme of things.
“Improve public sector procurement to deliver our goal that at least 50 percent of food expenditure is spent on food produced locally or to higher environmental production standards.”
HOW?
“We want small businesses to get a bigger share of public contracts and have improved the public sector procurement system to that end….Work with public sector organisations including local authorities and NHS trusts and companies benefitting from government contracts to ensure that procurement opportunities are focused on SMEs in their local economies where possible and practical.”
HOW? You’ve been trying to do this for over 10 years and have failed consistently!
“We will make sure new investment is spent more effectively than before. By delivering our new Integrated Procurement Model, we will make defence procurement faster, smarter and more joined up, boost private sector investment by confirming that ESG considerations are entirely consistent with investment in our vital defence industry and transform innovation.”
To be honest, the MOD Integrated Procurement Model had passed me by – it was introduced in February, or at least the beginnings of it were. No comment, therefore, until I know more.
That’s it. But don’t be too quick to say, “That’s so weak! How pathetic given that procurement accounts for some £300 billion a year of government spend.”
Wait till you see the Labour and Lib Dem efforts…
Labour
Slightly more mentions of procurement than in the Tory document but, as you will see, one question kept coming to mind.
“We will ensure a pro-business environment, with a competition and regulatory framework, that supports innovation, investment and high-quality jobs. Procurement and trade policy will also be aligned with our industrial strategy priorities.”
HOW?
Under the ‘driving innovation’ section: “We will also simplify the procurement process to support innovation and reduce micromanagement with a mission-driven approach.”
HOW? And also what does “reduce micromanagement with a mission-driven approach” actually mean?
“We will make it easier for small and medium sized enterprises to access capital. We will also reform procurement rules to give them greater access to government contracts.”
HOW?
“These new recruits will be paid for by tackling waste through a new Police Efficiency and Collaboration programme for England and Wales. The programme will set nation-wide standards for procurement and establish shared services and specialist functions to drive down costs.”
Didn’t we try that in 2004? And 2007? (I was there! ) And 2012? Etc. So, why will it work this time?
“We will work with national policing bodies and police staff to standardise approaches to procurement, IT, professional standards and training.”
We could call it the National Police Improvement Agency! That organisation was founded in 2007 and closed down in 2012.
“As part of Labour’s 96 Change Labour Party Manifesto 2024 life sciences plan, we will develop an NHS innovation and adoption strategy in England. This will include a plan for procurement, giving a clearer route to get products into the NHS, coupled with reformed incentive structures to drive innovation and faster regulatory approval for new technology and medicines.”
A plan! That’s exciting. Actually, nothing wrong with this idea, but the devil is in the detail.
“We will prioritise UK businesses for defence investment and will reform procurement to reduce waste.”
HOW? Why will this attempt at procurement reform work better than the previous 173 attempts?
“Labour will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focusing on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.”
Well, that is sort of procurement. But you know the big question by now…
There is also a commitment to halve consultancy spend, releasing £745 million a year (see my comment in the Conservative post).
All in all, the Labour manifesto in the procurement area (and elsewhere from what I have seen) makes very general statements about what will be done without any real detail, all the while desperately avoiding anything that might conceivably upset anyone. That’s probably understandable but it doesn’t make it a very satisfying read.
Liberal Democrats
I will be voting Lib Dem locally in Surrey Heath, as our candidate appears to be intelligent, personable, genuinely local and a good person as far as I can see.
The Tories parachuted in an investment banker from Islington after Gove resigned and Labour are invisible. We have Reform now and a candidate from the ‘Heritage Party’. Tudor mansions for all and compulsory village greens, maybe?
Anyway, like the others, the Lib Dem manifesto is a bit of a disappointment again when it comes to procurement. Perhaps ironically, for the cuddly Lib Dems, defence seems to be the main focus of the procurement comments and, yet again, the “HOW” question rears its ugly head.
“Expanding the market for climate-friendly products and services with steadily higher criteria in public procurement policy.”
So, how high do you go? A genuine policy but not one I would totally agree with until we see more research on how ‘social value’, etc. in bids is working.
“Using public procurement policy to support the consumption of food produced to high standards of environmental and social sustainability, and which is nutritious, healthy and locally and seasonally sourced.”
Very good but HOW?
“Ending the false economy of spending money on agency workers (in the NHS) and encouraging the use of flexible staff banks.”
Been trying to do this for years so, again, HOW?
“Tackle long-standing problems in defence procurement, including by ensuring that procurement is part of a comprehensive industrial strategy to secure a reliable long-term pipeline of equipment procurements, which will strengthen the Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Strategic Command.”
HOW? Also, I have a document from about 20 years ago that is all about links between MOD procurement and industrial strategy, so nothing new really.
“Work collaboratively with our democratic European partners and promote security, including through deterrence, by:
• Strengthening cooperation with our Nordic and Baltic allies via the Joint Expeditionary Force
• Building on existing UK-French cooperation arrangements, including the Lancaster House Treaties
• Developing closer cooperation with EU agencies and member states over defence, intelligence and cyber-security
• Prioritising interoperability with NATO allies and other strategic partners
• Working more closely in the joint development of innovative defence technologies and procurement
• Seeking a defence and security agreement with the EU and its member states
• Continuing to work closely with our Five Eyes partners”
All sounds quite good, really.
Peter Smith is the author of Bad Buying: How organisations waste billions through failures, frauds and f*ck-ups, which reveals the massive blunders and dodgy dealings taking place around the world as private companies and public sector bodies buy goods and services.
As well as PROCUREMENT WITH PURPOSE, which describes a growing and powerful movement, and how organisations can use the money they spend with suppliers to help address wider environmental, social and economic issues.
