Vimbai Dzimwasha

When a crisis hits, the default way of doing government quickly unravels. Carefully constructed media grids, centrally-coordinated plans and timetabled announcements are hastily ripped up, and ministers and officials shift to a very different way of working. In the last few months alone, ministers have had to grapple with the conflict in the Middle East, making decisions in a matter of hours to protect national security and systems – and this was just the latest crisis in a long, and varied, list.

Box 1: What counts as a crisis? We define crises as emergencies that have escalated to the point of overwhelming existing systems and infrastructure causing disruption to business-as-usual operations such that they cease to function or – in the most extreme cases – pose a significant risk to businesses, homes and lives. 130 This can be triggered by natural hazards, diseases, geopolitical events or deliberate attacks.

The government has announced plans to ‘clear the culture of consultation’. 22 In an article for Politics Home, Lord Hermer – one half of the government’s self-described sludge busting team – sets out an ambition to raise the bar for consultation and reporting requirements in legislation, review existing reporting and consultation duties, and ensure impact assessments are improving outcomes. 23 This approach is welcome.