Reform UK has announced plans to overhaul “ridiculous government contract rules” in order to cut waste, back British firms and ensure taxpayer money is spent on British jobs.
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick said the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, introduced by the Conservatives under David Cameron in 2012 and kept in place by Labour, has allowed “eyewatering amounts” of public money to be wasted on political box-ticking rather than value for money.
Jenrick explained how, under the existing rules, companies bidding for government contracts must show how they will “create positive action programmes to promote diversity”, “work towards Net Zero emissions” and even “influence their customers to do so too”. They are also expected to develop “inclusive” hiring practices, provide help with English language proficiency and raise awareness of modern slavery, “including by running online campaigns and working with NGOs”.
Jenrick referred to these requirements as “nonsense”, warning that they affect how “hundreds of billions of pounds of your money is spent”.
He said the system created by the Public Services Act has shifted government procurement away from its proper purpose: delivering high-quality services at the best possible price for the taxpayer.
“A Reform government will scrap the social value test and focus on two things”, Jenrick said, “creating jobs and investment in Britain” and “delivering value for money for you, the taxpayer”.
Reform UK’s approach would mean government contracts are judged on whether they help Britain and save taxpayer money, rather than whether firms can produce the right ideological paperwork.
Jenrick also said that Reform UK would “unashamedly back British firms, buying British wherever possible”. He added that simplifying procurement would “cut out the distractions so that companies are focussed on the things that matter”.
Removing these bureaucratic requirements would “make it a level playing field for smaller companies to compete against big corporations again”, which can afford dedicated teams to navigate government red tape.
This is just one more policy that proves Reform UK is taking its preparation for government seriously. While the Labour-Tory uniparty created and upheld a system of woke waste, Reform UK is planning to tear it up from day one. Only Reform UK will put British jobs, British firms and British taxpayers first.
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick said the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, introduced by the Conservatives under David Cameron in 2012 and kept in place by Labour, has allowed “eyewatering amounts” of public money to be wasted on political box-ticking rather than value for money.
Jenrick explained how, under the existing rules, companies bidding for government contracts must show how they will “create positive action programmes to promote diversity”, “work towards Net Zero emissions” and even “influence their customers to do so too”. They are also expected to develop “inclusive” hiring practices, provide help with English language proficiency and raise awareness of modern slavery, “including by running online campaigns and working with NGOs”.
Jenrick referred to these requirements as “nonsense”, warning that they affect how “hundreds of billions of pounds of your money is spent”.
He said the system created by the Public Services Act has shifted government procurement away from its proper purpose: delivering high-quality services at the best possible price for the taxpayer.
“A Reform government will scrap the social value test and focus on two things”, Jenrick said, “creating jobs and investment in Britain” and “delivering value for money for you, the taxpayer”.
Reform UK’s approach would mean government contracts are judged on whether they help Britain and save taxpayer money, rather than whether firms can produce the right ideological paperwork.
Jenrick also said that Reform UK would “unashamedly back British firms, buying British wherever possible”. He added that simplifying procurement would “cut out the distractions so that companies are focussed on the things that matter”.
Removing these bureaucratic requirements would “make it a level playing field for smaller companies to compete against big corporations again”, which can afford dedicated teams to navigate government red tape.
This is just one more policy that proves Reform UK is taking its preparation for government seriously. While the Labour-Tory uniparty created and upheld a system of woke waste, Reform UK is planning to tear it up from day one. Only Reform UK will put British jobs, British firms and British taxpayers first.
