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State & Power

State & Power

Civil service accountability, quango spending, and political overreach.

NHS hospital waiting area

The Record Number That Tells You Nothing

The Office for National Statistics has confirmed it: UK state spending hit a record £1.22 trillion in the last financial year. That is the headline, the one the Treasury wants you to see.

Data Investigations6 min
Cabinet Office transparency

The Statistic They Hope You Never Question

According to the latest Cabinet Office transparency data, fewer than 2% of all civil service decisions taken in the last financial year required formal ministerial sign-off. That is the official figure, and it is technically correct.

Data Investigations7 min
Whitehall project failures

The Hidden Cost of Whitehall's Broken Promises

Official figures from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) reveal that 68% of government major projects are now rated either 'amber' or 'red' for delivery confidence—the worst performance since records began in 2016.

Data Investigations6 min