The United Kingdom: permanent revolution or muddling through?

UK public administration is arguably at a critical juncture. After 40 years of reform, governance arrangements have become increasingly fragmented and complex. Yet the UK system of government—commonly known as the Westminster model—retains a heavily centralized approach to public administration. Recently, the UK has appeared slow in its response to a mounting set of ‘wicked problems’, notably the economic and political fallout of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter addresses a simple question: is UK public administration fit for purpose in the 21st century? After framing public administration in the academic literature, we trace the development of contemporary pathologies, with a particular focus on the post-2010 period. We highlight how the dominant political tradition and a hierarchical, power-hoarding model of government undermine public administration’s adaptability, capacity, and preparedness to respond to the complexities of today’s public policy challenges.