It may be rather tedious to spend time considering ‘how’ to deliver policy rather than working on the new ideas for many people involved in politics. After all those energised enough to get involved in politics are usually impatient to change the world to match their ideological perspective. In recent years it has become even more pronounced that chasing headlines have become more important than delivery. But this can only get you so far!

I have been fortunate over the last few years to spend time with hundreds of civil servants on the Project Leadership programme at Cranfield University, helping them navigate the politics of project management. The more I teach, write, learn and listen the more frustrated I get with our dysfunctional political system. You will know the problems - short termism, political ideology over evidence, and silo government.

This article at IPPR Progressive Review by Wes Ball and Alan Wager is a really goo attempt to highlight what it takes - Preparing for Progressive Change from Opposition

I have been draw to this topic since I saw the speech by Sir Keir Starmer and his 5 Missions. A lot of the political commentary was about what the 5 missions covered (and of course what wasn’t included) and then contrasted with the 5 pledges we had in 1997 on our famous ‘Pledge card’. The Starmer speech didn’t meet the 5 memorable policies on a credit card test but I don’t think that was what was intended at this stage of planning for the likely general election in 2024.

As a self confessed policy nerd I am now as interested in how an incoming government will deliver a progressive policy agenda as much as what the manifesto headlines say.

In this article Keir Starmer: This is what I believe he sets out the end to this “sticking plaster” politics.

So the concept of missions as the driving force behind policy does start to tackle some of the problems I have highlighted - short termism and Silo government.

As Keir writes

Each mission will focus on a long-term problem, and apply a long-term plan. Our missions will tackle complex problems that have no magic-bullet solutions and need many players and agencies, national and local, working on them. They will be common causes to which many people will want to contribute, and, importantly, the missions will have measurable outcomes – ambitious but attainable goals that go beyond the incremental. They will require a huge effort and urgency to succeed. And they will start with tangible first steps that deal with the immediate crises – the cost of living, the NHS – to restore people’s sense of security.

While the evidence suggests this approach works and promises much, it has not been tried as the overall governing philosophy of a nation before. Too often it has been used only to see off evils, and not often enough to seize opportunities.

That is why missions will be at the heart of the Labour Party manifesto and, if Labour wins the next election, we will become Britain’s first mission-driven government.

Importantly, missions will also serve as a decision-making tool, making clear what is mission critical and what isn’t. They will stop the chopping and changing we have seen in recent years. Businesses and families will be able to plan ahead with greater certainty.

I am obviously not alone. There are hundreds of people in Think Tanks, and the excellent Institute for Government who wrestle with these issue daily. Sadly it often only when Ministers and MPs step back do they get to assess what works well and what they might have done differently.

I don’t have great pearls of wisdom to offer right across government but the missions approach has some real resonance for me as we wrestle in the sports and physical activity sector in our silos with strategies from DCMS, DHLUC, Health, and NDPBs like Sport England and UK Sport. I ask the question. What would a Mission led government look like in this policy area (It would be a ‘part’ of a wider wellbeing agenda I would hope). So that leads me onto my next blog… wellbeing, happiness and public policy.

But in the meantime. What is our Mission? Can we define it so that the silos can unify around a long term vision. Through the Sports Think Tank we have strategies and manifesto calls from the last 20 years. Whilst there has been quite a shift in emphasis from growing participation numbers in existing sports to a wider understanding of the role of physical activity in society across the ‘sector’ we have not reached the point where the silos are broken down. And I don’t just mean in government - I also would point my finger at the sector too.

This mission led approach is both exciting and daunting for a system based on delivering ‘projects’