The reform of the social care system came out as the lead bill within this area, but attention was drawn toward outstanding funding issues rather than the possibility to charter truly transformative public service reform. As part of our research priorities for the coming year, ResPublica will engage with the proposed reforms to open the public sector and engender participation, social value and innovation, with the social care system as its focus, seeking opportunities to transform service users from passive recipients to entrepreneurs.
The Queen’s speech had much to announce about our institutions, from the smallest institution of the family to one of the largest of constitutional institutions – the House of Lords. The focus on the family and relationships is an integral policy move, but further debate and careful consideration needs to take place before reform in order to ensure that our political systems and institutions work best for wider society rather than the government of the present day. Future work under ResPublica's British Civic Life workstream will continue to draw on the social and cultural heritage of civil society, from grassroots groups to embedded institutions.