Politics, public policies, professionals, power and performance – the 5Ps of 'modernisation' initiatives of the Labour Government in UK

This paper presents a critic of the 'modernisation' policies of the previous Labour Government with particular reference to National Health Service (NHS) and explores why the modernisation policies could not achieve its main objectives. How the present Coalition Government's policies intend to address the problems created by 'modernisation' is also analysed. Scrutiny reveals that 'modernisation' process is an interesting story of interplay of 5Ps: where public policies were skilfully used by 'spin doctors' to gain political dividends but failed to compel the professionals to give up their power in the name of performance management. In a sense the 'modernisation agenda' was used to convince people that the public policies are addressing their aspirations. There has been adverse effect on public sector organisations, particularly on public sector employees. If latest policy documents are any indications, then the Coalition Government's policies are equally confusing, perhaps taking Britain towards another 'winter of discontent'.