Political instability is holding back UK economic growth, warns Professor Malcom Prowle

The UK’s long-term economic prospects are being undermined by persistent political instability, weak policy delivery and excessive centralisation, according to Professor Malcom Prowle.

The Professor of Performance Management at University of Gloucestershire warns that the appointment of seven new Prime Ministers since 2010 is not a sign of a healthy governing system, but a warning signal for investors, businesses, public services and communities across the country.

Andy Burnham today became the latest occupant of 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister, following David Cameron (2010-2016), Theresa May (2016-2019), Boris Johnson (2019-2022), Liz Truss (2022), Rishi Sunak (2022-2024) and Sir Kier Starmer (2024-2026).

Professor Prowle said: “So many different Prime Ministers in 16 years is not simply political drama – it is a serious economic problem. Growth depends on stability, consistency and long-term planning. The UK has had far too little of all three.”

Sir Kier Starmer’s Government came to power in 2024 with economic growth as its flagship objective. Chancellor Rachel Reeves described growth as the Government’s ‘number one mission’, while Starmer said growth was the foundation for rebuilding Britain.

However, Professor Prowle warns that ambition alone will not be enough unless the machinery of government is capable of delivering sustained action over many years.

Before the 2008 financial crisis, UK economic growth typically averaged around 2.5% to 3% a year. Since then, growth has been far weaker, often closer to 1% to 1.5%. This has reduced tax receipts, limited the scope for improving public services and left households feeling less secure.

At the same time, Britain continues to suffer from some of the deepest regional inequalities among advanced economies, with London and the South East pulling far ahead of many towns, cities and former industrial areas.

Professor Prowle said: “The UK does not lack ideas for growth. What it lacks is a stable and effective system for implementing them. Policies are announced, revised, abandoned and relaunched, often before they have had any chance to work.”

Professor Prowle identifies several barriers to stronger growth, including: unpreparedness when new governments enter office, over-centralisation in Westminster and Whitehall, departmental silos, short-term Treasury funding, and a political culture that rewards immediate announcements rather than long-term delivery.

He argues that major policy areas such as skills, healthcare, green energy, transport and regional investment can support both growth and greater equality.

However, these policies require consistency, coordination and patience, says Professor Prowle. They cannot succeed if each new Prime Minister, Chancellor or Secretary of State changes direction before previous reforms have had time to take effect.

Professor Prowle’s analysis highlights the imbalance in public investment, particularly in transport, where London benefits from far higher per person spending than the UK average. This reinforces regional inequality and prevents other parts of the country from reaching their economic potential.

“Economic growth is not produced by slogans,” said Professor Prowle. “It is produced by institutions that can plan, coordinate and deliver over the long term. The UK’s excessive centralisation and repeated leadership changes make that extremely difficult.”

Professor Prowle concludes that without deeper devolution stronger regional institutions and longer-term policy planning, Britain will struggle to escape its low-growth cycle.

He calls for a more radical approach to English regional government, giving elected regional bodies the powers and resources needed to drive economic development locally.

Professor Prowle said: “Unless the UK changes the way it governs itself, it will remain trapped between ambitious growth targets and a political system that repeatedly gets in the way of achieving them.”

Main image: The famous black door of 10 Downing Street (Photo credit: Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons);