Rolling Out the Pork Barrel

THE 2021 BUDGET was notable for the Chancellor's assiduous name checking. There is a long tradition of giving loyal MPs boost by acknowledging their campaigning efforts in support special causes, and some recipients Sunak's blessings fall into this category. Thus, North Dorset's Simon Hoare got plug ensuring continuation thalidomide survivor funding, Richard Fuller North-East Bedfordshire green finance initiative, Romsey Southampton MP Caroline Nokes care sector support. But boosterism laid on most thickly policy announcements with specific local impacts. Pudsey's Stuart Andrew invited to claim new infrastructure bank Leeds as win, Darlington's Peter Gibson Treasury outpost there. The freeports were an opportunity mention Redcar, Cleethorpes Great Grimsby, along Conservative mayor Tees Valley, Ben Houchen. Only when it came announcing Town Deals did Chancellor avoid drawing attention bias towards seats: tribute paid instead Andy Street, West Midlands. localised targeting largesse not without precedent. George Osborne's 2014 Budget pass up fighting marginal seats Dartford Gravesham promise homes, while Weaver Vale Mersey gateway bridge. Michael Ellis Northampton namechecked pothole fund, his Wikipedia page records that £3.3 million from fund. Osborne lost interest practice after 2015 election won, however. sorry figure Philip Hammond revived 2018 £2 bung DUP Belfast add dodgy financial deal had been done secure confidence supply agreement. We can't be sure pork barrel politics getting worse: there's always bit around. Hugh Ward John found significant effects constituency marginality English authority allocations data 1994/95, well bonus attributable ‘being Essex’ favourable treatment Tory flagship authorities such London borough Wandsworth.11 H. P. John, ‘Targeting benefits electoral gain: distribution grants authorities’, Political Studies, vol. 47, 1999, pp. 32–52. However, there are several reasons suspect current government will unusually determined distributor pork. First among these is, course, levelling-up agenda itself. As Jennings Stoker note issue, present promoting place unusual degree.22 W. Jennings, L. McKay G. Stoker, ‘The levelling up’, Quarterly, forthcoming 2021. Furthermore, seems attracted highly visible building projects rather than more diffuse softer policies supporting people through education, health income These lend themselves (literally) high vis spectacle, also attribution, where individuals can credit being driving force. Notwithstanding political incentives, could according objective criteria relating poverty deprivation. reason why has government's approach so far. Conservatives’ 2019 gains deprived hearts cities, but often slightly prosperous stagnating towns. desire channel funds not-quite-worst-off places left civil servants struggling devise way capture goals formula funding. have hints they answers weights low productivity commutes work, though or other deprivation indicators, but, at time writing, details necessary replicate disclosed. made far provide strong evidence barrelling. Chris Hanretty shown, pretty much statistically impossible allocation Towns Fund influenced constituency, despite cover jiggery-pokery around rankings priority groups.33 C. Hanretty, Fund’, 92, no. 1, 2021, 7–13. results May may taken indicate public do about kind low-level corruption. Indeed, arguable electorate trust expects it. highlight, politicians ebb, accompanied belief governments should address issues pressing concern respondents. This paradoxical: if trusted, expect them resolve your problems? Pork provides resolution paradox. Politicians just looking own interests bribe you vote them. Their behaviour deadly contemporary argot, ‘authentic’. They patronising you: you, voter, opportunistic calculative are, enter transaction exchange largesse. cannot voters outraged politics, still find itself hoist its opportunism. Two stand out: likely tensions relationships devolved governments, simmering discontent parliamentary party. all control Westminster: primarily designed strategy winning level. On contrary, Levelling Up Fund: Prospectus explicit successful bids money MPs’ efforts. Paragraph 3.2 states: ‘We Members Parliament, democratically-elected representatives area, back one bid see priority.’ 3.7 begins equally robustly: Government recognises important role Parliament championing constituents.’44 HM Treasury, Prospectus, paper, 3 March 2021; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-prospectus (accessed 14 2021). lavished Street Houchen give impression Johnson supports mayoral model assiduously promoted Osborne, devolution responsibility favoured happening. central keen ensure distributes it, rival level government. Ultimately, nuisance strategy, high-profile mayors demand backing even representing areas Westminster. Westminster ruthless side-lining Scottish Welsh governments. invokes assistance powers UK Internal Market Act—the leading instrument Westminster's post-Brexit ‘power grab’ governments—to specify funding allocated across whole decision makers Whitehall. ‘seek advice relevant administrations’ only ‘where appropriate’. come under pressure competing claims outside seats. In systems, expected go because assumed party discipline, which ensures strengthen party's overall position. safe miss out mollified knowledge that, fails win hold seats, form next Individual thereby aligned interest. contrasts US case, related power within system, accrues broadly length service Congress. produces biased careers. Several factors undermine efficient use buy votes One egoism MPs, demonstrate personal influence. favour constituencies ministers involved allocating Fund—Jenrick Sunak—suggests element ignored. Neither least marginal. Jenrick Sunak seem fallen victim need really powerful men. Perhaps trying impress constituents, eyes potential donors business problem centralised system magnet blame. attributed does follow symmetrically failure get blamed representative. Behind name-checking, everyone knows decisions what centrally. tend revert formula-based allocations, perpetual tendency tweak advantage. content static argument. Over time, ask answer largely directed wide purposes: pursuing ideological favour, undertaking nationwide impact produce desired outcomes country. But, governing entirely transactional ideological, targeted particularistic general, then become disillusioned. disillusionment heightened start look less safe, process already underway parts South, going results. Those verdict up. enjoyed office pandemic eases—an advantage inconveniently shared Labour Wales SNP Scotland. It continues reap turning Brexit wider culture war. both sources diminish time. Many voters, take hard-nosed view means them, dissatisfied. say sink government, struggle deliver promises.