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Policy tsars – do they ever work? Policy tsars – do they ever work?
(4 months later)
Nick Clegg's unveiling of James Caan as the government's new "social mobility tsar" today means that UK governments have appointed more than 260 policy tsars since May 1997.Nick Clegg's unveiling of James Caan as the government's new "social mobility tsar" today means that UK governments have appointed more than 260 policy tsars since May 1997.
The term, derived from "Caesar", seems to have been first applied in the US to executives empowered to direct the industrial effort in the first and later the second world war. A judge appointed to clean up baseball in 1919 instantly became the "baseball tsar", and the New York chamber of commerce brought in an oxymoronic-sounding milk tsar in 1926 to sort out the city's milk delivery industry.The term, derived from "Caesar", seems to have been first applied in the US to executives empowered to direct the industrial effort in the first and later the second world war. A judge appointed to clean up baseball in 1919 instantly became the "baseball tsar", and the New York chamber of commerce brought in an oxymoronic-sounding milk tsar in 1926 to sort out the city's milk delivery industry.
Since then tsars – loosely defined as high-profile individuals recruited from outside government to champion a policy or its implementation – of one kind or another have become part of the political landscape on both sides of the Atlantic. To the fury of rightwingers, who question their legitimacy on constitutional grounds, President Obama has created them in increasing numbers, prompting a US taxpayers' organisation to complain in 2009 that with upwards of 30 tsars in post, the present administration had appointed more tsars than Imperial Russia.Since then tsars – loosely defined as high-profile individuals recruited from outside government to champion a policy or its implementation – of one kind or another have become part of the political landscape on both sides of the Atlantic. To the fury of rightwingers, who question their legitimacy on constitutional grounds, President Obama has created them in increasing numbers, prompting a US taxpayers' organisation to complain in 2009 that with upwards of 30 tsars in post, the present administration had appointed more tsars than Imperial Russia.
But this pales into insignificance beside the UK experience. Recent years have seen a rash or indeed a pandemic of tsars for areas such as drugs (Keith Hellawell), enterprise (Alan Sugar), respect (Louise Casey) and shopping (Mary Portas) – and the pace is increasing.But this pales into insignificance beside the UK experience. Recent years have seen a rash or indeed a pandemic of tsars for areas such as drugs (Keith Hellawell), enterprise (Alan Sugar), respect (Louise Casey) and shopping (Mary Portas) – and the pace is increasing.
To adapt Andy Warhol, perhaps everyone is due their 15 minutes of tsardom. There are, or have been, tsars for children, older people, employment dispute resolution, benefits, stations and singing. Employee engagement, the "big society", music, access into the professions, dignity in care, identity, victims, information, giving and philanthropy, school behaviour, use of restraint in juvenile secure settings, monitoring of implementation of changes following the review of use of restraint etc – choose your hobbyhorse, it'll have a tsar. As the House of Commons select committee on public administration (PAC) noted in 2010, dance is the only physical activity to be "championed" in its own right – and it has not one tsar but two.To adapt Andy Warhol, perhaps everyone is due their 15 minutes of tsardom. There are, or have been, tsars for children, older people, employment dispute resolution, benefits, stations and singing. Employee engagement, the "big society", music, access into the professions, dignity in care, identity, victims, information, giving and philanthropy, school behaviour, use of restraint in juvenile secure settings, monitoring of implementation of changes following the review of use of restraint etc – choose your hobbyhorse, it'll have a tsar. As the House of Commons select committee on public administration (PAC) noted in 2010, dance is the only physical activity to be "championed" in its own right – and it has not one tsar but two.
The original tsars were of course absolute rulers, and in today's context the term is clearly meant to signal the smack of firm action, particularly in a crisis: "tsar" implies someone strong and decisive enough to kick ass and get the machinery of government moving in the same direction. It's no surprise to find that tsars are overwhelmingly white, male and over 50; 38% are titled.The original tsars were of course absolute rulers, and in today's context the term is clearly meant to signal the smack of firm action, particularly in a crisis: "tsar" implies someone strong and decisive enough to kick ass and get the machinery of government moving in the same direction. It's no surprise to find that tsars are overwhelmingly white, male and over 50; 38% are titled.
But the influence, and results, of tsardom are variable. At worst, it is window-dressing. "It would be easy to conclude that many of the appointments of 'tsars' are simply 'the loan of their reputation, even celebrity, to endorse established policy'," the PAC reported. In recent days it has been revealed that precious little public money dispensed to councils under the £10m High Street Innovation Fund – dubbed Portas Plus – has actually been spent, and what has been has gone on such town-centre revitalising items as a £1,500 Santa Claus and a £1,000 reindeer. On the other hand, most of Lord Heseltine's recommendations for promoting regional growth have been accepted by the government in full.  But the influence, and results, of tsardom are variable. At worst, it is window-dressing. "It would be easy to conclude that many of the appointments of 'tsars' are simply 'the loan of their reputation, even celebrity, to endorse established policy'," the PAC reported. In recent days it has been revealed that precious little public money dispensed to councils under the £10m High Street Innovation Fund – dubbed Portas Plus – has actually been spent, and what has been has gone on such town-centre revitalising items as a £1,500 Santa Claus and a £1,000 reindeer. On the other hand, most of Lord Heseltine's recommendations for promoting regional growth have been accepted by the government in full.  
While admitting that some tsars come and go without trace, that a some tsars produce superficial work lacking in objectivity, that the appointment process is far from rigorous and there is little systematic evaluation, a recent academic paper judges that most tsars make useful contributions, "producing well-informed advice that has often led to changes in policy, practices or organisations.."While admitting that some tsars come and go without trace, that a some tsars produce superficial work lacking in objectivity, that the appointment process is far from rigorous and there is little systematic evaluation, a recent academic paper judges that most tsars make useful contributions, "producing well-informed advice that has often led to changes in policy, practices or organisations.."
They add, however, that there is no accumulation of experience in Whitehall in the use of tsars, there is no cadre of officials developing expertise in supporting them, and nothing systematic about good practice with tsar appointments has been learned from 15 years' experience, and that these failings should be remedied. You can see what's coming, can't you. What we need is a tsar tsar. You read it here first.They add, however, that there is no accumulation of experience in Whitehall in the use of tsars, there is no cadre of officials developing expertise in supporting them, and nothing systematic about good practice with tsar appointments has been learned from 15 years' experience, and that these failings should be remedied. You can see what's coming, can't you. What we need is a tsar tsar. You read it here first.
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