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The ONS is something called a “Non departmental public body” which means it is not under the control of a minister and is at arms length from the current politi

The ONS is something called a “Non departmental public body” which means it is not under the control of a minister and is at arms length from the current political rulers of the day. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-bodies-reform#:~:text=A%20non%2Ddepartmental%20public%20body,out%20executive%20or%20regulatory%20functions https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-bodies-reform#:~:text=A%2.... Weirdly I used to work both at the ONS, and subsequently at the department of the cabinet office responsible for tracking and reporting on them!

lotsofpulp 3y ago
Where does its funding come from, and who has the power to increase or decrease it?
- sgt101 3y ago
  Labour are certain to win the next election. Let's say that the tories threaten the ONS with a sharp cut if they don't "play ball". Here are the scenarios. ONS decide not to do it : leak to the press, Labour promise to reverse funding cut, funding cut doesn't come into force, Tories humiliated, Labour look favourably on ONS. ONS decide to do it : Labour come into power, discover what happened (someone will talk), blood up the walls, ONS disolved etc. So, I do not think that this is politically driven.
  - gumballindie 3y ago
    > Labour are certain to win the next election. Oh i very much doubt that. No one wants to pay 80% in tax as thats what will be needed to fund their social programs.
  - madaxe_again 3y ago
    Labour couldn’t win an election even if the opposition was Myra Hindley and Skeletor running on a platform of universal torture. They’d be photographed drinking shandy on a bus, or eating a sandwich, and that would be that.
    - sgt101 3y ago
      I think you have forgotten the effect that Liz Truss had on the electorate.
  - dash2 3y ago
    Would you like to take a bet at, say, 10-1 odds?
    - sgt101 3y ago
      Well - I don't bet mate. I've seen too many people ruin themselves doing it. I really suggest that you think very carefully about making bets at those odds as well as it often (about 9 times out of 10?) ends badly. Unless you have asymmetric information access of course.
  - drumhead 3y ago
    I dont know about that, they've grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory before. Starmer isnt Blair, and no one really trusts or likes Labour that much. It wont take much for peoples moods to turn against them.
- bennyelv 3y ago
  I see where you’re going with this, but it’s not that simple. These bodies are created by various means - some are created through primary legislation, some are a bit more discretionary in their nature, but they all have a terms of reference and an independent board that provides governance. The idea that the ONS would juice their figures due to political pressure is only something that seems plausible if you aren’t aware of how it’s set up. Here’s their board: https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/leadershipteam https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/lea... Who on that board would be under the thumb? How would they get an organisation of hundreds of economists and statisticians to fall into line with their plan?

lotsofpulp 3y ago

Where does its funding come from, and who has the power to increase or decrease it?

sgt101 3y ago
Labour are certain to win the next election. Let's say that the tories threaten the ONS with a sharp cut if they don't "play ball". Here are the scenarios. ONS decide not to do it : leak to the press, Labour promise to reverse funding cut, funding cut doesn't come into force, Tories humiliated, Labour look favourably on ONS. ONS decide to do it : Labour come into power, discover what happened (someone will talk), blood up the walls, ONS disolved etc. So, I do not think that this is politically driven.
- gumballindie 3y ago
  > Labour are certain to win the next election. Oh i very much doubt that. No one wants to pay 80% in tax as thats what will be needed to fund their social programs.
- madaxe_again 3y ago
  Labour couldn’t win an election even if the opposition was Myra Hindley and Skeletor running on a platform of universal torture. They’d be photographed drinking shandy on a bus, or eating a sandwich, and that would be that.
  - sgt101 3y ago
    I think you have forgotten the effect that Liz Truss had on the electorate.
- dash2 3y ago
  Would you like to take a bet at, say, 10-1 odds?
  - sgt101 3y ago
    Well - I don't bet mate. I've seen too many people ruin themselves doing it. I really suggest that you think very carefully about making bets at those odds as well as it often (about 9 times out of 10?) ends badly. Unless you have asymmetric information access of course.
- drumhead 3y ago
  I dont know about that, they've grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory before. Starmer isnt Blair, and no one really trusts or likes Labour that much. It wont take much for peoples moods to turn against them.
bennyelv 3y ago
I see where you’re going with this, but it’s not that simple. These bodies are created by various means - some are created through primary legislation, some are a bit more discretionary in their nature, but they all have a terms of reference and an independent board that provides governance. The idea that the ONS would juice their figures due to political pressure is only something that seems plausible if you aren’t aware of how it’s set up. Here’s their board: https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/leadershipteam https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/lea... Who on that board would be under the thumb? How would they get an organisation of hundreds of economists and statisticians to fall into line with their plan?