Government announces 25% marketing and comms cut
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that as part of his cost cutting measures to save £35billion a year by 2011, the Government’s marketing budget will be slashed by 25%.
As part of the Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government initiative, which aims to tackle accountability and openness to the public, the Prime Minister announced that cuts to its budget would include reducing spend on consultancy by 50% and marketing and communications by 25%, saving £650 million.
In a statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Government must change for the new era – and change for good. This is the starting point for this plan. Today, people don’t want a government that tells them what to do, but nor do they want one that leaves them isolated. They recognise that when government has too much power they are rendered powerless, but that when government has too little power they are left helpless. Having demonstrated the value of government action, our task now is to develop government to work in partnership with individuals and communities to deliver the services people want in the way they want them and to preserve them in the face of all the challenges this new era presents.”
At the time of writing, a spokesperson for The Central Office of Information (COI) which oversees the UK Government’s marketing framework, explained that it had yet to decide whether it would make a statement following the Prime Minister’s announcement.
In October the COI announced that it was to review its design roster which had been split into three frameworks, while in April it announced its 45 agency regional marketing roster.
That same month the COI announced that it had overhauled its Strategic Consultancy Frameworks for Marketing and Brand Strategy and Internal Communication, Engagement and Change.
In November of 2008, the COI announced its PR agency framework, with over half hailing from outside of London.
In September, The Scottish Government announced that it planned to halve its marketing services budget.