The UK is falling apart from within, and the root of the problem is clear. A series of scandals—like the mishandling of COVID-19 contracts, the infected blood scandal, and the Grenfell Tower fire—have revealed a troubling truth: unelected officials with immense power face little to no accountability.
Unlike politicians who can be voted out, these bureaucrats often avoid consequences for their failures, even getting promoted or reassigned to influential roles.
Take the grooming gangs scandal, which should really be called organized child abuse. These gangs operated openly in many UK towns, while the system failed victims and their families.
Shockingly, parents who tried to save their children were sometimes arrested alongside the victims for being “drunk and disorderly.” Meanwhile, police and social workers who ignored the abuse have faced almost no consequences. The people responsible remain mostly unidentified.
Public inquiries into such failures rarely bring real change. Instead, they benefit lawyers with high fees while leaving victims without justice. This lack of accountability sends a dangerous message: those in power can fail without repercussions.
The Post Office scandal is another clear example. Faulty software led to innocent postmasters being falsely accused of theft, resulting in ruined lives, wrongful convictions, and even suicides. Despite this, the people responsible have faced little more than public embarrassment. Many retired comfortably or moved on to new positions.
Without investigative journalism, the public might never have known who was at fault. Even with media exposure, none of these individuals have faced jail time. Instead, some were rewarded with honors or high-ranking roles. Compare this to the US, where such scandals often lead to criminal charges, lawsuits, and public accountability.
In the US, elected officials like district attorneys are incentivized to pursue justice. High-profile arrests and lawsuits are common, and victims often receive significant compensation. This culture of accountability acts as a deterrent for misconduct. If similar scandals occurred in the US, those responsible—police chiefs, social workers, and executives—would likely face jail time and public disgrace.
In contrast, the UK’s reliance on public inquiries is deeply flawed. These inquiries are slow, expensive, and ineffective. Stripping someone of an honor or issuing a report rarely prevents future failures. Without serious consequences like prison sentences or large fines, there’s no real incentive for officials to act responsibly.
The UK must change its approach to restore public trust. Criminal charges for negligence, financial penalties for failing institutions, and reforms to increase transparency are crucial. Until these changes happen, the UK will remain a country where failure goes unpunished, and victims are left without justice.
