Is the UK sliding into state capture? - Professor Elizabeth David-Barrett

In her keynote speech at The Constitution Society's conference on 'Executive Power and the UK Constitution', Professor Elizabeth David-Barrett asks whether the UK is sliding into state capture. Prof. David-Barrett sets out what state capture means - corrupt influence over the formation of law and policy - and examines the development of a new form of politician-led state capture seen most prominently in Hungary. She looks at how this form of state capture goes beyond capturing the formation of the rules to influence over policy implementation and a weakening of accountability mechanisms. Finally, she asks whether this is happening in the UK, citing in particular a number of ways in which the institutions meant to act as a check on executive power have been undermined. Nevertheless, she concludes that the UK is some way off becoming a captured state, but that we should not be complacent. Liz David-Barrett is Professor of Governance and Integrity at the University of Sussex where she is also Director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption. Photography: Sophie le Roux