Public Communication Scan of the United Kingdom
Using Public Communication to Strengthen Democracy and Public Trust
This Public Communication Scan of the United Kingdom, the first such scan of an OECD Member country, brings new insights to the OECD’s work on understanding how public communication contributes to democratic governance. The scan analyses how the United Kingdom’s Government Communication Service (GCS) is building a more effective communication function amid changes to the information ecosystem and how it can help make policymaking more responsive to citizens' needs. The analysis and recommendations in this Scan highlight opportunities for the GCS and the UK Government to align ongoing communication reforms with actions to promote more inclusive and people-centred communication that contributes to greater engagement, improved public trust, and better policy outcomes.
Executive summary
In recent years, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, policy makers have gained new awareness of public communication’s potential in achieving better policy outcomes. With weak public confidence in government institutions and the deteriorating health of information ecosystems, governments are rethinking how communication can support democratic resilience. In many democracies, the space for open public debate that fosters this democratic resilience suffers from polarising narratives and disinformation. This can undermine policy and result in public disengagement from political and civic participation.
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