Government U-turns are defended

THE UK Government should aim to “get it right” the first time, the Health Secretary has said, as he defended political U-turns.

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Wes Streeting insisted feedback is the “breakfast of champions” when discussing recent government climb-downs during an appearance at the Institute for Government conference in central London.

He also criticised the centre-left of politics that blames the civil service and stakeholders for a slow pace of change across government.

The Treasury is currently understood to be preparing a support package for the pub industry following an outcry over the impact of a major hike in business rates.

The move is the latest in a series of U-turns from the government, which has also backed down on major welfare reforms due to pressure from backbenchers, and has partially scaled back inheritance tax on farms following lobbying by the sector.

Mr Streeting was asked whether U-turns are slowing the government down, and he told delegates: “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.