DOGE UK Official Department of Government Efficiency

Conservative DOGE – Badenoch Channels Argentina’s Chainsaw Economics to Tackle UK Waste

In July 2025, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch signalled she wants to adopt Argentina’s state‑cutting playbook under President Javier Milei as a model for her so‑called “Conservative DOGE” (Department of Government Efficiency) plan. Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has wielded his signature chainsaw to deliver dramatic cuts in public spending—dismissing tens of thousands of state employees, slashing pensions, freezing infrastructure projects, and reducing the number of ministries and manned guarding services. Badenoch sees this as a template to revive Britain’s economy and her own party’s fortunes AP News+11The Times+11The Times+11EL PAÍS English+7Wikipedia+7AP News+7.

Milei’s Chainsaw Cuts: A Model for Radical Trim

Javier Milei’s signature metaphor—literally brandishing a chainsaw at rallies—captures his shock‑therapy style of governance. Within a year and a half, he:

Supporters praise Milei’s approach for restoring fiscal discipline; critics warn of rising poverty and social unrest—including a general strike that cost the economy around $880 million GlobalPost+15AP News+15EL PAÍS English+15.

Badenoch Embraces the “Chainsaw Economics” Blueprint

Responding to the scale of UK debt and sluggish growth, Badenoch has praised Milei as “Britain’s Javier Milei,” telling the Financial Times: “Yes and yes…Milei is the template” Financial Times+1The Times+1. She clarified:

“It’s not about cutting bits of the state… It’s about looking at what the state does, why it does it.” Phenomenal World+3The Times+3Financial Times+3

Badenoch rejects the shallow approach of simply slashing budgets; rather, she proposes a full-scale audit of state functions, closing unnecessary departments and requiring evidence of value for every policy area.

What Conservative DOGE Could Achieve

If replicated in the UK, Conservative DOGE could generate substantial savings across these areas:

1. Public-sector headcount

By cutting redundant roles—such as centralized back-office staff—that constitute up to 10% of public employment, Badenoch could scale Milei’s approach, potentially reducing public-sector payroll by £10–15 bn annually, easing wage pressures and freeing funds for frontline services.

2. Pension reforms

Milei held down pension growth at minimum levels; in the UK, reforming indexation or recalibrating growth assumptions may yield £3–5 bn annually, helping to slow the rise in the state pension bill.

3. Infrastructure freeze

Delaying or cancelling low-priority projects can save billions. Even pausing £5 bn in strategic projects, similar to Milei’s 74% rollback in infrastructure allocation, could substantially reduce capital expenditure.

4. Ministry consolidation

Milei halved Argentina’s ministries (from 18 to 8); applying that ratio in the UK—roughly halving cabinet departments and quango bodies—could drive savings on administrative overhead and cross-government coordination.

In total, early projections by Conservative analysts suggest Conservative DOGE could save £20–30 bn annually. On a per-household basis, this could cut £700–£1,000 per household in future tax or public-service cost pressures, easing burdens amid cost-of-living pressures.

Safeguards & Risks

Such radical change carries risks. Argentina’s approach has triggered rising poverty (affecting >50% of the population) and social discontent ― union-led strikes disrupted transport and services thefp.com+2The Independent+2YouTube+2. UK analysis warns:

  • Social safety nets will need protection to avoid harming the vulnerable,

  • Public backlash could erupt if cuts focus heavily on health, schools, or disability benefits.

The Financial Times notes that while Badenoch praises Milei’s transparency and results, she has “maintained the pensions triple lock”, showing caution in national rollout Financial Times.

Is Conservative DOGE Feasible?

Policy experts argue that meaningful savings require deeper reform, not rapid cuts:

  • Public-sector contracts, IT systems, and services need modernization, not just elimination.

  • Reducing quango and departmental overlap helps—but cuts in essential workforce or pension obligations may prove politically unviable.

As seen in Argentina, balancing debt reduction with social stability is tricky: infrastructure freeze may hamper long-term growth; pension cuts could depress consumer spending; job layoffs need re-training strategies.

A New Conservative Agenda?

Whether Conservative DOGE becomes a symbol or policy tool depends on strategy. Badenoch aims to reframe the Conservative economic narrative around fiscal rigor and smaller state. Doing so could recalibrate UK economic policy, offering a stark contrast with Labour’s planned tax increases.

But for now, key questions remain:

  • Will Conservative DOGE include independent oversight, or be driven by partisan advisory teams?

  • Will it ringfence essential services like NHS, education, and child protection?

  • Can Conservative DOGE propose evidence-based function reviews, rather than blanket cuts?

👁‍🗨 Final Analysis

Conservative DOGE, modelled on Milei’s Argentina, could fundamentally reshape UK state spending—delivering tens of billions in savings. This could ease future tax hikes, reduce public spending burdens, and revitalise Britain’s economy.

Yet the challenge is balancing cost reduction with social resilience. Argentina’s experience shows that rapid fiscal surgery can fix the ledger—but it also brings hardship. For Conservative DOGE to succeed, it must be technocratic, transparent, and targeted, with strong protections for the vulnerable.

Ultimately, the chainsaw may symbolise bold change—but success depends on the accuracy of cuts, the fairness of implementation, and the political will to follow through.

DOGE UK Official Department of Government Efficiency