Upon watching ‘Brexit: An Uncivil War’ the other day, I was left with a profound feeling of dismay about the lack of ambition in Westminster. The protagonist (played superbly by Benedict Cumerbatch) is Dominic Cummings, the intellectual architect and driving force behind the Brexit campaign, who (mistakenly) thought that Brexit could bring about a revolution in Westminster. The film concludes that Brexit did many things, but engendering real change in Westminster was not one of them.

This article is not about Brexit; it is however about change. I will consider the impact that Blockchain can have in the public sector, making the case that this technology could bring about a differentsort of revolution to that envisioned by Cummings; but, one defined by the same things he hoped for: efficiency, innovation and imagination.

These arguments are based off a report I made last year on Blockchain and the public sector, for the full thing contact me as it is not yet available publicly (see bottom of this). However, so as to not bore you I will confine this analysis to two key policy areas: ‘Education’, and ‘Immigration and Customs’. The intention here is not to provide a systematic overview or manifesto for blockchain related policies; rather, it is to provide an insight into what could be possible using existing technologies.

First up education… The basis of a societies human capital stems from it, yet the UK system continues to be outperformed by its foreign counterparts.

Blockchain could bring about a transformation in the way in which students are taught. New educational models advocate the need for more ‘collaborative forms of learning’ claiming that this will enable students to engage more with their studies while preparing them for the more collaboration orientated dynamics that will underpin ‘the future of work’.

As I’m sure we can all remember, collaborative learning has always been undermined by cheating, laziness and free-riding- group projects were often completed half-heartedly often with one person shouldering the workload.

Blockchain could make this oft abused model practical (sorry kids!). Group assignments, for example, could be submitted with each component made easily attributable to a student’s personal account; with the indelible aspect of blockchain technology ensuring this work was indeed their own. Furthermore, each input by a student, could be registered as a ‘block’, thus allowing students and teachers to trace their students approach to learning and improve this also; in effect, helping them learn how to learn. Ask any teacher, evaluation is the thorn in the side of collaborative forms of learning; blockchain removes this, making it possible. This small change, could transform the way students are taught and bring about added benefits such as process evaluation (learning how to learn).

Next up, blockchain at the border…

Blockchain could bring greater efficiency, reliability and transparency to migration and asylum checks. Blockchain could be used in the creation of indelible and verifiable digitized records in almost any activity associated with asylum and migration policy. For example, it could help trace and report on all stages of key migration and asylum policy interventions such as: Asylum procedures (from interviews to final decisions and appeal procedures); Migrant integration programmes; Detention Conditions; Missing migrants (particularly children); and the full return policy cycle, i.e. ensuring migrants and asylum seekers return home when required. This would allow for immigration officials to ensure that people left when they are supposed to and were treated fairly.

The security and verifiability of these processes could all be guaranteed through uploading existing data to the blockchain (e.g. from the Schengen Information System etc.) and through the usage of biometric collections to prevent fraud. This would make border security more secure, and dramatically reduce the number of people coming in illegally.

Blockchain technology could also be used to put an end to old fashioned customs declarations thereby increasing the traceability of supply chains. Currently customs declarations appears on a system somewhere to be accessed later by authorized stakeholders. However, with Blockchain, the moment you submit the declaration it would be visible in non-reputable form to all the associated parties on the import side. The importer can trust the information about what’s in the consignment, while also being able to check whether the related finance is legitimate, and—thanks to the Internet of Things—track and trace it along the supply chain and determine to see if it’s been interfered with. Thus blockchain in this scenario would increase efficiency and cut down on fraud in trade.

This account is far from exhaustive, yet it illustrates the potential for blockchain to vastly enhance our public services. All these possibilities are compatible with existing technologies and all we are waiting for is a government with enough ambition and imagination to take them up.

I am more than aware that ‘policy fails’, and that large scale technology based policies can be impeded by a whole range of issues. However, I am also aware that businesses all over the world are utilising blockchain technologies to add value to their operations. Why should government be any different?

Its time, we move past Brexit, and concede that it is not going to bring about the revolution some had hoped for in government. Technology, instead, may well be our panacea.

Governments should embrace blockchain (and the raft of other technologies coming our way). Its about time we saw a bit more innovation in Westminster…

Full the full report, please contact the author at c.martin7@lse.ac.uk