Ep 3. The Economy Drive

In Yes, Minister season 1 episode 3, titled "The Economy Drive," we see the British government facing a budget crisis. Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Administrative Affairs, is tasked with finding ways to cut the country's spending. However, his proposed solutions involve reducing the quality of public services, which doesn't sit well with Minister for Administrative Affairs James Hacker.

As the two clash over what measures to take, Hacker learns that Sir Humphrey has been using bureaucratic techniques to manipulate the situation to his advantage. It becomes clear that the Permanent Secretary is more interested in preserving his status and power than actually solving the budget crisis. This realization leads to a tense confrontation between the two men and raises questions about who really holds the power in government.

Meanwhile, Hacker is also struggling to satisfy his constituents who are unhappy with the state of public services. This puts him in a difficult position, forced to balance reducing spending with keeping the public happy. He even considers using his position to stage a fake announcement of new spending in order to appease voters.

Overall, "The Economy Drive" is a revealing episode that sheds light on the inner workings of government and the power dynamics at play. It also raises important questions about the trade-offs that come with reducing spending and the impact this has on public services.