PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contracts are a type of public-private partnership between the UK Government and private firms, where private firms finance, build, and maintain public infrastructure projects (like hospitals, schools, and roads) in return for long-term government payments.
As of 2018, the UK Government have scrapped PFIs through fear of overexpense and lack of value return.
During The Thick of It[]
Series 2[]
PFI is first mentioned in Episode 2.2, where Hugh Abbot and his Department for Social Affairs and Citizenship are moved from their old facility into a shared office building constructed through PFI contracts. The quality of the build and its utilities appear to be substandard, as the building suffers from unexpected wind tunnels due to its abstract design, and has issues with its own intranet email service. These issues would later expose Hugh Abbott's digital illiteracy when he accidentally sends a "notorious sweary email" to the Hotmail account of a child in Ryegate, instead of his senior advisor Glenn Cullen.
Series 3[]
PFI is heavily mentioned in Episode 3.1, where Nicola Murray's husband is revealed to be previously worked for Albany, a PFI company which had won previous prison contract bids, with her late appointment causing the fact to go unnoticed. Murray is later forced to pull her daughter out of private school, as having both issues was something Malcolm Tucker was unable to spin.
Series 4[]
See also: Key Worker Housing Sell-Off, The Goolding Inquiry
During Series 4, the issue arises again when legislation for worker housing being sold off to cover PFI debts is passed. Whereas Leader of the Opposition, Nicola Murray, and Secretary of StatePeter Mannion were in favor of the policy, Minister of State Fergus Williams was strongly against it, calling it "the worst idea since the invention of theatre". Douglas Tickel, an NHS Nurse, has his home repossessed as a result of the bill, and protests the policy by camping and living in a tent on the grass near Parliament. The situation is later compounded when Tickel's medical records are leaked, and he commits suicide as a result. Nicola Murray, as Leader of the Opposition, orders an inquiry into his death. Peter Mannion and his team then plot to pull Murray into it by including the issue of PFI contracts. Gradually, the Prime Minister orders an inquiry into the entire "culture of leaking", something Malcolm Tucker refers to as "the end of the world as we know it". An inquiry into the matter is then held, led by Lord Goolding. Due to Murray's husbands past, the Inquiry, and pressure from within the party, Murray resigns from the leadership.
The ultimate legislative fate of PFI procurement and any results of the Inquiry are not shown.