Dozens of Whitehall consultations have failed to receive government responses as the Tories are accused of “lurching from crisis to crisis”.
Ministries often launch formal consultations on plans, gathering feedback before responding and, sometimes, overhauling policies before they reach Parliament.
But Labour research found 25 had not been responded to by ministers - including two from seven years ago.
Fifteen launched in this Parliament are still awaiting responses, raising fears for the future of plans as warring Tories prepare to install another new Prime Minister - the fourth in just over six years.
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Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “The country is grinding to a halt under the Conservatives.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the poor track record of the Conservatives to deliver on their promises.
“They make empty promises, open pointless consultations, then hope the public won’t notice when they fail to actually govern.”
Treasury Minister Alan Mak revealed a “full list of closed consultations without action” following a written parliamentary question.
They include a “consultation on social investment tax relief for ‘spot purchase’ social impact bonds” from November 2015 and a “travel and subsistence review” from the following month.
Other consultations yet to receive a government response include one on “pre-paid funeral plans” from August 2018 and another on “encouraging innovation in regulated utilities” from January 2019.
The revelations prompted questions about why the consultations were launched in the first place only for the Government to kick plans into the long grass.
Mrs Rayner feared further delays were inevitable with plans set to be booted into limbo as the Tories choose between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak for the next Prime Minister.
She believed the ongoing Conservative chaos since David Cameron ’s resignation in July 2016 could be fuelling a “zombie Government”.
Mrs Rayner said: “This Conservative Government has lurched from crisis to crisis, leader to leader, with important projects and consultations lying incomplete in-trays while the Tories fight each other for power.
“Instead of attacking one another and trying to work out what the Conservative membership want to hear they should get on with running the country.
“Labour will get the job done and build a stronger, fairer economy.”
Answering the written question, Mr Mak said: “All Government consultations and calls for evidence are published on gov.uk which also provides an update on whether government has responded to these.
“In this Parliament, we have identified 15 calls for evidence or consultations which are closed, but which government has not yet responded to.”
