Caroline Slocock
@carolineslocock.bsky.social
Director of think tank Civil Exchange, expert on government and civil society, political commentator, former senior civil servant and Private Secretary to two PMs, first feminist book on Thatcher, People Like Us. Also on X.
PAC says abolition of NHS England not “prudent”, was decided with no money set aside for it and no impact assessment, and repeated the “poor practice” already seen with HS2 and the new hospitals programme. Massive distraction and disruption too. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS failing to cut waiting times as promised in recovery plan, report warns
Public accounts committee finds Labour’s progress ‘appears to have stalled’ despite billions of pounds in investment
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
PAC says abolition of NHS England not “prudent”, was decided with no money set aside for it and no impact assessment, and repeated the “poor practice” already seen with HS2 and the new hospitals programme. Massive distraction and disruption too. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Caroline Slocock
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
‘Illegal migration is tearing this country apart’ says Mahmood. Her intention may be the opposite but this rhetoric and the tough action that goes with it is potentially throwing petrol on the fire, giving permission to racism and hate. And if her measures don’t work, what then?
November 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM
‘Illegal migration is tearing this country apart’ says Mahmood. Her intention may be the opposite but this rhetoric and the tough action that goes with it is potentially throwing petrol on the fire, giving permission to racism and hate. And if her measures don’t work, what then?
Let's not forget that extending the freeze on tax thresholds for a further 2 years to 2030 is an increase in income tax, it's just one done by stealth.
November 16, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Let's not forget that extending the freeze on tax thresholds for a further 2 years to 2030 is an increase in income tax, it's just one done by stealth.
Looking forward to reviewing tomorrow's newspapers tonight with Henry Bonsu on Times Radio at 10.30pm
November 14, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Looking forward to reviewing tomorrow's newspapers tonight with Henry Bonsu on Times Radio at 10.30pm
What is going on? Treasury says it cannot comment on speculation caused by govt briefing last night that tax rises they briefed about over weeks are abandoned, a story possibly released to suppress further coverage of No 10’s denial that it had briefed about the Starmer coup…
November 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
What is going on? Treasury says it cannot comment on speculation caused by govt briefing last night that tax rises they briefed about over weeks are abandoned, a story possibly released to suppress further coverage of No 10’s denial that it had briefed about the Starmer coup…
It pains me to say it but I think there is a trust issue here, which the Prime Minister promised to restore. Who is telling us the truth? No.10 or the journalists? Because they depend on those 'sources' for their stories, will these journalists now protect them? www.bbc.com/news/article...
PM 'assured' anonymous briefings did not come from No 10
Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting are urging the PM to take action over briefings to media about a challenge to his leadership.
www.bbc.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It pains me to say it but I think there is a trust issue here, which the Prime Minister promised to restore. Who is telling us the truth? No.10 or the journalists? Because they depend on those 'sources' for their stories, will these journalists now protect them? www.bbc.com/news/article...
Every journalist briefed by No 10 re Streeting knows who did it but now maintains the fiction it’s not clear who did. Treating government as a political campaign feeds journalists but it is bad government eg the huge number of leaks re Budget options has chilled the economy.
November 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Every journalist briefed by No 10 re Streeting knows who did it but now maintains the fiction it’s not clear who did. Treating government as a political campaign feeds journalists but it is bad government eg the huge number of leaks re Budget options has chilled the economy.
As someone who has studied the toppling of recent PMs and experienced Thatcher’s, I would say the next step is likely to be a sacking of a Chief of Staff (cf Cummings, Timothy and Hill) or a Chancellor (Truss) but based on those experiences this is unlikely to save a weak/bad PM.
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
As someone who has studied the toppling of recent PMs and experienced Thatcher’s, I would say the next step is likely to be a sacking of a Chief of Staff (cf Cummings, Timothy and Hill) or a Chancellor (Truss) but based on those experiences this is unlikely to save a weak/bad PM.
An inside story on what happened at the BBC, essentially a coup, it seems, years in the making. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
‘Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses
The whirlwind that started when Deborah Turness came under attack at a board meeting is part of a wider political story, some say
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 AM
An inside story on what happened at the BBC, essentially a coup, it seems, years in the making. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
How did Robbie Gibb, who took over the Jewish Chronicle on behalf of an undisclosed owner, after which it lurched to the right and even printed fabricated stories about Gaza, get to be an arbiter on the BBC’s impartiality? The BBC is central to our democracy and deserves better.
November 11, 2025 at 8:38 AM
How did Robbie Gibb, who took over the Jewish Chronicle on behalf of an undisclosed owner, after which it lurched to the right and even printed fabricated stories about Gaza, get to be an arbiter on the BBC’s impartiality? The BBC is central to our democracy and deserves better.
Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice report says official definition of terrorism is too broad and creates ‘uncertainty and overreach in its application’. Comes after 2000 people arrested after banning of Palestine Action www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Terror law used to ban Palestine Action being used too widely, report warns
A three-year review also found that anti-radicalisation scheme Prevent is ‘not fit for purpose’
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice report says official definition of terrorism is too broad and creates ‘uncertainty and overreach in its application’. Comes after 2000 people arrested after banning of Palestine Action www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Let’s not get into a situation where Trump - who has a vicious agenda against respected media outlets - and his acolytes here are allowed to destroy the BBC because of one highly regrettable mistake. And let’s stop political appointments to the BBC Board. Independence matters.
November 10, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Let’s not get into a situation where Trump - who has a vicious agenda against respected media outlets - and his acolytes here are allowed to destroy the BBC because of one highly regrettable mistake. And let’s stop political appointments to the BBC Board. Independence matters.
A genuinely visionary policy announced today -new towns to be built beside newly planted forests so everyone there will be10 minutes walk away from wild spaces. Let’s hope they also build the quality social infrastructure communities need. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
New set of forest towns to be built between Oxford and Cambridge
Communities in the middle of new national forest to show how housebuilding can be delivered alongside nature
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:43 AM
A genuinely visionary policy announced today -new towns to be built beside newly planted forests so everyone there will be10 minutes walk away from wild spaces. Let’s hope they also build the quality social infrastructure communities need. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reeves may be trying to soften the political blow of raising taxes by managing expectations but I fear it will negatively impact the economy, as people and companies anticipate the worst on all fronts before the Budget. So many leaks have already started this process, worse now.
November 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reeves may be trying to soften the political blow of raising taxes by managing expectations but I fear it will negatively impact the economy, as people and companies anticipate the worst on all fronts before the Budget. So many leaks have already started this process, worse now.
According to the FT, Ant Middleton, a former soldier and television personality now rightwing activist, told followers to leave the country for their own safety after reports of the train stabbing, which the FT picked as just one example of overreaction. Are we being wound up?
November 3, 2025 at 9:05 AM
According to the FT, Ant Middleton, a former soldier and television personality now rightwing activist, told followers to leave the country for their own safety after reports of the train stabbing, which the FT picked as just one example of overreaction. Are we being wound up?
An update on civic rights. A jury upheld the right to peaceful protest at Stonehenge despite draconian laws. Meanwhile, thousands of protestors are being charged for trying to protect the right to peaceful protest after the banning of Palestinian Action. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Just Stop Oil activists cleared over Stonehenge protest
The trio are cleared of all charges after citing human rights law in their defence.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
An update on civic rights. A jury upheld the right to peaceful protest at Stonehenge despite draconian laws. Meanwhile, thousands of protestors are being charged for trying to protect the right to peaceful protest after the banning of Palestinian Action. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Looks like the only accountability of the monarchy is to itself, a principle being fiercely maintained by avoiding a Parliamentary vote through orders in council. Healey now confirms govt is only guided by the king. For years Andrew has avoided consequences. What if he were king?
Genuine question: Johnson’s time showed our unwritten constitution lacked checks to control rogue PMs but Parliamentary scrutiny at least existed and he was forced out by his peers. If Andrew had been the firstborn and was now King, would anyone be able to remove him?
November 2, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Looks like the only accountability of the monarchy is to itself, a principle being fiercely maintained by avoiding a Parliamentary vote through orders in council. Healey now confirms govt is only guided by the king. For years Andrew has avoided consequences. What if he were king?
Genuine question: Johnson’s time showed our unwritten constitution lacked checks to control rogue PMs but Parliamentary scrutiny at least existed and he was forced out by his peers. If Andrew had been the firstborn and was now King, would anyone be able to remove him?
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Genuine question: Johnson’s time showed our unwritten constitution lacked checks to control rogue PMs but Parliamentary scrutiny at least existed and he was forced out by his peers. If Andrew had been the firstborn and was now King, would anyone be able to remove him?
Bad government: Lammy micromanaging the Prison Service by imposing a release checklist which adds to staff burdens - and before the inquiry identifies the problem to be solved - while new Home Office rules for minimum salary levels for migrants denude them of Prison Officers.
October 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Bad government: Lammy micromanaging the Prison Service by imposing a release checklist which adds to staff burdens - and before the inquiry identifies the problem to be solved - while new Home Office rules for minimum salary levels for migrants denude them of Prison Officers.
Thatcher was born 100 years ago today. Her influence is still pervasive - Tories are still obsessed with her small state, low taxes view, despite failing to control either, Labour's 'Iron Chancellor' pays tribute and the economic north-south divide she created still endures🧵
October 13, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Thatcher was born 100 years ago today. Her influence is still pervasive - Tories are still obsessed with her small state, low taxes view, despite failing to control either, Labour's 'Iron Chancellor' pays tribute and the economic north-south divide she created still endures🧵
Heseltine is a brilliant commentator today, but what would Thatcher say, who’d have been 100 years old on Monday? I think she’d advocate a return to the EU for both economic and geopolitical reasons and lament Badenoch’s abandonment of net zero and the ECHR.
October 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Heseltine is a brilliant commentator today, but what would Thatcher say, who’d have been 100 years old on Monday? I think she’d advocate a return to the EU for both economic and geopolitical reasons and lament Badenoch’s abandonment of net zero and the ECHR.
The story of how Blair met Epstein - a word from his mate Mandelson - speaks volumes about the private influence and access of the super rich to govt. Often hidden but the effects are everywhere. Look at the funding of the Blair Institute. Larry Ellison. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while prime minister
The ex-PM confirms he met Epstein in 2002, six years before the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
www.bbc.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:52 AM
The story of how Blair met Epstein - a word from his mate Mandelson - speaks volumes about the private influence and access of the super rich to govt. Often hidden but the effects are everywhere. Look at the funding of the Blair Institute. Larry Ellison. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Badenoch joked yesterday ‘As George Bernard Shaw said: ‘Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it’, apparently referencing Reform. But that’s exactly what the Tories (and Labour) are doing with their ever tougher migration policies. Race to the bottom.
October 9, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Badenoch joked yesterday ‘As George Bernard Shaw said: ‘Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it’, apparently referencing Reform. But that’s exactly what the Tories (and Labour) are doing with their ever tougher migration policies. Race to the bottom.
Does anyone else think of McCarthy’s ‘unAmerican’ when politicians brand things as ‘unBritish’? I get what’s being said about sensitivity, intimidation and fighting racism but protests are as British as they come and we already have laws to use against racism, hate and violence.
October 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Does anyone else think of McCarthy’s ‘unAmerican’ when politicians brand things as ‘unBritish’? I get what’s being said about sensitivity, intimidation and fighting racism but protests are as British as they come and we already have laws to use against racism, hate and violence.