Stefan Czerniawski
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pubstr.at
Stefan Czerniawski
@pubstr.at
Blogging less than the olden days. Still working to make public services better, now in healthcare regulation.
Standard grump that publishers show not the slightest interest in taking money off people who might want to preorder ebooks, with the publisher in this case contenting themselves with supplying a collection of broken links, some of which go to the wrong country. Not the fault of authors, of course
Lots of you will be logging off at the end of today. So what's coming up in 2026? It'll be packed. On 10 February I'll be publishing 'New Labour, New Britain?' - a whole book on the Blair governments. Have I said anything about it yet? www.amazon.co.uk/New-Labour-B...
New Labour, New Britain?: How the Blair Governments Reshaped the Country
Buy New Labour, New Britain?: How the Blair Governments Reshaped the Country by O’Hara, Glen (ISBN: 9781526146328) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
"Every time I pull a lever" says the Prime Minister.

This dead metaphor is killing his ability to get things done.

There aren't any levers. There's only leadership.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/there-aren...
There aren't any levers
A dead metaphor is killing the government's ability to get things done
howtorunacountry.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Signs with portents
December 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The theme of the walk was winter orchards
December 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This is just one reason why RSS feeds are wonderful things - a blog lies dormant for eight years, but the moment of its reawakening is instantly recognised.

www.wordyard.com/2025/12/01/w...
December 2, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The theme of the walk was cloudless sunshine
November 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
To this day, English law makes special provision for red diesel in customs and excise law. Implausible connections with red eels are invited.

www.nationwidefuels.co.uk/faq/red-dies...
Medieval English laws categorized eels by size. The most common types were:

Pimpernell / Pimper eels: very small
Shaft / Dole eels: medium
Stub eels: larger
Red: ??

No one knows for sure what red eels were. But they were bad, & customs officers threw them out if they found any.
🗃️🧪
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This is nominative determinism of the very highest order
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Impressive how it is possible to spot an @anothertimbre.bsky.social cover design at twenty paces - with the attendant promise of something weird and glorious.
#NowPlaying I have no issues with this instrumentation.
November 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
A fundraiser for people affected by the flooding in Monmouth has been set up by the town council and the mayor.

You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Help raise £5000 to Monmouth Mayor's fund to help Monmouth residents affected by the devastating flood – JustGiving Crowdfunding
Iʼm raising money to Monmouth Mayor's fund to help Monmouth residents affected by the devastating flood. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
www.justgiving.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
also you know refugees are allowed to have unremarkable lives - they don't need to prove that giving them refuge was 'worthwhile' their need is justification enough
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
This is absolute gold from @richardpope.org on digitally enabled preventative healthcare
Preventative healthcare: designing for the service loop
A set of provocations about the design of digitally enabled preventative healthcare
www.rpp.works
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
It's sometimes hard to remember that public services can be delivered with pride and self confidence
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
It's sometimes hard to remember that public services can be delivered with pride and self confidence
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The very excellent @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social seems to have quietly died a couple of days ago. Does anybody know what might have befallen it and whether it can be revived?
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The theme of the walk was autumn ending
October 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It's completely optional, other than not being at all optional.

#FixTheForms
October 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Tangentially reminded of an extraordinary weaving installation in a tunnel in Holborn years ago - eerie, mesmerising, and strangely beautiful

clapham-omnibus.blogspot.com/2009/10/chor...
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
Register is open for UKGovCamp 2026!

Join us on 17 January 2026 for a free, community-led unconference where public sector people meet to share ideas, collaborate, and improve services.

Spaces are limited. Secure your spot today: forms.gle/tL5q1ZBHYxAq...
UKGovCamp 2026 Registration
Our next annual in-person event is: free to attend, in Birmingham, on Saturday 17 January 2026. Please note: Registration does not guarantee a ticket because: the event is always oversubscribed,...
forms.gle
October 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Music stands in place for the solo performer
October 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
My hero is a farmer, not a duck. Which will only make sense if you read this new piece by me, the start of a new substack which I am bravely calling How To Run A Country.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/its-the-de...
It’s the despair that’s going to kill us
Time to cheer up
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"When you’re trying to bring about significant change in any complex system, it’s impossible to know up front exactly what’s going to work, how the various risks are going to pan out or how the context is going to change."
'Being a leader isn’t about becoming great at everything': Civil service reform DG Janet Hughes sets out her priorities
Hughes, who became Cabinet Office DG for civil service reform and efficiency in June, on bringing the spirit of One Team Gov to her new role, test ...
www.civilserviceworld.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A strange little demonstration outside Broadcasting House - a handful of people with a banner bigger than they are proclaiming that "Bullets will not silence us - RIP Charlie Kirk" against a stylised union flag.

The ratio of confusion to word count seems remarkably high.
October 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Thick mist last night, clear blue skies this morning. Autumn beyond doubt.
September 29, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
Much of what is written about "digital identity" veers (often wildly) across two broad lanes: 1) the concept of your 'identity' and 2) means by which you prove a claim in relation to that (usually that you are either The Person, or that some fact is true - without necessarily revealing who you are).
September 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM