Suzannah Brecknell
@suzannahb.bsky.social
Co Editor of Civil Service World
Can a civil service career be creative? Loved interviewing Sherin Aminossehe for the latest @civilserviceworld.bsky.social podcast - we discuss her new book, swapping the private sector for the MoD, and the endless possibilities of working with public sector spaces open.spotify.com/episode/0WAC...
Art, railways and the unexpected creativity of the civil service: in conversation with Sherin Aminossehe
open.spotify.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Can a civil service career be creative? Loved interviewing Sherin Aminossehe for the latest @civilserviceworld.bsky.social podcast - we discuss her new book, swapping the private sector for the MoD, and the endless possibilities of working with public sector spaces open.spotify.com/episode/0WAC...
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
Another thing a government could do is increase the number of low-traffic zones so that kids can play outside and build more playgrounds with stuff that's fun to do for kids aged 10 and above, open swimming pools. Like actually nice things that will make people's lives better.
July 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Another thing a government could do is increase the number of low-traffic zones so that kids can play outside and build more playgrounds with stuff that's fun to do for kids aged 10 and above, open swimming pools. Like actually nice things that will make people's lives better.
All set for our final webinar before the summer - with @jo3hill.bsky.social and @gracewyld.bsky.social looking back on a year of Labour administration and discussing the impact of mission-based government on the civil service. You can watch us here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=oXtQ...
July 10, 2025 at 9:25 AM
All set for our final webinar before the summer - with @jo3hill.bsky.social and @gracewyld.bsky.social looking back on a year of Labour administration and discussing the impact of mission-based government on the civil service. You can watch us here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=oXtQ...
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
There was a 2nd really positive announcement regarding Total Place in the 10 Year Health Plan
- Increased autonomy ✅
- Pooling budgets ✅
- Shifting spending towards prevention ✅
Hopefully the 1st step of a wider public service shift to prevention:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
- Increased autonomy ✅
- Pooling budgets ✅
- Shifting spending towards prevention ✅
Hopefully the 1st step of a wider public service shift to prevention:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
July 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
There was a 2nd really positive announcement regarding Total Place in the 10 Year Health Plan
- Increased autonomy ✅
- Pooling budgets ✅
- Shifting spending towards prevention ✅
Hopefully the 1st step of a wider public service shift to prevention:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
- Increased autonomy ✅
- Pooling budgets ✅
- Shifting spending towards prevention ✅
Hopefully the 1st step of a wider public service shift to prevention:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Intrigued by this in newly-published OECD research around how public in different countries perceive societal risks. Suggests the UK public are more open to migration than the OECD average, more keen on UBI, but less keen on investing in skills
Full report: www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Full report: www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
July 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Intrigued by this in newly-published OECD research around how public in different countries perceive societal risks. Suggests the UK public are more open to migration than the OECD average, more keen on UBI, but less keen on investing in skills
Full report: www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Full report: www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Problems with the structure/support for Starmer in No.10 clearly remain, does it all stem to them not knowing or caring enough about what that structure should or could look like? He assumed the support he had as DPP or LOTO would just scale up?
There’s a fascinating category error in this quote: Campbell was a director of communications. McSweeney is a campaigns guy who’s become chief of staff.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
A No 10 source told me Alastair Campbell “wouldn’t last two minutes in Morgan’s job” and was “utterly clueless about the sentiment and state of the country”.
🖊️ @georgeeaton.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
🖊️ @georgeeaton.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
July 2, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Problems with the structure/support for Starmer in No.10 clearly remain, does it all stem to them not knowing or caring enough about what that structure should or could look like? He assumed the support he had as DPP or LOTO would just scale up?
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
There’s a fascinating category error in this quote: Campbell was a director of communications. McSweeney is a campaigns guy who’s become chief of staff.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
A No 10 source told me Alastair Campbell “wouldn’t last two minutes in Morgan’s job” and was “utterly clueless about the sentiment and state of the country”.
🖊️ @georgeeaton.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
🖊️ @georgeeaton.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Morgan McSweeney’s moment of truth
The battle over welfare is part of a battle for the soul of Labour.
www.newstatesman.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
There’s a fascinating category error in this quote: Campbell was a director of communications. McSweeney is a campaigns guy who’s become chief of staff.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
Those are three very different roles! That they’re being elided by the speaker (and Number 10) is, arguably, a large part of the problem.
Some quick reactions to the Spending Review.
Darren Jones told @instituteforgovernment.org.uk in March that mission boards were making s)ubmissions which would be negotiated alongside departmental settlements. I can't see any sign of those today.
Darren Jones told @instituteforgovernment.org.uk in March that mission boards were making s)ubmissions which would be negotiated alongside departmental settlements. I can't see any sign of those today.
June 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Some quick reactions to the Spending Review.
Darren Jones told @instituteforgovernment.org.uk in March that mission boards were making s)ubmissions which would be negotiated alongside departmental settlements. I can't see any sign of those today.
Darren Jones told @instituteforgovernment.org.uk in March that mission boards were making s)ubmissions which would be negotiated alongside departmental settlements. I can't see any sign of those today.
If you don't already get the @civilserviceworld.bsky.social newsletter you missed an excellent line up this afternoon- we ferreted through the SR documents to find the bits which matter for civil servants. Subscribe now and make sure you don't miss our follow-ups over the rest of this week
June 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If you don't already get the @civilserviceworld.bsky.social newsletter you missed an excellent line up this afternoon- we ferreted through the SR documents to find the bits which matter for civil servants. Subscribe now and make sure you don't miss our follow-ups over the rest of this week
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
Reeves has so far used the term "my choice" 17 times in her Spending Review speech, calculates colleague @zoecrowther.bsky.social. It's political framing, contrasting government with Tories / Reform, and seemingly also an attempt at better storytelling — which insiders admit hasn't been good enough
June 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reeves has so far used the term "my choice" 17 times in her Spending Review speech, calculates colleague @zoecrowther.bsky.social. It's political framing, contrasting government with Tories / Reform, and seemingly also an attempt at better storytelling — which insiders admit hasn't been good enough
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
When I was working at HMT, during one fiscal event, someone senior came on the building intercom to ask us to stop watching the statement on our computers, to free up some bandwidth so they could upload the documents. Maybe they still haven’t upgraded to fiber?
June 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
When I was working at HMT, during one fiscal event, someone senior came on the building intercom to ask us to stop watching the statement on our computers, to free up some bandwidth so they could upload the documents. Maybe they still haven’t upgraded to fiber?
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
Reeves has been talking for over half an hour and almost all her announcements are about new investment spending (where the envelope is quite generous).
There will be fewer good news stories on day-to-day spending where the envelope is much tighter (or this will be a very long speech)
There will be fewer good news stories on day-to-day spending where the envelope is much tighter (or this will be a very long speech)
June 11, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reeves has been talking for over half an hour and almost all her announcements are about new investment spending (where the envelope is quite generous).
There will be fewer good news stories on day-to-day spending where the envelope is much tighter (or this will be a very long speech)
There will be fewer good news stories on day-to-day spending where the envelope is much tighter (or this will be a very long speech)
{I would like to be clear I am not anti-AI and welcome our robot overlords etc}
I'm working on a new series profiling innovation in the civil service. I would love to speak with anyone doing something innovative that does NOT involve AI - any suggestions or connections please?
I'm working on a new series profiling innovation in the civil service. I would love to speak with anyone doing something innovative that does NOT involve AI - any suggestions or connections please?
April 17, 2025 at 10:43 AM
{I would like to be clear I am not anti-AI and welcome our robot overlords etc}
I'm working on a new series profiling innovation in the civil service. I would love to speak with anyone doing something innovative that does NOT involve AI - any suggestions or connections please?
I'm working on a new series profiling innovation in the civil service. I would love to speak with anyone doing something innovative that does NOT involve AI - any suggestions or connections please?
This thread combines two of my favourite things - management advice for officials and out of print books to add to my wonkish collection
Now that a new triumvirate of leaders (Jim Mackey, Penny Dash and Sam Jones, if confirmed as PS) have to rethink how to organise and manage the central team running the NHS, I have a suggestion for a book they should read...
April 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM
This thread combines two of my favourite things - management advice for officials and out of print books to add to my wonkish collection
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
The former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service on relations between ministers and officials, dealing with public criticism and his most enjoyable roles
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...
'There will be 10 things going wrong. You’ve got time to deal with three a day': Lunch with... Simon Case
The former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service on relations between ministers and officials, dealing with public criticism and his most...
www.civilserviceworld.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service on relations between ministers and officials, dealing with public criticism and his most enjoyable roles
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...
Enjoying how the OBR is dealing with its obligation to assume fuel duty rises which have not materialised in over a decade (See also the memo they now include, mentioned in @sfrost.bsky.social's thread)
From today's OBR forecast:
"The forecast also assumes that seldom-implemented fuel duty indexation and the reversal of the 5p cut from 2026-27 raises £4.6 billion in 2029-30... In practice, fuel duty rates have not been increased since 2011-12."
"The forecast also assumes that seldom-implemented fuel duty indexation and the reversal of the 5p cut from 2026-27 raises £4.6 billion in 2029-30... In practice, fuel duty rates have not been increased since 2011-12."
The OBR forecast now assumes fuel duty will rise by 5p in March 2026 and uprated by RPI in every year from April 2026. Yet the reversal of the 5p cut has been delayed three times and
fuel duty has not been uprated with RPI since 2011! obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
fuel duty has not been uprated with RPI since 2011! obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
March 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Enjoying how the OBR is dealing with its obligation to assume fuel duty rises which have not materialised in over a decade (See also the memo they now include, mentioned in @sfrost.bsky.social's thread)
Loved joining this discussion - Hannah and Max both have excellent insight, and I start a Pat McFadden fan club...
This week's PolHome podcast is a banger
@suzannahb.bsky.social & the @instituteforgov.bsky.social's Hannah Keenan join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social
to discuss Keir Starmer's attempt to re-wire the state
We're also joined by ex-No10 spokesperson Max Blain — his first media since leaving government!
@suzannahb.bsky.social & the @instituteforgov.bsky.social's Hannah Keenan join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social
to discuss Keir Starmer's attempt to re-wire the state
We're also joined by ex-No10 spokesperson Max Blain — his first media since leaving government!
The Rundown by PoliticsHome: Can Starmer re-wire the state?
Last week Keir Starmer scrapped NHS England as he signalled the government's aim to fundamentally reshape and rewire how the state operates, so the panel is discussing what this means for civil...
podfollow.com
March 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Loved joining this discussion - Hannah and Max both have excellent insight, and I start a Pat McFadden fan club...
Fascinating for the FOI implications rather than his use of ChatGPT which seems pretty much what you'd expect a tech minister to do with it. Worth reading in full as @stokel.bsky.social has delved into those FOI implications as well as Kyle's prompts
🚨 @newscientist.com SCOOP: I've exclusively obtained Peter Kyle's interactions with ChatGPT using FOI laws - in what I believe may be a world-first transparency release. The chatbot said "Lack of Government or Institutional Support" slowed UK AI adoption www.newscientist.com/article/2472...
Revealed: How the UK tech secretary uses ChatGPT for policy advice
New Scientist has used freedom of information laws to obtain the ChatGPT records of Peter Kyle, the UK's technology secretary, in what is believed to be a world-first use of such legislation
www.newscientist.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Fascinating for the FOI implications rather than his use of ChatGPT which seems pretty much what you'd expect a tech minister to do with it. Worth reading in full as @stokel.bsky.social has delved into those FOI implications as well as Kyle's prompts
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
There's a decent case for scrapping NHS England but doing so is a major change programme that will take up substantial ministerial and official time. Hard to see how govt can do this while also making good progress on meeting the 18 week target AND the three shifts ahead of the next election
March 13, 2025 at 11:28 AM
There's a decent case for scrapping NHS England but doing so is a major change programme that will take up substantial ministerial and official time. Hard to see how govt can do this while also making good progress on meeting the 18 week target AND the three shifts ahead of the next election
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
To support our work on Whitehall reform, we've launched our second Alternative People Survey with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social
If you're a civil servant, we'd love to hear from you! It only takes a few minutes to complete & will help build insight into realities of life in the Civil Service 👇
If you're a civil servant, we'd love to hear from you! It only takes a few minutes to complete & will help build insight into realities of life in the Civil Service 👇
February 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
To support our work on Whitehall reform, we've launched our second Alternative People Survey with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social
If you're a civil servant, we'd love to hear from you! It only takes a few minutes to complete & will help build insight into realities of life in the Civil Service 👇
If you're a civil servant, we'd love to hear from you! It only takes a few minutes to complete & will help build insight into realities of life in the Civil Service 👇
Tickled by this description of aubergine in a 1980s vegetarian cookbook
February 2, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Tickled by this description of aubergine in a 1980s vegetarian cookbook
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
Empowering, humble, candid, sweary (!) & v witty opening keynote speech from Baroness Louise at CSW’s inaugural Collaboration Conference #CSWcollab25
January 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Empowering, humble, candid, sweary (!) & v witty opening keynote speech from Baroness Louise at CSW’s inaugural Collaboration Conference #CSWcollab25
Agree. Seems a good day to repost this book review with its reminder that other innovation models are available www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
January 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Agree. Seems a good day to repost this book review with its reminder that other innovation models are available www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Reposted by Suzannah Brecknell
It is a particular irony that government can't even remember and build on the work it has done to improve how it remembers and builds on the work it does.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
January 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
It is a particular irony that government can't even remember and build on the work it has done to improve how it remembers and builds on the work it does.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Among several great pieces in today's CSW newsletter is this on the challenge of retaining and using knowledge in a huge and every-changing set of organisations www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...
Why the civil service should do more to protect its institutional memory
As churn rates fuel a new era of amnesia, Susan Allott asks if we can ever escape from Groundhog Day
www.civilserviceworld.com
January 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Among several great pieces in today's CSW newsletter is this on the challenge of retaining and using knowledge in a huge and every-changing set of organisations www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...