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teodorgrama.bsky.social
Teodor Grama
@teodorgrama.bsky.social
690 followers 350 following 110 posts
learning & development @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, fmr research assistant (civil service & policymaking), he/him
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teodorgrama.bsky.social
Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4
NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report just out - on how the fast stream, the civil service’s flagship talent development programme, lost its sense of purpose and how it can get it back

(A quick 🧵)
How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government
It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Reposted by Teodor Grama
alexgathomas.bsky.social
Our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conclusion on Chris Wormald’s time as cabinet secretary - and what needs to come next

By me and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...
Keir Starmer’s next cabinet secretary must learn the lessons from Chris Wormald’s mistakes | Institute for Government
The next cabinet secretary needs to be a far more visible civil service leader.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 10, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cathhaddon.bsky.social
Times (and apparently Cabinet Ministers) apparently confusing Labour Party rules with U.K. constitution

Labour Party rules set out what happens if LEADER of party is ‘permanently unavailable’. But they dont match up the principles, precedents and expectations about what happens fo replace a PM. 1/
February 10, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
davidallengreen.bsky.social
This explainer is very good on the topical offence of Misconduct in Public Office.

Useful detail on when it has been used re politicians.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 7d
Peter Mandelson is being investigated for potential “misconduct in public office” over emails he sent as a minister to Jeffrey Epstein.

Our explainer sets out what this means in UK law and why few politicians have been prosecuted over it.

Read more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mi...
Misconduct in public office | Institute for Government
What happens if someone holding public office is alleged to have abused their power?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 6, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
philipnye.bsky.social
Great new explainer on the May elections from our devo team - full of charts and maps

@meganisaac.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 15d
On Thursday, 7 May, local elections will take place in many parts of England.

So where will these elections take place? Where have local elections been postponed? And why do these elections matter?

Here's everything you need to know www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
A bar chart from the Institute for Government showing councils invited to delay the May 2026 elections, by political leadership
January 29, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cassiarowland.bsky.social
My take on the government's plan for police reform: a welcome attempt at ambitious, long-term change – but one that risks making police leadership and accountability too remote from local areas 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...
A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker | Institute for Government
There is much to welcome in the home secretary’s proposals on police reform.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
gilesyb.bsky.social
I have a report out today on the near-perennial question of why UK governments struggle to stick at growth policy in anything like a strategic way. Some hurried points:- 0/

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
How the centre of government can design better growth policy | Institute for Government
Why does the UK struggle with growth?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
hcdunlop.bsky.social
Some thoughts from myself and my colleague @cassiarowland.bsky.social on Darren Jones' vision for a "digital state" and government's new digital roadmap. It's a good vision with some encouraging initiatives - but it needs a clearer plan

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/digi...
The government needs to set out how it will achieve its vision of a modern digital state | Institute for Government
Digital transformation has not needed a new vision. It has needed a better plan.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 27, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
amberdellar.bsky.social
Short comment from me about SEND reform:

Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.

Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
The government should be clear about the trade-offs involved in SEND reform | Institute for Government
Decisions about legal safeguards will shape the future SEND system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
shaina-sangha.bsky.social
I spoke at the House of Lords Justice & Home Affairs Committee yesterday, on behalf of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, on immigration, citizenship and integration. Thanks to @jlowen.bsky.social, @cassiarowland.bsky.social and @hcdunlop.bsky.social for help on prep!
Session here: tinyurl.com/372h6jdk
January 21, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
hannahkeenan.bsky.social
Some thoughts on Darren Jones's speech yesterday - some good CS reforms! But if your best bet on 'getting stuff done' is to create a taskforce outside the system, it's the system that needs to change...
Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state | Institute for Government
Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 21, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cassiarowland.bsky.social
NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.
Trial and error?: The impact of restricting jury trials on court demand | Institute for Government
The government’s reforms will unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 22, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
alexgathomas.bsky.social
In west London for @darrenpjones.bsky.social speech on reforming government

An audience of politicians, the media, think tankers and the like. As far as I can see no cabinet secretary or perm secs… not a great signal for what comes next
January 20, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
timdurrant.bsky.social
In a couple of hours we'll be hearing from Darren Jones about his plans to 'move fast and fix things' in government - you can watch it here:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/modern...
Move fast and fix things: Modernising Whitehall to deliver for Britain | Institute for Government
Keynote speech from Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
msvkelliott.bsky.social
Excited to be joining the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team in March to continue the great work @cathhaddon.bsky.social and team have been doing at the @ifgacademy.bsky.social.

Thank you for the warm welcome I have received already!
January 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
timdurrant.bsky.social
After Darren Jones joined IfG this week, @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and I had some thoughts about how he can make good on his plans for reforming the state:

- show that his plan is different to those that have come before
- ensure he's not spreading himself too thinly
- set a clear vision
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
alexgathomas.bsky.social
Interesting write-up of our conference this week in Chris Smyth’s FT newsletter

www.ft.com/content/c665...
Whitehall’s blame game: ministers vs mandarins
Also in this week’s newsletter, why hard choices keep losing at the ballot box
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
stephenkb.bsky.social
Very much enjoying this year's IFG conference (you can watch it all in your own time in the comfort of your own home on YouTube!)
The view from the IfG: Government in 2026
YouTube video by Institute for Government
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
philipnye.bsky.social
I updated some analysis looking at the key drivers of civil servant engagement

Using data from the Civil Service People Survey, I found that civil servants’ day-to-day work and the leadership they receive drive engagement much more than factors such as the L&D offer or pay
A small multiple of scatter plots from the Institute for Government showing civil servant engagement compared to satisfaction with four aspects of their working experience – ‘my work’, ‘leadership and managing change’, ‘learning and development’ and ‘pay and benefits’ – by department, 2024, where the first two themes are strongly correlated with overall engagement and the latter two are particularly uncorrelated with overall engagement.
January 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
cathhaddon.bsky.social
Great to see coverage of Gov26 @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference and we’re not even halfway through the day…

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for ‘excuses culture’ of blaming civil service
In remarks that will be seen as criticism of Starmer allies, health secretary says own side are helping right ‘roll the pitch’
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:26 PM
teodorgrama.bsky.social
This from @howesdaniel.bsky.social is an excellent bit of data viz showcasing the current slate of perm secs' professional trajectories.

Read our annual report on the state of the civil service, out now: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

(And the answer is - longer than you think)
howesdaniel.bsky.social Daniel Howes @howesdaniel.bsky.social · Jan 13
3/ Perm secs remain incredibly experienced civil servants. Cab Sec Wormald became DG in 2006 and perm sec in 2012! However, new perm secs have some external experience (e.g. JRF, Goldman), showing value placed on bringing new ideas into the top positions.

(PS do not ask how long this chart took me)
January 13, 2026 at 11:42 AM
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Tune in to our annual @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference at 16.30 today to watch Sir Mel Stride set out the Tories' plans to tackle poor performance management in the civil service. Here's the @telegraph.co.uk preview:
Tories pledge to sack underperforming civil servants
Sir Mel Stride will promise his party plans to no longer tolerate mediocrity in Whitehall
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
jackworlidge.bsky.social
Analysis of government spending on consultancy services has become a solid feature of Whitehall Monitor (2026 edition out today!) in recent years.

This year it's particularly pertinent given the government's focus on cutting spending.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government
Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
hannahkeenan.bsky.social
LC: "At whatever point we decided that the only way you could get £500 a year pay rise was a promotion. Well they were wrong. So fix it."

Yep. Gov needs to allow pay progression in role. It might sound small, but this stuff matters. New report out today makes the case for this change among others.
Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government
Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
alexgathomas.bsky.social
Louise Casey blunt on grade inflation in the civil service - compares decisions grade 5s make now to those fast streamers used to make…
January 13, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Teodor Grama
pippacrerar.bsky.social
Wes Streeting uses a speech on public service reform at the IfG this morning to take on those on his own side - including some close to Keir Starmer - who argue that Whitehall is a block to reform.

“Bafflingly, some on my own side of the political divide have begun to parrot the same argument…
January 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM