Amy Gandon
@amygandon.bsky.social
Big fan of big ideas about big issues. Mostly public services, civil service and civic governance.
Ex-Cabinet Office, DHSC and RSA. Now freelance.
Ex-Cabinet Office, DHSC and RSA. Now freelance.
Pinned
Amy Gandon
@amygandon.bsky.social
· Dec 6
Reflecting on Starmer’s comments on the CS yday and on the response it’s got in Whitehall since.
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
If there’s any piece of advice I’d give Starmer - and at this fragile juncture I want to shout it from the rooftops - it would be:
‘Blame the system, not the people’.
🧵
Reposted by Amy Gandon
Families are being left to fend for themselves as the NHS is struggling to support parents. If we want a more preventative NHS, we must start by backing parents with the support they need to keep their children healthy.
Find out more here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Find out more here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
November 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Families are being left to fend for themselves as the NHS is struggling to support parents. If we want a more preventative NHS, we must start by backing parents with the support they need to keep their children healthy.
Find out more here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Find out more here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Reposted by Amy Gandon
Patchy advice is pushing new parents online, exposing them to misinformation and overload—and making it even harder to know how to keep their children healthy.
Read our new report here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Read our new report here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
November 21, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Patchy advice is pushing new parents online, exposing them to misinformation and overload—and making it even harder to know how to keep their children healthy.
Read our new report here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Read our new report here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Reposted by Amy Gandon
👶 | NEW REPORT: After decades of promises, children’s health is still stalling. Parents are doing more than ever, but the system isn’t backing them. This report sets out a new plan to create the conditions every child needs to thrive.
Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
👶 | NEW REPORT: After decades of promises, children’s health is still stalling. Parents are doing more than ever, but the system isn’t backing them. This report sets out a new plan to create the conditions every child needs to thrive.
Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
New report out today: It Takes A Village
There’s something fitting about publishing this @ippr.org
work on childhood health on my final day before mat leave (and as I tend to a toddler with the flu!)
www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
There’s something fitting about publishing this @ippr.org
work on childhood health on my final day before mat leave (and as I tend to a toddler with the flu!)
www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
It takes a village: Empowering families and communities to improve children's health | IPPR
Improving children’s health has been a priority for decades. Yet, despite billions of pounds of investment and countless initiatives, outcomes are stagnati
www.ippr.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
New report out today: It Takes A Village
There’s something fitting about publishing this @ippr.org
work on childhood health on my final day before mat leave (and as I tend to a toddler with the flu!)
www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
There’s something fitting about publishing this @ippr.org
work on childhood health on my final day before mat leave (and as I tend to a toddler with the flu!)
www.ippr.org/articles/it-...
Waiting for boarding info at Euston station. Now then, Bluesky, what % of people a) in Euston station rn and b) on my train to Liverpool Lime St are going to conference?
And how to tell the wonks from the normies?
And how to tell the wonks from the normies?
September 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Waiting for boarding info at Euston station. Now then, Bluesky, what % of people a) in Euston station rn and b) on my train to Liverpool Lime St are going to conference?
And how to tell the wonks from the normies?
And how to tell the wonks from the normies?
Grateful to @civilserviceworld.bsky.social for publishing this op-ed from me on why the culture of Whitehall puts the brakes on public service reform.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Would love to hear your thoughts!
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
The human handbrake: Why good ideas so often ‘hit the wall’ in Whitehall
Whitehall rewards “policy heroes” over those who can deliver
www.civilserviceworld.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Grateful to @civilserviceworld.bsky.social for publishing this op-ed from me on why the culture of Whitehall puts the brakes on public service reform.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Would love to hear your thoughts!
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Reposted by Amy Gandon
Delighted to publish this first paper in @demos-uk.bsky.social Powering Public Service Reform programme today.
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
The Human Handbrake: How Whitehall culture holds back public service reform
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Delighted to publish this first paper in @demos-uk.bsky.social Powering Public Service Reform programme today.
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
Delighted to publish this first paper in @demos-uk.bsky.social Powering Public Service Reform programme today.
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
The Human Handbrake: How Whitehall culture holds back public service reform
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Delighted to publish this first paper in @demos-uk.bsky.social Powering Public Service Reform programme today.
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.
demos.co.uk/research/the...
Thoughts on the Darren Jones appointment / No10 shake-up:
1) Jones seems the most politically astute and authentic communicator, which No10 desperately need to counteract the vibe that robotic technocrats are in charge. So on that front, good.
1) Jones seems the most politically astute and authentic communicator, which No10 desperately need to counteract the vibe that robotic technocrats are in charge. So on that front, good.
September 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Thoughts on the Darren Jones appointment / No10 shake-up:
1) Jones seems the most politically astute and authentic communicator, which No10 desperately need to counteract the vibe that robotic technocrats are in charge. So on that front, good.
1) Jones seems the most politically astute and authentic communicator, which No10 desperately need to counteract the vibe that robotic technocrats are in charge. So on that front, good.
Hello BlueSky!
I'll be at Labour Party conference 28th-30th Sept.
I'm interested and available to be part of events on:
- Public service reform
- Whitehall and the Civil Service
- Public health and prevention
- Children and families policy
If you're after attendees or panellists, drop me a line.
I'll be at Labour Party conference 28th-30th Sept.
I'm interested and available to be part of events on:
- Public service reform
- Whitehall and the Civil Service
- Public health and prevention
- Children and families policy
If you're after attendees or panellists, drop me a line.
August 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Hello BlueSky!
I'll be at Labour Party conference 28th-30th Sept.
I'm interested and available to be part of events on:
- Public service reform
- Whitehall and the Civil Service
- Public health and prevention
- Children and families policy
If you're after attendees or panellists, drop me a line.
I'll be at Labour Party conference 28th-30th Sept.
I'm interested and available to be part of events on:
- Public service reform
- Whitehall and the Civil Service
- Public health and prevention
- Children and families policy
If you're after attendees or panellists, drop me a line.
‘Civil service interns must all be working class’
Click-baity headline - designed to court outrage - but this is the right call.
Summer internships in the civil service have become dominated by those from privileged backgrounds.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Click-baity headline - designed to court outrage - but this is the right call.
Summer internships in the civil service have become dominated by those from privileged backgrounds.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Civil service interns must all be working class, government says
Internships will only go to students from poorer families in a push to make Whitehall more working class.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
‘Civil service interns must all be working class’
Click-baity headline - designed to court outrage - but this is the right call.
Summer internships in the civil service have become dominated by those from privileged backgrounds.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Click-baity headline - designed to court outrage - but this is the right call.
Summer internships in the civil service have become dominated by those from privileged backgrounds.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thrilled to be supporting this new programme of work at @demos-uk.bsky.social.
It brings together two of my greatest professional interests (/borderline obsessions):
👉 Fixing how Whitehall works
👉 Making public services more human, responsive and impactful for citizens.
It brings together two of my greatest professional interests (/borderline obsessions):
👉 Fixing how Whitehall works
👉 Making public services more human, responsive and impactful for citizens.
Appetite for public service reform isn’t new. But something has shifted. Buried in the last Spending Review were three quiet commitments:
👥 Integrate services around people’s lives
🛑 Shift from crisis to prevention
🌍 Devolve power and design with communities
They point to a bigger change.
🧵1/8
👥 Integrate services around people’s lives
🛑 Shift from crisis to prevention
🌍 Devolve power and design with communities
They point to a bigger change.
🧵1/8
July 31, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Thrilled to be supporting this new programme of work at @demos-uk.bsky.social.
It brings together two of my greatest professional interests (/borderline obsessions):
👉 Fixing how Whitehall works
👉 Making public services more human, responsive and impactful for citizens.
It brings together two of my greatest professional interests (/borderline obsessions):
👉 Fixing how Whitehall works
👉 Making public services more human, responsive and impactful for citizens.
NGL I have always found it bizarre that Torode & are host Masterchef anyway.
What have an unknown Aussie cook + a greengrocer got to say about cooking that 50 other chefs + presenters couldn’t do with a lot more style?
And w/o being gross and offensive?
Good riddance.
What have an unknown Aussie cook + a greengrocer got to say about cooking that 50 other chefs + presenters couldn’t do with a lot more style?
And w/o being gross and offensive?
Good riddance.
July 15, 2025 at 6:52 PM
NGL I have always found it bizarre that Torode & are host Masterchef anyway.
What have an unknown Aussie cook + a greengrocer got to say about cooking that 50 other chefs + presenters couldn’t do with a lot more style?
And w/o being gross and offensive?
Good riddance.
What have an unknown Aussie cook + a greengrocer got to say about cooking that 50 other chefs + presenters couldn’t do with a lot more style?
And w/o being gross and offensive?
Good riddance.
This new guidance is a big mistake, and stands to be utterly self-defeating unless reversed quickly.
Short 🧵
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Short 🧵
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
No 10 warned against gagging officials from speaking in public
Government guidance has been criticised as ‘chilling’ by think tanks, while former cabinet secretaries have also raised concerns
www.thetimes.com
July 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This new guidance is a big mistake, and stands to be utterly self-defeating unless reversed quickly.
Short 🧵
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Short 🧵
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Amy Gandon
Next on the 10 year plan: prevention.
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
July 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Next on the 10 year plan: prevention.
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
Next on the 10 year plan: prevention.
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
July 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Next on the 10 year plan: prevention.
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
This is a mild obsession of mine, having done prevention policy in the CO.
(Loads of cross-govt wrangling, industry finding creative ways to wriggle out of regulation + policies being diluted & delayed.)
So how has this govt done?
🧵👇
Some of you know I’ve spent a lot of time speaking to civil servants about what it’s like working in govt - culminating in my project Civil Unrest with @re-state.bsky.social nearly 2 yrs ago.
And now I'm back at it, speaking to 50 officials about the change of govt + Labour's 1st year.
🧵👇
And now I'm back at it, speaking to 50 officials about the change of govt + Labour's 1st year.
🧵👇
Fantastic to publish this today in partnership with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social.
I filled out the official People Survey for seven years as an official. It's a great bit of organisational feedback. But I always wished they'd ask some other questions...
So now we have!
I filled out the official People Survey for seven years as an official. It's a great bit of organisational feedback. But I always wished they'd ask some other questions...
So now we have!
NEW REPORT: Today we have published The Alternative People Survey - a survey of civil servants on questions which aren't covered in the official annual People Survey.
In partnership with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social we surveyed over 1,200 civil servants.
re-state.co.uk/publications...
In partnership with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social we surveyed over 1,200 civil servants.
re-state.co.uk/publications...
July 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Some of you know I’ve spent a lot of time speaking to civil servants about what it’s like working in govt - culminating in my project Civil Unrest with @re-state.bsky.social nearly 2 yrs ago.
And now I'm back at it, speaking to 50 officials about the change of govt + Labour's 1st year.
🧵👇
And now I'm back at it, speaking to 50 officials about the change of govt + Labour's 1st year.
🧵👇
Reposted by Amy Gandon
I am writing a policy pamphlet. Here are all the ways to demonstrate I don't really have a policy answer, that I need to avoid:
a. You call for a "national conversation or debate"
b. You suggest that what is needed is “a change in culture”
1/
a. You call for a "national conversation or debate"
b. You suggest that what is needed is “a change in culture”
1/
July 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I am writing a policy pamphlet. Here are all the ways to demonstrate I don't really have a policy answer, that I need to avoid:
a. You call for a "national conversation or debate"
b. You suggest that what is needed is “a change in culture”
1/
a. You call for a "national conversation or debate"
b. You suggest that what is needed is “a change in culture”
1/
Reposted by Amy Gandon
Up next in this mini-series* of threads on the 10 Year Plan: the second shift, from hospital to community.
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
Right, I *think* I've now digested the 168-page tome that is the 10 Year Health Plan.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
July 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Up next in this mini-series* of threads on the 10 Year Plan: the second shift, from hospital to community.
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
Up next in this mini-series* of threads on the 10 Year Plan: the second shift, from hospital to community.
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
Right, I *think* I've now digested the 168-page tome that is the 10 Year Health Plan.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
July 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Up next in this mini-series* of threads on the 10 Year Plan: the second shift, from hospital to community.
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
🏥➡️🏡
(*Bit wanky, soz).
Right, I *think* I've now digested the 168-page tome that is the 10 Year Health Plan.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
July 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Right, I *think* I've now digested the 168-page tome that is the 10 Year Health Plan.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
I have a correspondingly large no of thoughts on it.
Because no-one wants to read a 50-post thread, I'm going to post on a few diff themes over the coming days.
Let's start with: format.
Another consideration on SR is where Labour need to be successful to win next GE.
I'd probably say in order:
- Living standards
- Immigration
- NHS
NHS gets boost. But HO spending down + spending on economy not necessarily what will deliver quick wins on living standards.
I'd probably say in order:
- Living standards
- Immigration
- NHS
NHS gets boost. But HO spending down + spending on economy not necessarily what will deliver quick wins on living standards.
June 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Another consideration on SR is where Labour need to be successful to win next GE.
I'd probably say in order:
- Living standards
- Immigration
- NHS
NHS gets boost. But HO spending down + spending on economy not necessarily what will deliver quick wins on living standards.
I'd probably say in order:
- Living standards
- Immigration
- NHS
NHS gets boost. But HO spending down + spending on economy not necessarily what will deliver quick wins on living standards.
I don’t agree. Esp when ever increasing spending - if - as
Sam. says - due to higher patient expectations / medical innovation - on health trades off with meeting basic needs elsewhere in public services.
(Eg. decent homes, affordable and nutritious food)
Sam. says - due to higher patient expectations / medical innovation - on health trades off with meeting basic needs elsewhere in public services.
(Eg. decent homes, affordable and nutritious food)
The thing that drives me mad about the health spending debate is it totally *why* budgets are rising everywhere.
It's a *good thing* that health spending takes up an ever larger proportion of GDP. It's what we should *want* to spend money on!
It's a *good thing* that health spending takes up an ever larger proportion of GDP. It's what we should *want* to spend money on!
June 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I don’t agree. Esp when ever increasing spending - if - as
Sam. says - due to higher patient expectations / medical innovation - on health trades off with meeting basic needs elsewhere in public services.
(Eg. decent homes, affordable and nutritious food)
Sam. says - due to higher patient expectations / medical innovation - on health trades off with meeting basic needs elsewhere in public services.
(Eg. decent homes, affordable and nutritious food)
My ‘hot take’* on the SR
1️⃣ there’s a lot of sound, sensible (insert other bond market friendly words here) things in there. A lot of ‘basic hygiene’ around defence, transport and the minimum viable conditions for enabling growth etc that is hard to argue with.
1️⃣ there’s a lot of sound, sensible (insert other bond market friendly words here) things in there. A lot of ‘basic hygiene’ around defence, transport and the minimum viable conditions for enabling growth etc that is hard to argue with.
June 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
My ‘hot take’* on the SR
1️⃣ there’s a lot of sound, sensible (insert other bond market friendly words here) things in there. A lot of ‘basic hygiene’ around defence, transport and the minimum viable conditions for enabling growth etc that is hard to argue with.
1️⃣ there’s a lot of sound, sensible (insert other bond market friendly words here) things in there. A lot of ‘basic hygiene’ around defence, transport and the minimum viable conditions for enabling growth etc that is hard to argue with.
Just catching up on the SR speech and PMQs before it.
Oof, those are some sour faces on the front bench. My guess is that there have been more than a few fallings out.
Oof, those are some sour faces on the front bench. My guess is that there have been more than a few fallings out.
June 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Just catching up on the SR speech and PMQs before it.
Oof, those are some sour faces on the front bench. My guess is that there have been more than a few fallings out.
Oof, those are some sour faces on the front bench. My guess is that there have been more than a few fallings out.