Dave Penman
@fdagensec.bsky.social
General Secretary FDA union. ACAS Council member. TUC Trustee, General Council and Executive Committee member. Chair Unions21
It was a pleasure to meet with Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination in the Pakistan Govt & his team, looking at civil service reform & lessons that can be learnt from the UK experience.
November 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
It was a pleasure to meet with Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination in the Pakistan Govt & his team, looking at civil service reform & lessons that can be learnt from the UK experience.
If you’re in Fylde View come down and say hi - in reception room all day, and lunchtime in room A3.05.
November 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
If you’re in Fylde View come down and say hi - in reception room all day, and lunchtime in room A3.05.
As I told @christopherhope.bsky.social, government works well when civil servants are there to offer ministers impartial, evidence-based advice. That only works if they are hired based on what they know, rather than what they believe.
October 31, 2025 at 12:48 PM
As I told @christopherhope.bsky.social, government works well when civil servants are there to offer ministers impartial, evidence-based advice. That only works if they are hired based on what they know, rather than what they believe.
As I said to @kateemccann.bsky.social, imagine working in the Home Office where a Home Sec got a free pass despite bullying staff, where policy after policy failed & though trying to make it work, ministers blamed you as part of an activist blob & you're now told you have a defeatist attitude.
October 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
As I said to @kateemccann.bsky.social, imagine working in the Home Office where a Home Sec got a free pass despite bullying staff, where policy after policy failed & though trying to make it work, ministers blamed you as part of an activist blob & you're now told you have a defeatist attitude.
As I told @kateemccann.bsky.social, Nick Timothy's report fails to look at the root cause of the problems that exist within parts of the Home Office - it's not listening circles that have caused chaotic immigration policy, it's unstable political leadership.
October 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
As I told @kateemccann.bsky.social, Nick Timothy's report fails to look at the root cause of the problems that exist within parts of the Home Office - it's not listening circles that have caused chaotic immigration policy, it's unstable political leadership.
The songs of @deaconbluemusic have been the soundtrack to my adult life. From the first mesmerising performance at the Black Isle show in ‘87 to the Big Day, Barras, Fruit Market, Hammersmith, Royal Albert Hall and now Wembley, All the more special to share with my 8 year old.
October 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The songs of @deaconbluemusic have been the soundtrack to my adult life. From the first mesmerising performance at the Black Isle show in ‘87 to the Big Day, Barras, Fruit Market, Hammersmith, Royal Albert Hall and now Wembley, All the more special to share with my 8 year old.
If we want public services to succeed, they need to be able to attract and retain the best talent.
Looking forward to discussing pay and pension reform at our joint fringe meeting with @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at #Lab25
Looking forward to discussing pay and pension reform at our joint fringe meeting with @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at #Lab25
September 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
If we want public services to succeed, they need to be able to attract and retain the best talent.
Looking forward to discussing pay and pension reform at our joint fringe meeting with @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at #Lab25
Looking forward to discussing pay and pension reform at our joint fringe meeting with @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at #Lab25
As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, the premise that the civil service isn’t impartial because its inclusive and doesn’t discriminate against the LGBT+ community doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
When does a commitment to treat people equally become political?
When does a commitment to treat people equally become political?
September 13, 2025 at 11:03 AM
As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, the premise that the civil service isn’t impartial because its inclusive and doesn’t discriminate against the LGBT+ community doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
When does a commitment to treat people equally become political?
When does a commitment to treat people equally become political?
Do Reform UK really think surrounding ministers with believers, people who will only reinforce their ideas, is the best way to govern? Rather than a minister being challenged by evidence from civil servants.
Last night on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social I discussed Reform UK's civil service "plan"
Last night on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social I discussed Reform UK's civil service "plan"
September 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Do Reform UK really think surrounding ministers with believers, people who will only reinforce their ideas, is the best way to govern? Rather than a minister being challenged by evidence from civil servants.
Last night on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social I discussed Reform UK's civil service "plan"
Last night on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social I discussed Reform UK's civil service "plan"
As I told @nickferrarilbc.bsky.social, are Reform UK really saying that their government would come in and sack 20,000 civil servants and recruit 20,000 more and test them for their 'belief' in Reform policies?
This is a completely impractical way to think about complex policy issues.
This is a completely impractical way to think about complex policy issues.
September 12, 2025 at 8:58 AM
As I told @nickferrarilbc.bsky.social, are Reform UK really saying that their government would come in and sack 20,000 civil servants and recruit 20,000 more and test them for their 'belief' in Reform policies?
This is a completely impractical way to think about complex policy issues.
This is a completely impractical way to think about complex policy issues.
The FDA's grown by over 60% in the past 10 years - that's down to our reps and members.
@paulnowaktuc.bsky.social can't support them and do what he does best, represent working people across the country, if running for election every 5 years. That won't grow the movement, it'll paralyse it.
@paulnowaktuc.bsky.social can't support them and do what he does best, represent working people across the country, if running for election every 5 years. That won't grow the movement, it'll paralyse it.
September 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The FDA's grown by over 60% in the past 10 years - that's down to our reps and members.
@paulnowaktuc.bsky.social can't support them and do what he does best, represent working people across the country, if running for election every 5 years. That won't grow the movement, it'll paralyse it.
@paulnowaktuc.bsky.social can't support them and do what he does best, represent working people across the country, if running for election every 5 years. That won't grow the movement, it'll paralyse it.
Great to speak to @listentotimesradio.bsky.social about union's relationship with govt last night. We try to influence govt to do what we think is in the best interest of working people & the country. At times, govt will make decisions that disappoint us, and we have to be grown up about that.
September 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Great to speak to @listentotimesradio.bsky.social about union's relationship with govt last night. We try to influence govt to do what we think is in the best interest of working people & the country. At times, govt will make decisions that disappoint us, and we have to be grown up about that.
We’ve just seen a weekend of high political drama, which meant our motion at TUC Congress 2025 on standards in government was more prescient than expected.
September 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
We’ve just seen a weekend of high political drama, which meant our motion at TUC Congress 2025 on standards in government was more prescient than expected.
As I told @kateemccann.bsky.social the civil service has the lowest sickness rates in the public sector & the rates dropped last year. There is no evidence to back up accusations of laziness. Most civil servants deal with the public which can lead to higher rates of short term illness.
August 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
As I told @kateemccann.bsky.social the civil service has the lowest sickness rates in the public sector & the rates dropped last year. There is no evidence to back up accusations of laziness. Most civil servants deal with the public which can lead to higher rates of short term illness.
The civil service has made a lot of progress in improving its diversity, but as I told @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social it has further to go, particularly on socioeconomic backgrounds.
That requires a range of tactics, these changes to the summer internship programme aren't enough in isolation.
That requires a range of tactics, these changes to the summer internship programme aren't enough in isolation.
August 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The civil service has made a lot of progress in improving its diversity, but as I told @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social it has further to go, particularly on socioeconomic backgrounds.
That requires a range of tactics, these changes to the summer internship programme aren't enough in isolation.
That requires a range of tactics, these changes to the summer internship programme aren't enough in isolation.
As I told @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, attempts - including changes to the summer internships - to increase the number of working class people entering the civil service is welcome, it is also about improving progression up through civil service grades.
August 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
As I told @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, attempts - including changes to the summer internships - to increase the number of working class people entering the civil service is welcome, it is also about improving progression up through civil service grades.
Not every honour feels deserved, but there can be no doubt that @FernsSue, Senior Deputy General Secretary @ProspectUnion, fully deserves her OBE. She always adds substance and wisdom to any debate. A committed, pragmatic trade unionist to her core and a lovely person to boot.
June 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Not every honour feels deserved, but there can be no doubt that @FernsSue, Senior Deputy General Secretary @ProspectUnion, fully deserves her OBE. She always adds substance and wisdom to any debate. A committed, pragmatic trade unionist to her core and a lovely person to boot.
The Chancellor’s commitments need to match the resources available within public services.
That’s why it’s disappointing to see the strategic workforce plan, promised with today’s Spending Review, won’t be published until later this year. This leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.
That’s why it’s disappointing to see the strategic workforce plan, promised with today’s Spending Review, won’t be published until later this year. This leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.
June 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Chancellor’s commitments need to match the resources available within public services.
That’s why it’s disappointing to see the strategic workforce plan, promised with today’s Spending Review, won’t be published until later this year. This leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.
That’s why it’s disappointing to see the strategic workforce plan, promised with today’s Spending Review, won’t be published until later this year. This leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.
A spending round is all about priorities.
You can't just look at one side of the equation on numbers, those have to match what government's commitments are. The civil service needs a clear plan on how it will deliver the government's programme with the resources it's allocated.
You can't just look at one side of the equation on numbers, those have to match what government's commitments are. The civil service needs a clear plan on how it will deliver the government's programme with the resources it's allocated.
June 11, 2025 at 6:51 AM
A spending round is all about priorities.
You can't just look at one side of the equation on numbers, those have to match what government's commitments are. The civil service needs a clear plan on how it will deliver the government's programme with the resources it's allocated.
You can't just look at one side of the equation on numbers, those have to match what government's commitments are. The civil service needs a clear plan on how it will deliver the government's programme with the resources it's allocated.
As I told @lewisgoodall.com, much like the spending rounds for central government, cutting public spending and public services is about political priorities. There are no mythical billions to be saved just by doing things differently.
June 2, 2025 at 11:55 AM
As I told @lewisgoodall.com, much like the spending rounds for central government, cutting public spending and public services is about political priorities. There are no mythical billions to be saved just by doing things differently.
As I told Alex Phillips, the civil service needs stability and a plan that matches commitments to resources. That way we will get a slimmed down, more efficient and more effective civil service.
May 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
As I told Alex Phillips, the civil service needs stability and a plan that matches commitments to resources. That way we will get a slimmed down, more efficient and more effective civil service.
He’s not quite as good a musician as he is a trade union leader, but it’s close! Great to hear @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social play at The Betsy Trotwood with other amazing musicians, including the haunting voice of Ella Spencer, and who’s more upbeat than @ianprowse.bsky.social & Nico
May 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
He’s not quite as good a musician as he is a trade union leader, but it’s close! Great to hear @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social play at The Betsy Trotwood with other amazing musicians, including the haunting voice of Ella Spencer, and who’s more upbeat than @ianprowse.bsky.social & Nico
As I told @tomswarbrick.bsky.social, while it is welcome to have a government that accepts independent pay body recommendations, what we really need is a long term plan to address systemic pay issues.
May 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
As I told @tomswarbrick.bsky.social, while it is welcome to have a government that accepts independent pay body recommendations, what we really need is a long term plan to address systemic pay issues.
It was great to meet Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz, Maria Miklińska, Jacek Kraj, Łukasz Kuna & Magdalena Chojnowska from the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) on the many shared challenges in growing our unions and responding to the under investment in public services.
May 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
It was great to meet Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz, Maria Miklińska, Jacek Kraj, Łukasz Kuna & Magdalena Chojnowska from the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) on the many shared challenges in growing our unions and responding to the under investment in public services.
Day 2 in Warsaw and I’m seeing UK plc in action at the UK-Polish Airport Development Forum. Poland is expanding its airport capacity significantly and the embassy has a key role in supporting UK businesses compete and win contracts, particularly in state owned sectors.
May 20, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Day 2 in Warsaw and I’m seeing UK plc in action at the UK-Polish Airport Development Forum. Poland is expanding its airport capacity significantly and the embassy has a key role in supporting UK businesses compete and win contracts, particularly in state owned sectors.