Stephen Meek
@stephenm65.bsky.social
Formerly Director of the Institute for Policy and Engagement at the University of Nottingham and a recovering (recovered?) civil servant. Now a freelance gun for hire. Please. Here for the fresher air.
Van der Telegraaf Generator.
October 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Van der Telegraaf Generator.
Atlantis obviously.
October 4, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Atlantis obviously.
I'm going to spend up to £30bn on my wife's birthday present.
September 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I'm going to spend up to £30bn on my wife's birthday present.
They have just announced her replacement.
September 4, 2025 at 1:52 PM
They have just announced her replacement.
Is that the digital teams moving from DCMS to DSIT rather than actual cuts?
March 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Is that the digital teams moving from DCMS to DSIT rather than actual cuts?
is that because all the digital people went to DSIT?
March 20, 2025 at 4:48 PM
is that because all the digital people went to DSIT?
I wondered what that sound was in the background of our meeting.
February 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I wondered what that sound was in the background of our meeting.
Either them or Gerry Anderson
a cartoon character wearing glasses and a red jacket is standing in front of a mirror
ALT: a cartoon character wearing glasses and a red jacket is standing in front of a mirror
media.tenor.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Either them or Gerry Anderson
If only we had free speech absolutists in charge like in the US, where universities are at last free to say whatever they are told.
February 4, 2025 at 8:39 AM
If only we had free speech absolutists in charge like in the US, where universities are at last free to say whatever they are told.
TL:DR - pick a different Gove SPAD - @samfr.bsky.social not Cummings. The civil service isn’t the Rolls Royce of legend, and never was, but if you don’t try to understand why it behaves the way it does you’ll struggle to get things done.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
TL:DR - pick a different Gove SPAD - @samfr.bsky.social not Cummings. The civil service isn’t the Rolls Royce of legend, and never was, but if you don’t try to understand why it behaves the way it does you’ll struggle to get things done.
No one could accuse the previous government of consistency in its thinking, but the CS will have developed coping mechanisms. It doesn't means you aren't critical, but just wishing there was a different civil service - the ninjas in the back room - isn’t going to get you far. You need to lead it.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
No one could accuse the previous government of consistency in its thinking, but the CS will have developed coping mechanisms. It doesn't means you aren't critical, but just wishing there was a different civil service - the ninjas in the back room - isn’t going to get you far. You need to lead it.
In 97 and 2010 the CS had worked with a government for a long time and as a result, regardless of how "impartial" it aspired to be, had absorbed a set of values and priorities, and short cut paths to move from problem to solution. It took several years to adapt to a different approach.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
In 97 and 2010 the CS had worked with a government for a long time and as a result, regardless of how "impartial" it aspired to be, had absorbed a set of values and priorities, and short cut paths to move from problem to solution. It took several years to adapt to a different approach.
A change of Government is disorienting for civil servants, however you voted. You think you’ve been doing your best and suddenly it is the wrong thing. You have to learn a whole new way of thinking. That is hard for the top of Whitehall, and even harder to make it percolate down.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
A change of Government is disorienting for civil servants, however you voted. You think you’ve been doing your best and suddenly it is the wrong thing. You have to learn a whole new way of thinking. That is hard for the top of Whitehall, and even harder to make it percolate down.
Many of these systems take time to change even where there is no need for legislation. As well as setting high standards and clear objectives, you need to take people with you - explaining what you want and why, why people need to do things differently, setting out means not just ends.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
Many of these systems take time to change even where there is no need for legislation. As well as setting high standards and clear objectives, you need to take people with you - explaining what you want and why, why people need to do things differently, setting out means not just ends.
...to find yourself mystified that a huge, complex machine designed to do (however imperfectly) what the last Government wanted it to do won't turn on a sixpence to deliver a different set of priorities shows you don't really understand complex systems.
December 5, 2024 at 6:56 PM
...to find yourself mystified that a huge, complex machine designed to do (however imperfectly) what the last Government wanted it to do won't turn on a sixpence to deliver a different set of priorities shows you don't really understand complex systems.
is the link faulty? I get a page not found message
December 5, 2024 at 12:10 PM
is the link faulty? I get a page not found message