Former senior Foreign Office diplomat says culture of UK civil service is "not in the UK's national interest", recalling how some former colleagues "refused to come to work in Colonial-era buildings"
I’m thinking of an alternative version of the Mandelson incident where The Guardian article doesn’t get issued and the Mandelson-Epstein link wasn’t sordid enough to warrant his removal from the US ambassadorship. In this case, we would have an ambassador in place who had failed vetting, apparently on grounds of being too close to potential hostile Chinese and Russian entities, purely on the unchecked opinion of an unelected civil servant- a political time bomb if ever there was one, reminiscent of the ‘Good Chap’ days of Burgess, Philby etc
work from home can be fine however as a broad rule it is simply bad for people. I myself struggled when made to work from home for the few months that I had to do so. not everyone is built for it
A lot of us felt the same about "going to work in '60s to '70s office blocks, or shithole business parks 5 miles from anywhere." But of course the private sector enjoins a certain discipline.
What a talented and articulate young man. The civil service is worse off without him but hopefully the opportunities to speak out, like your podcasts, help the country in the long run.
I’m sure he’ll have potential employers queuing up to hire him.
SUPERB ! My God we are lucky to have watched this exposé.’ Many congratulation Liam on getting this fine, talented young man to elucidate what is failing in the Foreign Office
‘ Looking under the bonnet ‘ sounds very simple but why on earth had it not been done before?
I think we all know that the only way to reform the civil service is to bring in an external party above even its most senior officials, to manage them all. The new management would need clear terms of reference showing targets that are measurable and then creating a whole structure of accountability applicable to every employee. It is a massive task but the only way to make an organisation work for the customer (ie you and me). I think a lot of the dead weight would leave over a period of time anyway once the real world rules start to apply.
What an interesting chat, credit to Ameer for coming out and I must say confirming what many of us suspected what was happening in government departments.
Heard this guy speak a couple of times before but this was an eye opener. Couple of marmalade droppers in there. Terrifying. Hope Big Nige gives him a ring if he gets in in 2029
Both Ameer Kotecha and Liam Halligan need to be part of that future right- of -centre government of which you speak. Perhaps a good starting point for the massive changes you suggest are needed to the whole public sector, would be to change the terminology.
Isn't all " Public Service"( together with its bloated unreasonable pensions) ultimately funded by the people? It's all "Social Service", should be considered as such, and primarily be in the national (ultimately the people's) interest. It should not, as seems to be the case now, first and foremost, in the interest of "Social Service" employee-, growing like topsy.
As Ameer suggests, it is all sclerotic, and needs you both to advance that reforming agenda by encouraging the coming together of the right-of centre parties at the next GE.
I’m thinking of an alternative version of the Mandelson incident where The Guardian article doesn’t get issued and the Mandelson-Epstein link wasn’t sordid enough to warrant his removal from the US ambassadorship. In this case, we would have an ambassador in place who had failed vetting, apparently on grounds of being too close to potential hostile Chinese and Russian entities, purely on the unchecked opinion of an unelected civil servant- a political time bomb if ever there was one, reminiscent of the ‘Good Chap’ days of Burgess, Philby etc
work from home can be fine however as a broad rule it is simply bad for people. I myself struggled when made to work from home for the few months that I had to do so. not everyone is built for it
A lot of us felt the same about "going to work in '60s to '70s office blocks, or shithole business parks 5 miles from anywhere." But of course the private sector enjoins a certain discipline.
What a talented and articulate young man. The civil service is worse off without him but hopefully the opportunities to speak out, like your podcasts, help the country in the long run.
I’m sure he’ll have potential employers queuing up to hire him.
I am so depressed listening to this........what a state this country is in.
SUPERB ! My God we are lucky to have watched this exposé.’ Many congratulation Liam on getting this fine, talented young man to elucidate what is failing in the Foreign Office
‘ Looking under the bonnet ‘ sounds very simple but why on earth had it not been done before?
I think we all know that the only way to reform the civil service is to bring in an external party above even its most senior officials, to manage them all. The new management would need clear terms of reference showing targets that are measurable and then creating a whole structure of accountability applicable to every employee. It is a massive task but the only way to make an organisation work for the customer (ie you and me). I think a lot of the dead weight would leave over a period of time anyway once the real world rules start to apply.
Thanks Liam - that was one interesting discussion with Ameer. There’s hope for the future. Good fortune for him and his prospects. Kind regards H
What an interesting chat, credit to Ameer for coming out and I must say confirming what many of us suspected what was happening in government departments.
Heard this guy speak a couple of times before but this was an eye opener. Couple of marmalade droppers in there. Terrifying. Hope Big Nige gives him a ring if he gets in in 2029
Both Ameer Kotecha and Liam Halligan need to be part of that future right- of -centre government of which you speak. Perhaps a good starting point for the massive changes you suggest are needed to the whole public sector, would be to change the terminology.
Isn't all " Public Service"( together with its bloated unreasonable pensions) ultimately funded by the people? It's all "Social Service", should be considered as such, and primarily be in the national (ultimately the people's) interest. It should not, as seems to be the case now, first and foremost, in the interest of "Social Service" employee-, growing like topsy.
As Ameer suggests, it is all sclerotic, and needs you both to advance that reforming agenda by encouraging the coming together of the right-of centre parties at the next GE.