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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · 21d

There are different forms of digital ID which different countries have launched (from a digitised ID card, to a OneLogin-type verification, to an ID giving access to services). Govt’s current path is politicised + complex. A simple vision would give a win and be less likely to maybe have hiccups…

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 21d

In the current climate, the government has guaranteed itself a huge fight with Reform and the online right over ID, and having tied it to immigration that could just mean it keeps Reform’s best issue in the headlines even more than it already is. Plus the conspiratorial right *hates* this stuff.

Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 21d

Great thread from Rachel. I'm surprised how many people are gamely declaring this won't be that complicated to deliver bc tech/infrastructure already exists & it's 'just linking databases'. a) *some* of the infrastructure already exists & b) linking databases can, actually, be extremely complicated!

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 21d

Here's the press release for digital ID and it is quite the shopping list of features. My first concern here is for the team who need to deliver quickly against the mix of a general purpose "do everything" app and a fairly specific set of features set out here www.gov.uk/government/n...

New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK

A new digital ID scheme will help combat illegal working while making it easier for the vast majority of people to use vital government services. Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks ...

www.gov.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · 21d

Govt is only just getting around to implementing online verification with OneLogin, and the deadline of this has been pushed - and let’s not forget GOV.UK Verify! IDs are a different product, but joining up and verification in services is difficult. (2/2)

Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · 21d

I was a delivery manager on a major data transformation project; cleaning and joining up data within one database in one department was challenging enough without the expectation of joining up journeys across many departments. Digital ID is important - but govt is not making success easy! (1/2)

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 21d

Delivering something that 35m working-age adults can use within this parliament probably requires starting with a single, simple task, getting it right and expanding from there. But this is a long old shopping list that joins up all the things and contains many complex user journeys and user needs

The scheme will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents, saving time by ending the need for complicated identity checks which often rely on copies of paper records.
Instead, the roll-out will in time make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records. The new digital ID will be held on people's phones, just as millions already use the NHS App or contactless mobile payments.

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Sep 4

I strongly recommend giving my colleague @teodorgrama.bsky.social's report on the civil service fast stream a read - there are some excellent insights into the fast stream, its history, and how it could be best reformed to help the civil service hire future leaders.

Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4

Great to see our latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report on the fast stream covered in The Guardian.

The civil service wants the fast stream to do too much, all at once. A smaller programme that is laser-focused on developing future leaders would deliver more for the civil service.

Civil service graduate talent scheme needs urgent reform, says thinktank

Exclusive: Institute for Government says failings are leading many fast streamers to leave programme early

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 3

As with all coverage of the civil service internship scheme, it is important to remember:

(1) It allows those on it to skip one of 2 or 3 stages of the fast stream recruitment process. Former interns then compete on an equal footing with any and all other applicants to get on the fast stream.

Sue Gray questions class-based civil service internship scheme

The PM's former chief of staff says she

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Think 2 big risks in No.10 shake-up are (a) more big figures & no clarity on who does what means duplicative work gumming up the system, and (b) the 'change the way the state works' bit of missions gets totally cannibalised by the 'deliver the plan for change targets' bit of missions.

Screenshot of text that reads: "By any measure, this is a big shake-up. In the PM's words, it is about moving the government into “phase two” and “ramping up the next phase of the government’s domestic agenda”. In more common parlance: it’s about getting stuff done. There are two traps Starmer must navigate through to give this set-up a chance of success: clarity and ambition.

First, by not being clear enough on who is responsible for what, especially in terms of delivering on Starmer’s priorities, the new look No 10 is at real risk of compounding some of the issues it seeks to resolve. I currently count at least four people doing this from the centre: Jones in his new role; Clara Swinson (appointed as second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office last year and head of the Mission Delivery Unit); Pandit, who is reportedly staying on in a “new role leading on policy delivery in No10”; and Pat McFadden, whose responsibilities as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster include “missions” and “supporting the delivery of the government’s priorities”. Add to that the Prime Minister’s private office (and a new PPS in Dan York-Smith who will want to show he ‘gets’ what Starmer is after), and the myriad of others in and around the centre who purport to speak for the Prime Minister, and the picture is looking very busy."

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · Sep 1

What does the Darren Jones move to be first ever “chief secretary to the PM” mean for the govt? Here’s our take…

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/keir...

Keir Starmer’s No10 reshuffle must provide coherence and clarity | Institute for Government

Moving a chief secretary from the Treasury to No10 is a big call for the prime minister.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Aug 29

I am really very certain - having also seen 4 iterations of No.10 while working in the Cabinet Office - that adding more people to the centre of government is not the solution here.

If the shake-up is on, it better be a proper one.

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 20

Fascinating report from my colleague @amberdellar.bsky.social today - do give it a read!

Amber Dellar @amberdellar.bsky.social · Aug 20

NEW REPORT: how does where you live and your background affect how you do at school?

- Inequalities have widened around the country and between groups of children since the pandemic

- Progress depends on sharing what works to support disadvantaged pupils & cutting high absence

🧵👇

Educational outcomes across England | Institute for Government

Examining the performance gaps in schools.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 18

Given how important AI is to the govt’s plans, an AI Advisor in No. 10 is sensible. But is DSIT becoming the 'digital centre of govt' it wants to be? Will Leung be able to act as a bridge/cross-govt collaborator, or will she become subsumed by the centralising instincts of Whitehall? (4/4)

Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 18

She is splitting her time between AISI and No. 10. A possible benefit/opportunity: join up between the research and risk thinking of AISI and driving the govt’s AI plan. But will she realistically be able to balance both roles? Will there be competing interests? (3/4)

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 18

Good news that they have found someone - hard shoes to fill, given Clifford's central role in the AI Opportunities Plan. But Leung is not new to government, DSIT or the AI landscape in the UK – she will not need as much time to understand her brief & will have existing relationships. (2/4)

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 18

The government has filled the vacancy of PM’s AI Advisor, which Matt Clifford left in June – appointing Jade Leung, who has been CTO of the AI Security Institute since 2023. Before that, she worked at OpenAI as governance and policy advisor. (1/4)

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Appointment of Jade Leung as the Prime Minister’s AI adviser

Jade Leung will support the Prime Minister in unlocking the benefits of artificial intelligence

www.gov.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Aug 1

@alexgathomas.bsky.social, @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and I respond to the Cabinet Office's announcement about the new(ish) internship scheme:

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · Aug 1

Here’s our rapid comment on the civil service working class intern proposal - from @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @hcdunlop.bsky.social and me

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/soci...

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Jack Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · Jul 31

Civil service pay is another interesting story in this year's stats, with real terms pay ticking up again as expected...

Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Jul 30

Happy civil service statistics release day to all who celebrate!

Lots more to come from colleagues @jackworlidge.bsky.social, @hcdunlop.bsky.social, and @alexgathomas.bsky.social, but some initial thoughts on turnover, and the possibility that churn is hiding in the stats...

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Reposted by Heloise Dunlop

Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Jul 30

Happy civil service statistics release day to all who celebrate!

Lots more to come from colleagues @jackworlidge.bsky.social, @hcdunlop.bsky.social, and @alexgathomas.bsky.social, but some initial thoughts on turnover, and the possibility that churn is hiding in the stats...

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 31

There are only 5 depts (MoJ, DfT, MoD, HMRC, DWP) left where about a quarter or more civil servants are AO/AA. But only in HMT and DESNZ are less than 2% of civil servants AO/AA. In contrast with all other depts, there are also more Grades 6/7 than SEO/HEO in HMT and DESNZ. (2/2)

A table from the Institute for Government showing the proportion of officials at each civil service grade in each department. Larger departments focused on delivery tend to have higher proportions of officials at lower grades, while smaller, more policy-focused departments tend to have higher proportions of officials at more senior grades.

Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 31

Joining @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and @jackworlidge.bsky.social, looking at grades in this year's CS Stats, the growth of Grades 6/7 continues, rising 5% from 2024. All grades have continued to grow, except AO/AA. But growth is slowing - except for SCS, which grew more in 2024-25 than 2023-24. (1/2)

A graph from the Institute for Government showing the change in civil servants (FTE) at each grade in the civil service. The grades go from Administrative Officer or Administrative Assistant, to Executive Officer, to Senior Executive or Higher Executive Officer, to Grades 6/7 and Senior Civil Servant level. This graph shows the change since 2010. We can see that the Administrative Officer grade has continued to fall significantly, whereas at the other end, there has been a significant rise in Grades 6/7.

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

Questions remain about how and when these test-and-learn pilots will scale and if the government will share its learnings from both pilots – and ultimately, whether they will be more like finite consultations than locally informed, innovative ways to make policy, embedded in the civil service. (5/5)

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

My colleagues @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @nehaldavison.bsky.social at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk wrote in December that “deeper change” requires “sustained effort over years to make happen”, with the ability to learn from mistakes. (4/5)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pat-...

Pat McFadden starts a long haul on public sector reform | Institute for Government

Consistent commitment to change must follow Pat McFadden's speech on civil service reform.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

It is not clear how these two different initiatives will interact, or what the significant differences are – especially where the pilots are based in the same cities, such as Manchester. There is a lack of clarity around the different test-and-learn schemes the govt is piloting. (3/5)

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

Last month, I wrote about the Cabinet Office's pilot “community mission challenge” with @alexgathomas.bsky.social. Here, teams will also be going out into communities to solve local problems, also working with local public service providers. (2/5)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cabi...

New Cabinet Office plans show some sign of life in the government’s missions | Institute for Government

Will themed campuses solve local problems or set national policy?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

The Cabinet Office has announced “innovation squads” in an additional 10 locations in England as part of the government’s ‘Test, Learn and Grow’ programme for its Plan for Change – but are these small pilot initiatives getting confused? (1/5)

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Communities across the country to benefit from ‘innovation squads’ to re-build public services

Working people across England are set to benefit from better public services, with ‘innovation squads’ sent in to back community ideas and work with the frontline as part of a £100 million ‘Test, Lear...

www.gov.uk

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · Jul 17

63% of the public prefer “explainability over accuracy” when it comes to AI in decision-making. 37% feel that humans should make these decisions. Government must remain accountable and transparent to the public it serves - especially when processes include AI. (3/3)

attitudestoai.uk/findings-202...

Governance and regulation

attitudestoai.uk

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