Antony Carpen
@acarpen.bsky.social
Ex-Whitehall type still with views on public policy, but now local historian in Cambridge (UK) blogging at https://lostcambridge.com/ - also writing about the future of the city on The Cambridge Town Owl.
Is it possible to build the best *policy operation* in British politics on part-time hours? Only...>
Reform’s new “head of policy” has said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “regional Slavic conflict”.
He added: “It is a conflict happening in the world that I don’t care very much about.”
He added: “It is a conflict happening in the world that I don’t care very much about.”
February 17, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Is it possible to build the best *policy operation* in British politics on part-time hours? Only...>
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Important interview with Gisele Pelicot and the bravery she has shown in her determination that 'shame has to change sides.'
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview
In an exclusive UK interview, Victoria Derbyshire talks to Gisèle Pelicot in Paris about the 2024 trial of her husband and 50 other men, the public's support and her future.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Important interview with Gisele Pelicot and the bravery she has shown in her determination that 'shame has to change sides.'
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
NEW VIDEO: Leader of Norfolk County Council, Cllr Kay Mason Billig (Cons - Loddon & Chedgrave) Speech on Devolution in response to Secretary of State Steve Reed MP. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_a...
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
Norfolk County Council - Full Council
YouTube video by Norfolk County Council Democratic Services
www.youtube.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:37 PM
NEW VIDEO: Leader of Norfolk County Council, Cllr Kay Mason Billig (Cons - Loddon & Chedgrave) Speech on Devolution in response to Secretary of State Steve Reed MP. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_a...
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
cc @flipchartrick.bsky.social
***Ooof!*** "A council leader has accused the local government secretary of being a "bully" who made "threats" about funding if she spoke out against local elections being postponed." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Localgov this is getting messy re devolution.
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
***Ooof!*** "A council leader has accused the local government secretary of being a "bully" who made "threats" about funding if she spoke out against local elections being postponed." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Localgov this is getting messy re devolution.
😱 re Norfolk & devolution.
February 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM
😱 re Norfolk & devolution.
Looks like the opening credits of a daytime TV talk show from the noughties - like Vanessa or Trisha. They’re all doing that hands thing!
Nigel’s superheroes come out of the shadows to play dress-up
Nigel’s superheroes come out of the shadows to play dress-up
www.thetimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Looks like the opening credits of a daytime TV talk show from the noughties - like Vanessa or Trisha. They’re all doing that hands thing!
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Finally, something that always shocks people is the amount of invitations I get. My office worked out it was about 10,000 invitations in one year.
Again, my office prioritises so I only see a fraction but the sheer administration needed to deal with that level of invites is huge.
7/?
Again, my office prioritises so I only see a fraction but the sheer administration needed to deal with that level of invites is huge.
7/?
February 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Finally, something that always shocks people is the amount of invitations I get. My office worked out it was about 10,000 invitations in one year.
Again, my office prioritises so I only see a fraction but the sheer administration needed to deal with that level of invites is huge.
7/?
Again, my office prioritises so I only see a fraction but the sheer administration needed to deal with that level of invites is huge.
7/?
Reposted by Antony Carpen
...& I'll take ppl being annoyed at me for being slow to reply to an email about policy.
Perhaps not the most electorally sound policy but one that's honest and reflects my staff's priorities too. They have come from backgrounds in social care, prisons service, housing and want to help people. 2/?
Perhaps not the most electorally sound policy but one that's honest and reflects my staff's priorities too. They have come from backgrounds in social care, prisons service, housing and want to help people. 2/?
February 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM
...& I'll take ppl being annoyed at me for being slow to reply to an email about policy.
Perhaps not the most electorally sound policy but one that's honest and reflects my staff's priorities too. They have come from backgrounds in social care, prisons service, housing and want to help people. 2/?
Perhaps not the most electorally sound policy but one that's honest and reflects my staff's priorities too. They have come from backgrounds in social care, prisons service, housing and want to help people. 2/?
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Great thread on the reality of MPs’ offices and the constant triaging and prioritisation that goes on - and trade offs involves
Good overview of the workload on staff and MPs, and what the role of the MP is/could/should be.
I prioritise dealing with casework quickly over replying to policy emails because e.g. helping a person access disability support is more important to me...
1/?
I prioritise dealing with casework quickly over replying to policy emails because e.g. helping a person access disability support is more important to me...
1/?
The workload facing MPs and their staff is growing, in ways that aren't visible to the public: casework and the inbox.
For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role
For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role
February 17, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Great thread on the reality of MPs’ offices and the constant triaging and prioritisation that goes on - and trade offs involves
1/2 Increasing numbers of very heavy vehicles - think of all the building works in/around the city …>
February 17, 2026 at 2:13 PM
1/2 Increasing numbers of very heavy vehicles - think of all the building works in/around the city …>
In the olden days #Cambridge town people had their own ‘FA Cup’ - we put in on top of a brewery. Of which there were several
Do you remember when Dale's Brewery still had the cup on top? Here it is in the 1960s. The brewery was founded by Frederick Dale at the British Queen pub on Histon Road in 1898 and moved into the specially built brewery in 1902.
February 17, 2026 at 1:16 PM
In the olden days #Cambridge town people had their own ‘FA Cup’ - we put in on top of a brewery. Of which there were several
Reposted by Antony Carpen
One more UK government IT disaster. (£)
Let's start being realistic about what can be achieved, not starting grand certain failures. And rethink the disastrous model of #Outsourcing.
And what can we learn from others? "Pakistan did theirs for one-third of the price"
www.ft.com/content/186f...
Let's start being realistic about what can be achieved, not starting grand certain failures. And rethink the disastrous model of #Outsourcing.
And what can we learn from others? "Pakistan did theirs for one-third of the price"
www.ft.com/content/186f...
UK quietly shelves £110mn frictionless post-Brexit trade border project
Experts criticise halt to programme that had used Deloitte and IBM as contractors
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:29 PM
One more UK government IT disaster. (£)
Let's start being realistic about what can be achieved, not starting grand certain failures. And rethink the disastrous model of #Outsourcing.
And what can we learn from others? "Pakistan did theirs for one-third of the price"
www.ft.com/content/186f...
Let's start being realistic about what can be achieved, not starting grand certain failures. And rethink the disastrous model of #Outsourcing.
And what can we learn from others? "Pakistan did theirs for one-third of the price"
www.ft.com/content/186f...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Our next set of booklist suggestions comes from recently-appointed SAHR Fellow Professor Jessica Meyer, and revisits the First World War primarily through the lens of social and cultural approaches: www.sahr.org.uk/view-book-li...
For a full list of our Fellows, see: www.sahr.org.uk/fellowships....
For a full list of our Fellows, see: www.sahr.org.uk/fellowships....
December 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Our next set of booklist suggestions comes from recently-appointed SAHR Fellow Professor Jessica Meyer, and revisits the First World War primarily through the lens of social and cultural approaches: www.sahr.org.uk/view-book-li...
For a full list of our Fellows, see: www.sahr.org.uk/fellowships....
For a full list of our Fellows, see: www.sahr.org.uk/fellowships....
Reposted by Antony Carpen
I still love that UKIP policy where they wanted to turn the Circle Line back into a circle.
Your challenge for the day is to invent a ReformUK policy. On Shrove Tuesday next year we get to see if they’ve adopted it.
Remember, it should appeal to insane pensioners and absolutely nobody else. QT with yours!
Remember, it should appeal to insane pensioners and absolutely nobody else. QT with yours!
February 17, 2026 at 12:17 PM
I still love that UKIP policy where they wanted to turn the Circle Line back into a circle.
“[Police] officers and staff were required to declare membership "past or present" of any organisation that is "hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Which other orgs does this apply to?
Challenge to Met Police's Freemason disclosure rule thrown out
The Met had announced that membership of the Freemasons or similar organisations would have to declared.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 12:18 PM
“[Police] officers and staff were required to declare membership "past or present" of any organisation that is "hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Which other orgs does this apply to?
We have been here before re cuts to BBC World Service. publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/...
February 17, 2026 at 12:14 PM
We have been here before re cuts to BBC World Service. publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/...
TeamNigel pop groups circa 2000 - suggested names?
(Ages ago the LibDems tried to run with ‘shadow’ titles but it never got off the ground. I think it was for MP-candidates & trying to come up with an alternative to “Prospective Parliamentary Candidate”. Hence “Shadow MPs”)
(Ages ago the LibDems tried to run with ‘shadow’ titles but it never got off the ground. I think it was for MP-candidates & trying to come up with an alternative to “Prospective Parliamentary Candidate”. Hence “Shadow MPs”)
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 12:11 PM
TeamNigel pop groups circa 2000 - suggested names?
(Ages ago the LibDems tried to run with ‘shadow’ titles but it never got off the ground. I think it was for MP-candidates & trying to come up with an alternative to “Prospective Parliamentary Candidate”. Hence “Shadow MPs”)
(Ages ago the LibDems tried to run with ‘shadow’ titles but it never got off the ground. I think it was for MP-candidates & trying to come up with an alternative to “Prospective Parliamentary Candidate”. Hence “Shadow MPs”)
What is the circulation / %coverage of the newspapers?
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
This is a pretty bizarre cock-up. "Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council has had to halt planning projects after publishing consultation notices in the Northamptonshire Telegraph, which doesn’t circulate locally, instead of the Peterborough Telegraph."
Planning projects halted thanks to council's local paper blunder - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage
Councillors told of local paper blunder
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:51 AM
What is the circulation / %coverage of the newspapers?
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
“Anglian Water had objected, saying there was "insufficient capacity to accept the additional flows from the development" at the Huntingdon (Godmanchester) Water Recycling Centre.” Not just in/around Cambridge.
February 17, 2026 at 11:35 AM
“Anglian Water had objected, saying there was "insufficient capacity to accept the additional flows from the development" at the Huntingdon (Godmanchester) Water Recycling Centre.” Not just in/around Cambridge.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Thinking of a career in think tanks?
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
February 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Thinking of a career in think tanks?
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
Sometimes a minister will make a statement to Parliament when making such a ministerial direction. (Urgent Qs get more time for MPs to ask difficult Qs & Mr Speaker may well grant one in this case as it goes to the heart of sound public administration…)
"Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction" www.gov.uk/government/p... It's now up to the Commons Liaison Committee (And particularly the Chairs of the Public Accounts, & Public Administration Committees) to cross-examine the Prime Minister when he next appears before them.
Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction
Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Sometimes a minister will make a statement to Parliament when making such a ministerial direction. (Urgent Qs get more time for MPs to ask difficult Qs & Mr Speaker may well grant one in this case as it goes to the heart of sound public administration…)
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Good thread here on what a ministerial direction and, in the context of some pretty poor reporting on Wormald’s exit, what it isn’t.
Yesterday the Cabinet Office published the ministerial direction on Chris Wormald's exit payment 👇
This has been discussed a bit in the media, mainly in terms of 'civil service tried to block the huge payout'
A few points on this..
www.gov.uk/government/p...
This has been discussed a bit in the media, mainly in terms of 'civil service tried to block the huge payout'
A few points on this..
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction
Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Good thread here on what a ministerial direction and, in the context of some pretty poor reporting on Wormald’s exit, what it isn’t.
🤣🤪🙃
February 17, 2026 at 11:21 AM
🤣🤪🙃
Reposted by Antony Carpen
In an era that has seen a shift from soft to hard power, how should middle-ranking powers like the UK & Canada approach international aid? In a new policy paper for us, Ezra Karmel and Georgina Sinclair draw on history for some answers. historyandpolicy.org/policy-paper...
‘After the Rupture’: The Aid Dilemma of Middle Powers - History & Policy
Aid policy poses a dilemma for middle-ranking global powers. As multilateral guarantees weaken and US leadership becomes less predictable, they appear to face a choice between doubling down on rights-...
historyandpolicy.org
February 17, 2026 at 10:58 AM
In an era that has seen a shift from soft to hard power, how should middle-ranking powers like the UK & Canada approach international aid? In a new policy paper for us, Ezra Karmel and Georgina Sinclair draw on history for some answers. historyandpolicy.org/policy-paper...