Simon Parker
@simonparker.bsky.social
Public servant in search of a better future. Communities and service users first. Desires to unbuild walls.
Pinned
Simon Parker
@simonparker.bsky.social
· Jul 21
Basically funding #localgov is the nearest thing we have to a silver bullet. We're last in line for funding because we don't deliver any single, big improvement. But what we can do is make everything a bit better, and it doesn't even cost very much.
It was a really good idea that the government never quite took seriously. Missions required a new approach to governing and some actual civil service reform.
Perhaps mission-driven government was not such a bad idea...
buff.ly/ZNhjYph
buff.ly/ZNhjYph
February 7, 2026 at 6:19 PM
It was a really good idea that the government never quite took seriously. Missions required a new approach to governing and some actual civil service reform.
Who could ever have guessed that the architects of New Labour would turn out to be such a bunch of money grubbing creeps?
February 6, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Who could ever have guessed that the architects of New Labour would turn out to be such a bunch of money grubbing creeps?
You leftie hippies are letting Britain down and I hate you. Please vote for me.
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 11:57 AM
You leftie hippies are letting Britain down and I hate you. Please vote for me.
Just heard Rory Stewart suggesting we should raise MP salaries so they're less tempted to chase weird rich dudes for money. And here's my thing: people like Mandelson aren't grubbing about for an extra £50k a year.
February 4, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Just heard Rory Stewart suggesting we should raise MP salaries so they're less tempted to chase weird rich dudes for money. And here's my thing: people like Mandelson aren't grubbing about for an extra £50k a year.
Andy Burnham presumably spending this week just watching telly with a massive bucket of popcorn.
February 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Andy Burnham presumably spending this week just watching telly with a massive bucket of popcorn.
So much of progressive politics has degenerated into 'after the revolution we will spend more on nice things'. I mean yes, that would be good, but first you need political economy, institutions, governance. We lack any serious account of the society that could produce such spending.
My review of @profkepickett.bsky.social's new book, "The Good Society"
"If you’d asked Pickett in 2010 whether she’d have accepted this trade she’d presumably have jumped at it...But now, like most of the rest of us, she’s less than happy with the results."
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
"If you’d asked Pickett in 2010 whether she’d have accepted this trade she’d presumably have jumped at it...But now, like most of the rest of us, she’s less than happy with the results."
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
The Good Society by Kate Pickett review – the Spirit Level author takes stock
Is equality at the heart of our social problems? A whistle-stop tour of the greatest hits of progressive policy
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:11 AM
So much of progressive politics has degenerated into 'after the revolution we will spend more on nice things'. I mean yes, that would be good, but first you need political economy, institutions, governance. We lack any serious account of the society that could produce such spending.
Jesus wasn't white, so if Charles Murray does the churches I'm sure Christopher Nolan will be happy to change his casting decisions.
If Christopher Nolan doesn't show Helen of Troy being hatched from an egg after her mother slept with a swan then it just shows he hates Western Civilization.
These people do get that this is mythology right? Not sure the colour of her skin is the biggest issue here.
These people do get that this is mythology right? Not sure the colour of her skin is the biggest issue here.
February 3, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Jesus wasn't white, so if Charles Murray does the churches I'm sure Christopher Nolan will be happy to change his casting decisions.
I met Goodwin at a party once and can confirm he is really very dull.
Matt Goodwin and the end of England: How one man's career explains our public life iandunt.substack.com/p/matt-goodw...
Matt Goodwin and the end of England
How one man's career explains our public life.
iandunt.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:19 PM
I met Goodwin at a party once and can confirm he is really very dull.
There is altogether too much weird foreign money in UK politics.
January 30, 2026 at 7:15 PM
There is altogether too much weird foreign money in UK politics.
Reposted by Simon Parker
Alison Luchs, who has worked at the National Gallery of Art for 47 years, agreed to learn Gen Z slang and make videos because she wanted to raise interest in the museum’s art.
She never expected to slay. https://wapo.st/45BXc3S
She never expected to slay. https://wapo.st/45BXc3S
January 29, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Alison Luchs, who has worked at the National Gallery of Art for 47 years, agreed to learn Gen Z slang and make videos because she wanted to raise interest in the museum’s art.
She never expected to slay. https://wapo.st/45BXc3S
She never expected to slay. https://wapo.st/45BXc3S
TL;DR the old continue to inflict their politics on the young.
🚨🚨 NEW BLOGPOST 🚨🚨
The right wing should be worried about young men. Unlike Europe and the US, British young men are swinging wildly behind progressive parties. Some thoughts on why, and why most of the right are ignoring it.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
The right wing should be worried about young men. Unlike Europe and the US, British young men are swinging wildly behind progressive parties. Some thoughts on why, and why most of the right are ignoring it.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
The Revolt of the Young Men?
Britain's second wokest cohort might surprise you
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:10 AM
TL;DR the old continue to inflict their politics on the young.
Reposted by Simon Parker
Last night we also trailed the idea of Policy Camp, a possible unconference for people who want to make policymaking in govt even better policycamp.org.uk
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Policy Camp
policycamp.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Last night we also trailed the idea of Policy Camp, a possible unconference for people who want to make policymaking in govt even better policycamp.org.uk
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Reposted by Simon Parker
🗣️ WAVES UPDATE | Reflections from our digital democracy trial
🖊️ Lead Researcher, @hanakappy.bsky.social reflects on progress from stage two of our trial in Camden, and crucially, on how you keep the human at the heart of tech-facilitated public deliberation.
demos.co.uk/blogs/keepin...
🖊️ Lead Researcher, @hanakappy.bsky.social reflects on progress from stage two of our trial in Camden, and crucially, on how you keep the human at the heart of tech-facilitated public deliberation.
demos.co.uk/blogs/keepin...
Keeping the human in the (Waves) loop: Reflections from our digital democracy trial
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:57 AM
🗣️ WAVES UPDATE | Reflections from our digital democracy trial
🖊️ Lead Researcher, @hanakappy.bsky.social reflects on progress from stage two of our trial in Camden, and crucially, on how you keep the human at the heart of tech-facilitated public deliberation.
demos.co.uk/blogs/keepin...
🖊️ Lead Researcher, @hanakappy.bsky.social reflects on progress from stage two of our trial in Camden, and crucially, on how you keep the human at the heart of tech-facilitated public deliberation.
demos.co.uk/blogs/keepin...
There's something deeply pathetic about becoming a domestic terrorist to avoid buying a new van.
This was a minor story on London news this morning - but suspect is a real cautionary (and alarming) tale of an older man getting radicalised online.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sidcup man convicted aover explosive attack on Ulez camera
Kevin Rees's homemade bomb caused damage to vehicles and property including a child's bedroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 AM
There's something deeply pathetic about becoming a domestic terrorist to avoid buying a new van.
Reposted by Simon Parker
I know attention is on the US/Greenland, and it’s hard to get proper news from Iran, but this from @christinalamb.bsky.social estimates at least 16,000 people have been killed and over 300,000 injured. Many (most?) victims are thought to be under the age of 30
www.thetimes.com/article/01ba...
www.thetimes.com/article/01ba...
Iran report says 16,500 dead in ‘genocide under digital darkness’
Witnesses tell of the brutality inflicted on those taking part in anti-regime protests
www.thetimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I know attention is on the US/Greenland, and it’s hard to get proper news from Iran, but this from @christinalamb.bsky.social estimates at least 16,000 people have been killed and over 300,000 injured. Many (most?) victims are thought to be under the age of 30
www.thetimes.com/article/01ba...
www.thetimes.com/article/01ba...
Reposted by Simon Parker
Reform in ‘ferocious battle’ with council officers over pension cuts, says Richard Tice. - www.ft.com/content/9b10... via @FT
Reform in ‘ferocious battle’ with council officers over pension cuts, says Richard Tice
Party’s deputy leader warns planned reductions in contributions risk being too cautious
www.ft.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Reform in ‘ferocious battle’ with council officers over pension cuts, says Richard Tice. - www.ft.com/content/9b10... via @FT
Reposted by Simon Parker
Something enjoyable in the fact that Whitehall were prepared to consider regional devolution and only if it was preceded by nuclear holocaust.
January 26, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Something enjoyable in the fact that Whitehall were prepared to consider regional devolution and only if it was preceded by nuclear holocaust.
The main thing I have learned from Kemi Badenoch's Desert Island Discs is that music... isn't a big deal to her. It's just her recently played list from Spotify. Two songs from Hamilton. Wow.
January 25, 2026 at 10:54 AM
The main thing I have learned from Kemi Badenoch's Desert Island Discs is that music... isn't a big deal to her. It's just her recently played list from Spotify. Two songs from Hamilton. Wow.
'Review tnis policy without considering the obvious drivers of the problem' sums up quite a lot of what's wrong with the UK.
I know I’m a stuck record on this, but I think this stuff (Milburn not Sam’s thread) is what happens when your brief is “consider why the number of Neets have been going up, but we’ve ruled out considering hiring costs as an explanation”.
January 24, 2026 at 10:21 AM
'Review tnis policy without considering the obvious drivers of the problem' sums up quite a lot of what's wrong with the UK.
Leaving aside the specific case... it does feel like there's a lot of slightly exotic money in Westminster.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Leaving aside the specific case... it does feel like there's a lot of slightly exotic money in Westminster.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A move guaranteed to spark fury for every metro mayor in the country. What does it mean for PCC powers in Manchester, West Yorkshire etc? Going back to some sort of police authority structure would be an extraordinary retrograde step.
Guaranteed to rebuild that missing sense of community that everyone's now talking about. This government really is all over the place.
January 23, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A move guaranteed to spark fury for every metro mayor in the country. What does it mean for PCC powers in Manchester, West Yorkshire etc? Going back to some sort of police authority structure would be an extraordinary retrograde step.
The gilt markets are basically your current affairs obsessed uncle who spends all day flicking between 24 hour news channels.
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 PM
The gilt markets are basically your current affairs obsessed uncle who spends all day flicking between 24 hour news channels.
Very occasionally I imagine an alternative history in which Tony Blair didn't take us into Iraq. He would have been PM for longer, the 2010 election might well have gone differently, maybe no Corbyn. He might even be remembered as a bit of a hero. I wonder if he now thinks the war was worth it?
January 22, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Very occasionally I imagine an alternative history in which Tony Blair didn't take us into Iraq. He would have been PM for longer, the 2010 election might well have gone differently, maybe no Corbyn. He might even be remembered as a bit of a hero. I wonder if he now thinks the war was worth it?
Great job.
How to make jobs in the public sector attractive www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
January 22, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Great job.
It really is.
This whole thread is great about Minnesota vs ICE
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
January 22, 2026 at 9:10 AM
It really is.