Tim Durrant
@timdurrant.bsky.social
Programme Director at the Institute for Government - interested in how government works and how it can work better
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Reposted by Tim Durrant
Agree with needing to remove civil service poor performers more easily. Not sure this 'goes unsaid' as Stride says though - civil servants raise it regularly with us and @alexgathomas.bsky.social wrote about it earlier this year.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
Pat McFadden is right: the civil service needs to lose poor performers | Institute for Government
It is time to introduce regular civil service compulsory redundancy rounds.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Agree with needing to remove civil service poor performers more easily. Not sure this 'goes unsaid' as Stride says though - civil servants raise it regularly with us and @alexgathomas.bsky.social wrote about it earlier this year.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Stride says need a smaller civil service that can attract the best talent and seeks it eternally. Give big rewards to high performers, don't spread rewards widely and thinly across everyone. Strengthen poor performance management and stop poor performers being moved between depts.
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Stride says need a smaller civil service that can attract the best talent and seeks it eternally. Give big rewards to high performers, don't spread rewards widely and thinly across everyone. Strengthen poor performance management and stop poor performers being moved between depts.
Reposted by Tim Durrant
👀
(Digital ID consultation launching soon)
(Digital ID consultation launching soon)
Darren Jones tells the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference that he’s confident public support for digital id will increase over the coming year - will be interesting to see if that is the case
January 13, 2026 at 3:23 PM
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(Digital ID consultation launching soon)
(Digital ID consultation launching soon)
For the final discussion in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s Government 2026 conference, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride, is giving a speech - watch on our website here:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
January 13, 2026 at 4:55 PM
For the final discussion in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s Government 2026 conference, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride, is giving a speech - watch on our website here:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Darren Jones tells the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference that he’s confident public support for digital id will increase over the coming year - will be interesting to see if that is the case
January 13, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Darren Jones tells the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference that he’s confident public support for digital id will increase over the coming year - will be interesting to see if that is the case
Jones says all ministers need to be proving that they’re delivering for the public (and communicating that - he refers to reforms to the government communications service)
January 13, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Jones says all ministers need to be proving that they’re delivering for the public (and communicating that - he refers to reforms to the government communications service)
Jones doesn’t want CO to be the Ofsted of departments, he wants to be able to say “how can we help?”
January 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Jones doesn’t want CO to be the Ofsted of departments, he wants to be able to say “how can we help?”
Jones says there are often different views within No10 - separation of delivery unit and restructure of policy unit are all key
January 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Jones says there are often different views within No10 - separation of delivery unit and restructure of policy unit are all key
Jones says CO can move heaven and earth when it knows it has the backing of No10 - but that doesn’t always happen.
Hoping to join things up at the centre of government - and thinking about how to embed better cross-govt working so it survives him in govt
Hoping to join things up at the centre of government - and thinking about how to embed better cross-govt working so it survives him in govt
January 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Jones says CO can move heaven and earth when it knows it has the backing of No10 - but that doesn’t always happen.
Hoping to join things up at the centre of government - and thinking about how to embed better cross-govt working so it survives him in govt
Hoping to join things up at the centre of government - and thinking about how to embed better cross-govt working so it survives him in govt
Jones says the pressure in No10 feels different to elsewhere in govt: “I thought I was busy in the Treasury but I was not”
No10 much smaller than other departments, so you get much less support
No10 much smaller than other departments, so you get much less support
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Jones says the pressure in No10 feels different to elsewhere in govt: “I thought I was busy in the Treasury but I was not”
No10 much smaller than other departments, so you get much less support
No10 much smaller than other departments, so you get much less support
He also coordinates the work of No10 and bridges between Cabinet Office and the PM’s priorities “so we’re all pointing in the same direction”
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Jones says “permission culture is not enabling” - requesting permission from lots of people slows things down. At HMT he encouraged people to streamline things and to take risks, with ministerial support
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Jones says “permission culture is not enabling” - requesting permission from lots of people slows things down. At HMT he encouraged people to streamline things and to take risks, with ministerial support
Jones also says he’s organising lunches for ministers across govt to share ideas and deal with problems.
He’s also encouraging officials to resolve issues themselves without needing to escalate them to ministers
He’s also encouraging officials to resolve issues themselves without needing to escalate them to ministers
January 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Jones also says he’s organising lunches for ministers across govt to share ideas and deal with problems.
He’s also encouraging officials to resolve issues themselves without needing to escalate them to ministers
He’s also encouraging officials to resolve issues themselves without needing to escalate them to ministers
Jones talks about balancing two fulltime jobs, as chief sec to the PM and chancellor of duchy of lancaster: lots of delegation within cabinet office. Within CO, Jones prioritises digital id and digital transformation, leadership of reform of the state, and national security
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Jones talks about balancing two fulltime jobs, as chief sec to the PM and chancellor of duchy of lancaster: lots of delegation within cabinet office. Within CO, Jones prioritises digital id and digital transformation, leadership of reform of the state, and national security
Jones talks about balancing two fulltime jobs, as chief sec to the PM and chancellor of duchy of lancaster: lots of delegation within cabinet office. Within CO, Jones prioritises digital id and digital transformation, leadership of reform of the state, and national security
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Jones talks about balancing two fulltime jobs, as chief sec to the PM and chancellor of duchy of lancaster: lots of delegation within cabinet office. Within CO, Jones prioritises digital id and digital transformation, leadership of reform of the state, and national security
Jones says cabinet committees will invite external voices - hasn’t happened much in the past but wants it to become more normal
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Jones says cabinet committees will invite external voices - hasn’t happened much in the past but wants it to become more normal
Jones says this govt has been trying to change structures within govt to make sure the civil service is getting on with the right things.
One example is cabinet committees - they were too broad, they’re now focused on PM priorities. Allow for deeper conversations than full cabinet
One example is cabinet committees - they were too broad, they’re now focused on PM priorities. Allow for deeper conversations than full cabinet
January 13, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Jones says this govt has been trying to change structures within govt to make sure the civil service is getting on with the right things.
One example is cabinet committees - they were too broad, they’re now focused on PM priorities. Allow for deeper conversations than full cabinet
One example is cabinet committees - they were too broad, they’re now focused on PM priorities. Allow for deeper conversations than full cabinet
He sees the PM every day; joins deep dives on policy issues; “executes the operation” of PM decisions
Across Whitehall he brokers agreement between different SoSs, resolving disagreements, getting a clear decision and making sure people get on with it
Across Whitehall he brokers agreement between different SoSs, resolving disagreements, getting a clear decision and making sure people get on with it
January 13, 2026 at 2:52 PM
He sees the PM every day; joins deep dives on policy issues; “executes the operation” of PM decisions
Across Whitehall he brokers agreement between different SoSs, resolving disagreements, getting a clear decision and making sure people get on with it
Across Whitehall he brokers agreement between different SoSs, resolving disagreements, getting a clear decision and making sure people get on with it
He also coordinates the work of No10 and bridges between Cabinet Office and the PM’s priorities “so we’re all pointing in the same direction”
January 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
He also coordinates the work of No10 and bridges between Cabinet Office and the PM’s priorities “so we’re all pointing in the same direction”
At the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference, Darren Jones sets out what his role is all about: recognising that delivery is different to policy, getting comms clear about government successes, and exercising the authority of the PM across the system
January 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
At the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference, Darren Jones sets out what his role is all about: recognising that delivery is different to policy, getting comms clear about government successes, and exercising the authority of the PM across the system
Reposted by Tim Durrant
A great post from @samfr.bsky.social today showing that sometimes the small wins have a big impact. The digital transformation chapter in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Whitehall Monitor 2026 highlights the fact that digital successes rely on collaboration and leadership. (1/3)
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Troubleshooters
How to get people believing in the state again
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM
A great post from @samfr.bsky.social today showing that sometimes the small wins have a big impact. The digital transformation chapter in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Whitehall Monitor 2026 highlights the fact that digital successes rely on collaboration and leadership. (1/3)
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Starting now, your key briefing on the upcoming Senedd, Holyrood and English local elections in May
Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? - is starting in 15 minutes!
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
January 13, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Starting now, your key briefing on the upcoming Senedd, Holyrood and English local elections in May
Reposted by Tim Durrant
I updated some analysis looking at the key drivers of civil servant engagement
Using data from the Civil Service People Survey, I found that civil servants’ day-to-day work and the leadership they receive drive engagement much more than factors such as the L&D offer or pay
Using data from the Civil Service People Survey, I found that civil servants’ day-to-day work and the leadership they receive drive engagement much more than factors such as the L&D offer or pay
January 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
I updated some analysis looking at the key drivers of civil servant engagement
Using data from the Civil Service People Survey, I found that civil servants’ day-to-day work and the leadership they receive drive engagement much more than factors such as the L&D offer or pay
Using data from the Civil Service People Survey, I found that civil servants’ day-to-day work and the leadership they receive drive engagement much more than factors such as the L&D offer or pay
Reposted by Tim Durrant
We’ve today published Whitehall Monitor 2026
As well as being your guide to whether Labour is making progress on rewiring the state (A: definitely still a work in progress) it also contains some fantastic data viz
Some of my highlights 🧵
As well as being your guide to whether Labour is making progress on rewiring the state (A: definitely still a work in progress) it also contains some fantastic data viz
Some of my highlights 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 1:25 PM
We’ve today published Whitehall Monitor 2026
As well as being your guide to whether Labour is making progress on rewiring the state (A: definitely still a work in progress) it also contains some fantastic data viz
Some of my highlights 🧵
As well as being your guide to whether Labour is making progress on rewiring the state (A: definitely still a work in progress) it also contains some fantastic data viz
Some of my highlights 🧵
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Great to see coverage of Gov26 @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference and we’re not even halfway through the day…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for ‘excuses culture’ of blaming civil service
In remarks that will be seen as criticism of Starmer allies, health secretary says own side are helping right ‘roll the pitch’
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Great to see coverage of Gov26 @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference and we’re not even halfway through the day…
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...