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Benjamin Welby

@bm.wel.by

700 followers 940 following 1.3K posts

Following Jesus, husbanding and dadding, supporting #bcafc. Displaced Yorkshireman in Croydon. Chair of Governors @minsterinfants.bsky.social. Doing digital things for DWP and NHS. Formerly product at GDS and policy at OECD. https://bm.wel.by/

bm.wel.by

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · Sep 8

Some lunchtime reading for your Monday as I wonder whether Pat McFadden's new super-department of work and skills can act both as HR for UK plc and as a people team for its citizens.

Could DWP be the key to unlocking the growth mission? - bmwelby's blog

One of the first headlines I saw after Friday’s reshuffle came with a familiar and unsurprising tone. Starmer signals plan to slash benefits with tough new welfare chief. It’s probably pretty accurate...

bm.wel.by

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 3d

I am a digital identity maximalist (so long as eg guided by the OECD Recommendation I worked on).

But nobody did the work, over years, to prepare the ground. And then they repeated the mistake of Blunkett by making it all about crime, control and immigration. There is so much more to sell it with.

OECD Recommendation of the Council on the Governance of Digital Identity - bmwelby's blog

The OECD Recommendation on the Governance of Digital Identity has been adopted by Ministers. This marks the culmination of several years’ work — for me, a process of close collaboration with Barbara a...

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 3d

Every time the government does anything, the crater where public trust should be instantly drowns them
(looked at OECD data in this blog post last summer).

It wasn't all their fault to begin with and maybe they hoped the Plan for Change would rekindle it but I think it needs dedicated focus.

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 3d

OK, so now the fourth time in as many days.

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 4d

Third time in as many days (first with Richard, then with Julian) I am prompted to mull on what social media would look like if it built from a functioning belief in community and democratic society?

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 4d

I am reminded of this. Seemed amazing except for being a full-time, unpaid commitment. Tried to find out from them if my understanding was correct but crickets. I struggle to see how it is legitimate to operate a scheme where people are working full time but have no source of income?

Veterans Self-Build Scheme | Alabaré

The veterans self-build scheme supports veterans who have been homeless so they can build a house to call home.

alabare.co.uk

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 4d

Third time in as many days (first with Richard, then with Julian) I am prompted to mull on what social media would look like if it built from a functioning belief in community and democratic society?

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 7d

Some solace to know I am not the only one experiencing this

"To continue, you'll need to take additional action...." - Gmail Community

support.google.com

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 9d

Odd error in my Gmail account when trying to access my school governor London Grid for Learning email account.

No option to do anything with it. Nothing visibly wrong in the browser version. And it's still syncing email to it even though it says it's offline.

To continue, you'll need to take additional action. Your account or device settings require you to complete additional steps before using the Gmail app. Cancel.

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 10d

Have Starmer or Mahmood engaged with whether they're going to do some service design work on the experience people have when they arrive into asylum accommodation or just said 'ban the taxis'?

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 11d

This from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is alright but totally overlooks the global conversation. The G20, OECD and EU have been leading on not just domestic but cross border digital identity for years. All that experience should help us get it right. We are massively late to the party.

Digital ID cards | Institute for Government

The introduction of ID cards has been debated in Westminster for decades.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 11d

Was a properly impressive full debut. I had my questions about why we were assembling so many central defenders and while I think yesterday we did miss Baldwin's distribution the way we've been forced to rotate and still come out with solid defensive displays is so promising #bcafc

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 11d

Great to see Jamie Walker loving life at Grimsby. Two absolutely belting goals today 👏 www.instagram.com/reel/DPHUIWH...

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 11d

It was.

Reposted by Benjamin Welby

David Durant @bowsy.co.uk · 12d

Because, much as I really want this government to be successful (remember Missions?) instead they're focusing almost entirely on beating a party that currently has 5 MPs and see the way of doing that as lurching to the right on immigration rather than highlighting all the amazing work immigrants do.

Richard Corbett @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 12d

Not sure why the govt & media present ID cards almost entirely in the context of migration, on which it will have only a marginal effect.

Rather, it’s a practical way for all of us to prove our identity when we need to, without pfaffing around with multiple cards and documents

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 13d

My friend Seong Ju would love this. But she's not on BlueSky. I have tried to use this as an opportunity to persuade her that she should join.

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 13d

Hard to overstate how much it grinds my gears to see the PM is framing the value and benefits of digital identity to appeal to people he has _no_ chance of getting on side.

But making employing someone a doddle, no matter who you are and where you're from, is undoubtedly one of the many benefits.

James O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · 29d

I absolutely love this idea from @bm.wel.by:

bm.wel.by/2025/09/08/c...

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 13d

I am 'sorting digital ID is a first order priority' but don't understand why its biggest proponents do weird things to advocate for it. Like giving it a silly name. Rooting it in monitoring immigrants. Or surveying people about using it for the most banal and no-auth-required things.

Public backs ‘super ID card’ which could be used to report potholes

Ministers have recently said they are considering introducing a form of digital ID for adults in Britain

www.independent.co.uk

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 14d

The BBC has done a disservice to the men and women who are accommodated in hotels in the way they've done this. They've given carte blanche to make it about waste and shut down any discussion of why continuity of care and the capricious nature of asylum accommodation results in those taxi rides.

Urgent review ordered into asylum seeker taxi costs

Asylum seekers are travelling long distances for appointments, with one telling the BBC his journey to visit a GP cost the Home Office £600.

www.bbc.co.uk

Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 14d

Was Chris Mason's outrage performative in defence of his employer or is he really so blind as to not see Davey had more than a valid point?

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Reposted by Benjamin Welby

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · 14d

Great (if not surprising!) to see such a strong emphasis on openness, collaboration and community from @janethughes.bsky.social in the latest @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

Read the autumn 2025 issue of Civil Service World

Can government break the link between background and opportunity? Plus: exclusive interviews with civil service reform DG Janet Hughes, MoJ digital...

www.civilserviceworld.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Welby

Owen Boswarva @owenboswarva.bsky.social · 15d

Job – Head of Responsible Data Innovation and AI at the Government Digital Service (DSIT) in Bristol, London, Manchester www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi... (UK Government)

#govtech #datastrategy #responsibleAI #lookstocamera

This senior leadership role in Data Strategy shapes strategic planning and drives responsible innovation with data. As Head of Responsible Data Innovation and AI, you'll lead cross-government efforts to embed accountable, effective use of data and AI.

You'll champion a culture of experimentation—rapidly prototyping machine learning models and emerging data technologies. The role focuses on sustainable data use: reuse, preservation, and protection from misuse in AI. You'll lead pilots to test innovations in real-world public sector settings, evaluating their impact and scalability.

Working closely with suppliers, you'll shape roadmaps for AI and data tools that unlock public sector capabilities. Strong influencing skills are essential to demonstrate value, drive adoption, and embed responsible deployment across government. Collaboration with internal teams—data architecture, ethics, privacy, and protection—is key to translating innovation into scalable, responsible delivery.

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 14d

Possibly just got used to the mid 20s of different offices on Monday and Tuesday but think I might have to put the heating on in my office today.

Reposted by Benjamin Welby

Mark Douglas @msidouglas.bsky.social · 15d

'What we're trying to create at #bcafc is that belief...'

🟠 Graham Alexander exclusive on 'moment of clarity' in #bcafc revival
🔴 Revealed: plans to grow brand in US 🇺🇸
🟠 How Valley Parade became a fortress
🔴 £300k tie against #nufc 🙏

Long read 👇 inews.co.uk/sport/footba...

Bradford City want to topple Newcastle - and then take a crack at America

The high-flying Bantams are ready to spring another upset in the Carabao Cup

inews.co.uk

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 15d

Love that. Couple of weeks ago I took Ezra up to Bradford for a 1230 kickoff and on our drive back we counted 6 amazing rainbows. Unfortunately I did not stop to capture any of them for posterity

Reposted by Benjamin Welby

bcafc.bsky.social @bcafc.bsky.social · 16d

New from The Width of a Post: Hope #bcafc #bantams

A trip to Newcastle United is a moment to savour for a club that spent too long devoid of hope.

widthofapost.com

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Benjamin Welby @bm.wel.by · 18d

Dreamland. Again. #bcafc