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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · 26d

And in more of Ian's words - "Don't kid yourself that you're not the type of person who would use an hour of your life on a forensic assessment of personnel changes at the centre of government. You totally are."

👇said hour of forensic assessment (also pre-reshuffle) from me and colleagues.

How will Keir Starmer’s No.10 reset work? | Institute for Government

An IfG expert briefing explores the prime minister's reshuffle of his No.10 team.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · 26d

"This is a very specific move, which has evidently been made for very specific reasons by someone who has a very specific thing they are trying to do"

Nice reminder from @iandunt.bsky.social that the no.10 shake-up put a single figure in control of delivery at the centre and that is a good thing.

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 26d

Things are incredibly grim, but there are small, tentative signs of improvement. Maybe. iandunt.substack.com/p/three-reas...

Three reasons to feel hope

Things are incredibly grim, but there are small, tentative signs of improvement. Maybe.

iandunt.substack.com

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · Sep 5

Explaining the day’s developments to a non-British friend:

Screenshot of a WhatsApp message, replying to a message from me saying
‘All the government ministers have been shuffled round’, which says ‘This is wild though like is everyone equally qualified for every position…?’

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · Sep 5

well quite

A screenshot of the Ministers page on GOV.UK, which is missing the usual portraits, names and titles and carries a message saying 'This page is currently being updated.'

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 5

Can I interest you in another live blog to obsessively refresh to find out the latest on the reshuffle??

*This live blog comes with expert (nerdy) analysis on how government actually works.

Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government

The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · Sep 5

A new episode of Inside Briefing the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out, with me @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social & @teodorgrama.bsky.social talking about delivery (obvs) and the Civil Service Fast Stream

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/collection/p...

Stand and deliver? | Institute for Government

Starmer moves to 'delivery, delivery, delivery'.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 4

The govt's graduate scheme is not working as well as it could either for the people on it or for the civil service itself. Great report by my colleague @teodorgrama.bsky.social on how to get the fast stream back on track👇

Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4

NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report just out - on how the fast stream, the civil service’s flagship talent development programme, lost its sense of purpose and how it can get it back

(A quick 🧵)

How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government

It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

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 Hannah Keenan

Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4

Many organisations run graduate schemes focused on developing future leaders. That's what the fast stream has always been, at its core. It now needs to overcome the instinct to be all things to all people and rediscover that sense of purpose.

Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:

The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose

A smaller Fast Stream – laser-focused on developing future leaders – would deliver more for the civil service and the country

www.civilserviceworld.com

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Lots of slightly confusing chatter around the civil service internship being restricted to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds - excellent thread from @teodorgrama.bsky.social below setting out what is actually happening!

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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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

^ featuring wise words from my colleague @alexgathomas.bsky.social

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 2

🖥️ WEBINAR: How will Keir Starmer’s No10 reset work?

Wednesday 3 September, 15:00 — 16:00

@drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social explore the PM's reshuffle of his No10 team.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...

Webinar | How will Keir Starmer’s No10 reset work? | Institute for Government

An IfG Expert Briefing explores the prime minister's reshuffle of his No10 team.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Moving the mission delivery unit from the Cabinet Office to No10 is I think a good thing. Looks like gov is going from potentially having lots of big figures doing delivery at the centre, to making clear Darren Jones in charge of it (with Nin Pandit reporting to him). That is useful clarity!

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 2

NEW: Keir Starmer’s No10 reshuffle must provide coherence and clarity

@drhannahwhite.bsky.social & @alexgathomas.bsky.social react to the appointment of @darrenpjones.bsky.social to a big No10 job - & call for the PM to make more structural changes

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

Starmer's latest No.10 changes should be the start of a bigger reform | Institute for Government

The prime minister needs to make changes to the structures, and not just the people, at the centre of government.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

The mission stuff I think is harder, but if this gives Pat McFadden and Georgia Gould more space to do the state reform stuff they're already doing in the Cabinet Office, and the 'delivery' stuff doesn't get too blinkered a focus on individual depts, then this could help do both sides of missions.

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

I think both can be avoided! Starmer setting out who is responsible for what (especially on delivery) would go a long way to stamping out the duplication and confusion of having too many people doing the same thing at the centre.

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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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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · Sep 1

So some new ministerial appointments after all - including a new role created as chief sec to the PM. Darren Jones has clearly impressed at the Treasury - will he be able to get things done in No10? Or will this just be another person trying to "deliver"...

The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:

The Rt Hon Darren Jones MP as Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) at the Cabinet Office.

James Murray MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Daniel Tomlinson MP as a Parliamentary Secretary (Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury) in His Majesty’s Treasury.

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · Aug 29

More change at No10 - another very experienced appointee. But as @hannahkeenan.bsky.social has said, bringing in good people is no substitute for fixing the structure, or having a clear vision

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/star...

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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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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · Aug 21

So, that civil service speaking ban...

What does the No 10 guidance actually say?

I decided to use a freedom of information request to find out.

Here's the response I got...

gavin-freeguard.medium.com/no-10-bans-c...

No 10 bans civil servants from speaking, bans us from seeing the guidance that bans civil servants…

In June, my friends at the Institute for Government reported the existence of ‘some unusual internal guidance’ that bans officials from…

gavin-freeguard.medium.com

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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

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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Reposted by Hannah Keenan

Paul Pod @paulpod.bsky.social · Aug 20

I had never worked somewhere where it was literally impossible to get promoted by being good at your job. Mind boggling really. What a recipe for unhappiness.

Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Aug 8

Civil service in a real bind atm. Incentives to move job rapidly + recruitment freezes blocking space to move = unhappy workforce.

My radical Friday thought: if you don't want people (civil servants) to do stuff (move jobs at a v high rate), then don't give them incentives to do that?

Fundamental changes are needed to address civil service frustration | Institute for Government

Voluntary exit schemes will not be enough to deal with structural problems in the civil service

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Aug 19

Agree that's definitely one part of the puzzle! I do still think that civil servants shouldn't face incentives to move jobs all the time (even if it's maybe easier to ignore those incentives if you're not based in London)

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Aug 19

Thanks Iain!

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