Bumped by a Volcano

Things have been rather hectic over the past couple of weeks and I’ve done so many media things I’ve not had time to keep this page up to date. Until the Election is over that’s likely to continue to be the case.

But one amusing story – I got “bumped” by a volcano last week! I was literally in a cab on the way to a BBC studio to do an interview on the BBC TV News channel when I got a call saying the Icelandic volcano had squeezed everything else and they were cancelling. I’m not sure whether this is funnier, or not, than having an interview with Evan Davies on the Today programme cut short by their producers decision to insert an item about a talking teddy bear which supposedly said something controversial. The perils of what (usually jealous) American academics call being a “media tart”. Oh well.

EURONET News

An appearance on EURONET News (European radio station) – about 17 mins into this broadcast (5th May 2010) talking about the Election

see this comment on what I have been saying about efficiency, about parallels with the USA, on our (MBS) online site ‘Transforming Management’

My appearance on the BBC R4 Today programme on April 9th 2010

Whoever you vote for, the Government will get in

The old anarchist slogan (above) always had a grain of truth in it – especially in Britain where our permanent civil service is very permanent indeed. As “Yes, Minister” so brilliantly satirised, Ministers come and go, but Sir Humphrey remains, immovable, unflappable and very much in charge – or at least a powerful force in shaping what governments actually do once in office. Continue reading “Whoever you vote for, the Government will get in”

Election Uncovered: What They Won’t Tell Us (Channel 4)

Channel 4 did a reasonable job of exploring some of the issues that the election campaign and leaders debates have failed to tackle adequately (although I am biased ‘cos I was on the panel). Continue reading “Election Uncovered: What They Won’t Tell Us (Channel 4)”