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

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)”

General election 2010: the battle over the paperclip vote

General election 2010: the battle over the paperclip vote

The Guardian – ‎5 hours ago‎

The trio have been joined by Professor Colin Talbot, the public services adviser to the Treasury select committee. It is probably tedious to get into the 

Major parties failing to spell out spending plans

Major parties failing to spell out spending plans

Public Finance – Lucy Phillips – ‎4 hours ago‎

Colin Talbot, professor of public policy and management at Manchester Business School, told Public Finance that the public sector had been left ‘guessing’. 

What will politicians need to do to please public managers?‎

What will politicians need to do to please public managers?

The Guardian

Last week Colin Talbot, professor of public policy and management at Manchester Business School, who gave evidence to the Commons’ Treasury select committee 

City lets George Osborne make a monkey of the voters‎

City lets George Osborne make a monkey of the voters

Times Online

In the case of Rayner, according to Colin Talbot of Manchester University, Britain’s foremost expert on public-sector efficiency, only half the claimed