Category: Whitehall

AV is FPTP – so what’s all the fuss about?

I have never understood how on earth our current electoral system became known as “first past the post” (FPTP)? The metaphor implied is clearly that of some sort of race to a winning post, and the first one past it wins. The problem is, there is no winning post in our system. Or at least, not one that makes any sense. Continue reading “AV is FPTP – so what’s all the fuss about?” →

Redefining local government (PMPA Report)

The Public Management and Policy Association (UK) has just published a new report on Redefining Local Government, and is available for free download here.

It includes a chapter by Carole Talbot and myself on “Local government strategies in an age of austerity” in which we analyse some of the possible responses and look at the scale of the challenge affecting English local government.

1st Public Management Research Session: Christopher Pollitt and Larry Lynn debate the impact of the crisis (starts 3 May)

Continue reading “1st Public Management Research Session: Christopher Pollitt and Larry Lynn debate the impact of the crisis (starts 3 May)” →

Power to the people? No thanks – Coalition government announces end of “duty to involve”

by Davy Jones 15 April 2011

The Introduction to the Government’s new Best Value: new draft statutory guidance announces the repeal of two statutory duties on local authorities: the duty to involve, and the duty to prepare a sustainable community strategy. This is explained as reducing “red tape” for local authorities. Continue reading “Power to the people? No thanks – Coalition government announces end of “duty to involve”” →

Launch of “The Public Management Research Sessions”

Whitehall Watch has been more successful, both quantitatively and qualitatively, than I ever imagined when I started it up just over two years ago now. But it has been almost entirely a “one man band” and I’ve been trying to think of ways of changing that…. Continue reading “Launch of “The Public Management Research Sessions”” →

NHS Reform: Who’s Gonna Count the Beans?

Here’s a simple question about the NHS reforms – who’s going to count the beans? Bean counting gets a bad press, but as soon as someone fails to count the public sector beans – for which read “the taxpayers money” – properly all hell breaks loose. Continue reading “NHS Reform: Who’s Gonna Count the Beans?” →

LSE and Libya – interesting fact…

When the LSE set up their controversial programme of training civil servants in Libya the person they negotiated the contract with was a Dr Mahmoud Jebril, who was then the DG of the National Development Board.

At today’s Conference in London on the Future of Libya the Transitional Government (i.e. the rebels) was represented by, amongst others, their acting Prime Minister – Dr Mahmoud Jebril. And yes, it is the same man. Just thought people ought to know, especially those who attacked the LSE so vociferously.