The Tories know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Below is a copy of my speech at ResPublica’s event on the importance of social mobility in public service procurement.

“I want to start by thanking both ResPublica and Chris White MP not only for hosting the event here but also inviting me to speak on such an important matter. If I may so, it is typical of the socially responsible ethic promoted by ResPublica and Philip Blond to raise these valuable issues.

Government continues civil service blame game

The British civil service is widely admired and rightly so for its core values of honesty, impartiality, and professionalism. However, in terms of accountability, management culture, and increased flexibility there is always much more to do.

Labour will support and indeed welcome sensible reforms such as improving management culture, information systems and skills development, but the point of reform after all is to make something better than it was before and until we see more detail it is not clear how far these reforms will move us forward.

The Government finally announces proposals for Civil Service Reform

The Government today announced their Civil Service Reform White Paper to Parliament. In my role as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, I responded for Labour and the full text of my speech is below:

“I thank the Minister for his courtesy in providing me with an advance copy of the plan, and for taking some time to explain his thinking.