Reposted by Beckie SmithDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Underpinning everything, you do not want politicians deciding who is British based on their personal prejudices. Deportation will also not improve the life of those left behind - plenty of evidence for that. Ultimately, let's talk about what will improve the country. 28217
Reposted by Beckie SmithDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Let's not humour those advocating deportation of UK residents with reasons why their plans would not work. Keep it simple, this is not the action of a civilised country. If needed, this will mean complete chaos and destruction of international reputation. 22543166
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 22/10/2025This is really all that needs saying on the latest cab sec discourse, isn't it 000
Reposted by Beckie SmithNick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 15/10/2025The point of a multi-year spending review and regular SR cycle is to provide stability. That stability allows frontline public services to make long-term decisions that will deliver better outcomes and VfM. It's a big failure of policymaking if spending decisions are being reopened 4 months laternews.sky.comChancellor admits tax rises and spending cuts considered for budgetSpeaking exclusively to Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates, Rachel Reeves says Brexit, austerity, and the Liz Truss mini-budget have all played a role in damaging Britain's economy - as she prep... 12611
Reposted by Beckie SmithResolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 14/10/2025Relative child poverty has remained stubbornly high over the last twenty years and has risen over the past decade. Without action, levels will soon break records. Scrapping the two-child limit in full would be the most targeted and cost-effective way of reducing child poverty. 164
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 14/10/2025The new Ethics and Integrity Commission is already facing concerns about its power, independence & resources. @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social, @anticorruption.bsky.social & @spotlightcorruption.org warn the regulator is “vulnerable to political pressure” while its budget is set by the Cabinet Office:civilserviceworld.comExperts voice fears as Ethics and Integrity Commission goes liveSuccessor body to Committee on Standards in Public Life “needs full independence and statutory footing”, anti-corruption organisations warn 053
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 09/10/2025Another director general moves to head up a charity. This feels like a theme... www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...civilserviceworld.comHome Office DG set to become RSPCA top catJoanna Rowland will take over as animal charity chief executive at the beginning of December 000
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2025I loved this blog on internalised ableism and reasonable adjustments by @helenjeffries.bsky.social. V powerful observation on meeting people at training aimed at disabled people: "Almost everyone had that internal sense that if they only pulled themselves together somehow they’d not be disabled."helenjeffries.wordpress.comFixed desk – hot buttonOne of my most important reasonable adjustments for autism is having a fixed desk. Like most workplaces, mine operates a hot-desking policy and colleagues have to book in advance where they will si… 110
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 07/10/2025A PSA that no one is ever too old to read a Discworld novel or too young for the Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness 010
Reposted by Beckie SmithStuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 07/10/2025I'm increasingly convinced this is a huge driver of dissatisfaction with govt Council tax is one of the most visible taxes that people pay, it goes directly out of their bank account and they get a letter about it going up every year Yet bin collection frequency falls and libraries close 119120
Reposted by Beckie SmithJanet Hughes @janethughes.bsky.social · 01/10/2025Did a little interview with @beckiesmith.bsky.social @civilserviceworld.bsky.social - thanks v much Beckie for having me! :) 0113
Reposted by Beckie SmithAlice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 01/10/2025Say what you will about GOV.UK, but this kind of thing (which is, to be clear, an absolutely outrageous political statement to make on an official government website) would never happen 1103
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2025This is horrifying rhetoric. Saying "if you're sick or disabled" in the same breath as suggesting people don't deserve state support if they haven't contributed isn't just nonsense, it's stigmatising and harmful to push the idea (that this government seems v fond of) that everyone CAN work 043
Reposted by Beckie SmithGavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 24/09/2025Great (if not surprising!) to see such a strong emphasis on openness, collaboration and community from @janethughes.bsky.social in the latest @civilserviceworld.bsky.social www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...civilserviceworld.comRead the autumn 2025 issue of Civil Service WorldCan government break the link between background and opportunity? Plus: exclusive interviews with civil service reform DG Janet Hughes, MoJ digital... 063
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 23/09/2025The obvious image that comes to mind is a phoenix. Whether the Lib Dems would welcome that or not... 021
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Personal news! I'm now managing editor of @civilserviceworld.bsky.social, which means I'll be editing our quarterly print magazine from now on. If you're a senior civil servant with ideas about what you'd like to see in it, get in touch! 111
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2025I've always been deeply suspicious of people who only voice concern about one cause when they're objecting to another. See also: men who comment on articles/posts about women's rights, saying "but what about men's mental health?" but never mention it outside of that. It's in bad faith. 000
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 16/09/2025What do officials think of performance management in the civil service? Here's what we found in our Alternative People Survey with @re-state.bsky.social... (Spoiler: one of the responses is “I have never seen talented colleagues so demoralised.”) www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...civilserviceworld.comManaging expectations: What do officials think of performance management in the civil service?Pat McFadden has said failure to tackle poor performers is “one of the biggest barriers” civil servants face. But what do CSW readers think of how ... 113
Reposted by Beckie SmithDave Penman @fdagensec.bsky.social · 13/09/2025As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, the premise that the civil service isn’t impartial because its inclusive and doesn’t discriminate against the LGBT+ community doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. When does a commitment to treat people equally become political? 042
Reposted by Beckie SmithCivil Service World @civilserviceworld.bsky.social · 30/07/2025For the first time the proportion of civil servants declaring that they have a disability matches representation in the economically active working-age population www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...civilserviceworld.comCivil Service Statistics: Self-declared disability hits record high – and finally matches working populationEthnic minority and LGBO representation also continues to rise 002
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 21/07/2025Now we know the Committee on Standards in Public Life will become the beefed-up Ethics and Integrity Commission, here's what CSPL chair Doug Chalmers had to say to @tevyemarkson.bsky.social recently on empathy, rapport and "zigzagging between departments": www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...civilserviceworld.com'No one department owns all the bright ideas': An interview with standards watchdog Doug ChalmersCommittee on Standards in Public Life chair speaks to CSW about empathy, rapport and why 'zigzagging between departments is a really healthy thing' 001
Reposted by Beckie SmithGavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 03/07/2025Maybe we can get synthetic civil servants to speak at the events the real ones are banned from speaking at 0131
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 03/07/2025How do you close a quango? My ace colleague @tevyemarkson.bsky.social spoke to experts ahead of NHS England's abolition: www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...civilserviceworld.comHow to close a quango: As DHSC prepares to absorb NHS England, we ask the expertsIn light of the government’s decision to merge NHS England into DHSC, CSW explores the dos and don’ts of closing a quango – and unpacks some potent... 000
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 27/06/2025"No more interactive stakeholder events unless a minister is there? Just publications of text/video content pre-authorised by ministerial offices? Government grinds too slowly and this will jam the works completely." 000
Reposted by Beckie SmithZoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Very Important News: @metoffice.gov.uk is currently accepting ideas for new storm names Waiting for Gusty McGustface to become the No1 choice www.metoffice.gov.uk/forms/name-o... 8277
Reposted by Beckie SmithSuzannah Brecknell @suzannahb.bsky.social · 11/06/2025If you don't already get the @civilserviceworld.bsky.social newsletter you missed an excellent line up this afternoon- we ferreted through the SR documents to find the bits which matter for civil servants. Subscribe now and make sure you don't miss our follow-ups over the rest of this week 121
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 11/06/2025The big news for the civil service from today's Spending Review: overall administration budgets will be reduced by 16% by 2028-29, and departments will make at least 5% in total savings and efficiencies by the same date www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...civilserviceworld.comDepartments agree 16% admin savings and 5% total efficienciesOvFM helps departments find £13.8bn of annual efficiencies in day-to-day spending as part of 5% overall target 100
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 29/05/2025Chuckling at this unfortunate phrasing from an interview I'm subbing with a senior public figure. Asked how he unwinds: "I do quite a lot of exercise. I row quite a lot with my wife." The danger of homonyms! 010
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 28/05/2025What does the head of the civil service's biggest union make of Labour's first almost-year in power? @tevyemarkson.bsky.social interviewed @pcsunion.bsky.social's Fran Heathcote: www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...civilserviceworld.com'Our members are losing faith': PCS's Fran Heathcote on job security, hybrid working and Labour's first 10 monthsHeathcote happy with Cabinet Office's engagement with the union but warns its members are starting to lose faith in the government 020
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 22/05/2025In "there's a CSW story for everything" news, here's a thought-provoking piece soon-to-be civil service reform DG @janethughes.bsky.social wrote for us back in 2016 on boldness – too often "actively discouraged, squashed or derided": www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...civilserviceworld.comGovernment Digital Service programme director Janet Hughes: What if boldness were an explicit value of the civil service?Civil servants will always need to be honest, impartial, objective, and act with integrity – but we must make sure we don’t encourage passivity or ... 251
Reposted by Beckie SmithJanet Hughes @janethughes.bsky.social · 20/05/2025Afternoon all :) After 5 years in my role in Defra, I'm going to be leaving this June to take up a new role as Director General of Civil Service Reform and Efficiency in the @cabinetofficeuk.bsky.social 3212410
Beckie Smith @beckiesmith.bsky.social · 21/05/2025After an online hiatus, I'm back! Here's some of the fun stuff we've been doing over at @civilserviceworld.bsky.social lately... 111