iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A reminder that for Northern Ireland the Brexit out workings remain live issues beyond the economic arrangements (Article 2 is the one about non-diminution of human rights).

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yes, there’s a queue. Yes, you’re constantly exhorted to keep moving. And you can’t take photos. But so worth it. The drama of following the whole length is extraordinary. As is the art and creativity of the design and execution. #BayeuxTapestry

You can’t take photos, so here’s a picture of the British Museum cafe tray.

030

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Lovely afternoon in Cardiff. Some fab art at the Museum. But couldn’t get a football ticket.

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This is important stuff for all in the civil service. Reflects that lots in Civil Service and political class think things are in a poor place.Recommend reading the full report. Would encourage people to offer Alex and Hannah their views.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

RIP William Orbit. From Guerrilla Records to Madonna to All Saints. Thanks for the wonderful music. open.spotify.com/playlist/2MJ...

open.spotify.com

William Orbit Productions and Remixes

Playlist · acidtedblog · 31 items · 1 saves

020

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Fascinating announcement and indicative of direction of travel. The financial elements are particularly interesting www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement (HTML)

000

Reposted by Colin Perry

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee is conducting an inquiry into Article 2 Windsor Framework. Oral evidence is still being taken. Written evidence has now been published. Includes, following UKSC 'Dillon' judgment, statement of UK government position. committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...

committees.parliament.uk

Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee - Written evidence - Committees - UK Parliament

Written evidence submission publications for Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee.

015

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

As Jill says, losing Benn is going to leave a tricky set of issues for the successor. NI needs careful and considered engagement by SoS.

1144

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

If there’s a move away from success profiles this might make external applications for roles a bit easier.

031

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Brilliant thread on the byelection process

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

But no doubt someone would complain that it should have been primary legislation as secondary doesn’t get enough scrutiny

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Buff-tailed bumblebee resting on yellow Yarrow

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Really interesting collection of facts. Worth knowing. Would add inflation since it impacts on costs over time. But doesn’t cover differences such as devolution (eg population of Eng included but not Scotland, Wa or NI and no ref to different legal systems) and gender (eg pay gap / life expectancy)

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Thoughts and prayers for all at IfG

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Good to see action to remove iniquities in #CivilService pay. As IfG say “Current CS pay structures incentivise damaging behaviour.” “You start at the bottom and stay at the bottom.” Hard to see that the small amount involved (1% of the overall senior civil service pay bill) will shift the dial.

000

Reposted by Colin Perry

Cath Haddon @cathhaddon.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

PSA: @samcoatessky.bsky.social on the pod this morning said a leadership contest would mean government would be restrained on decision making because gov would be 'effectively in government purdah and that principle that big government decisions go on hold'. That isn't accurate.

1612442

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Another contribution to the “Whitehall problem” issue. A right wing perspective I assume. But should still be interesting to see what emerges.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Going to have to give this one a go.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

open.substack.com/pub/andrewgr... As someone who wasn’t a perm sec but did plenty of select committee appearances this resonates, especially abut incentives. But the latter part of wider civil service changes is interesting but I’m not sure quite gets a way out of where we are.

open.substack.com

The accountability act

What do we want senior people in public life to be good at?

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

We need to ‘turbocharge’ this petition.

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

1 Small point: “[FAC] chair seemed to expect every phone call between private offices to have been minuted… a recipe for bureaucratic meltdown.” 2 Key point: “CS will… conclude that they need to dip ministerial hands in the blood of every decision… government will become even more… risk averse.”

ft.com

Home - Financial Times

News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Really good piece on consequences for the civil service (and so Ministers and all of us) of the Robbins episode. Especially agree with two points…

100

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Excellent choice. Should follow up with open.spotify.com/track/7LOCcQ...

open.spotify.com

Spotify – Web Player

100

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

An interesting assessment of the ministers and civil servants interplay on the Mandelson affair. The depressing conclusion that it’s “one which strikes yet another blow to an already bruised relationship.” seems right.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Agree with this take. All very curious

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Where it says “These objectives are effectively the cabinet secretary showing that she, like all other civil servants, has performance metrics that she will be held to account for achieving.” They are objectives but don’t have metrics. They’re not measurable or time bound.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Interesting analysis, if a bit generous in my view. But definitely worth a read by anyone interested in Government. But…

100

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Interesting article on UK-EU relations by someone steeped in Brexit. I was struck by “Trade negotiations are generally about testing red lines of each party... After 10 years the UK may finally be understanding the EU position, and now needs the political debate on its own long-term future...”

0133

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

If true, I can see why. But does HMT have the skills required here? Not its core function

040

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

An interesting piece about secondary legislation from a Peer’s perspective. As a former civil servant I’d add that it’s largely a Cinderella function for civil servants. And understandably gets sidelined by considerations of primary legislation by ministers. Plumbing isn’t sexy (since Asquith).

142

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Genuine Q: why rim brakes when trends seem to be in other directions?

100

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Good to see Cab Sec’s objectives. But they’re not SMART so hard to measure success. And reference to revising CS code is interesting

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Likewise (especially FCDO and Cabinet Office) and yet IfG reporting overall CS numbers still going up.

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

This is worth a read by civil servants and those interested in government. Having wrestled with ‘limited and specific’ previously this may be less abstract than people might want to think

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

William Orbit owed much credit here (and for Ray of Light)

010

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Fascinating to see numbers still rising given the number of exit schemes in place across the Civil Service

000

Colin Perry @colincperry.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

I believe FCDO has had a reduction in staff but is some of Cabinet Office change due to MoG or is that accounted in the numbers?

100