Dave Penman

The Spending Review will leave officials fearing for their future – and possibly even heading for the door
16 Jun Civil Service Reform
The Spending Review will leave officials fearing for their future – and possibly even heading for the door
SR25 leaves civil servants uncertain about whether they will lose their job and what their organisation will look like once efficiencies are made
We need to talk about WFH: The current policy isn't working and only serious dialogue will fix it
10 Mar Civil Service Reform
We need to talk about WFH: The current policy isn't working and only serious dialogue will fix it
There is a disconnect between the stated objectives of the 60% mandate and the reality
The latest aid row raises a fundamental challenge for civil servants
04 Mar Foreign Affairs
The latest aid row raises a fundamental challenge for civil servants
Civil servants must be able to separate differences of opinion from ethical challenges
Chris Wormald has once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver fundamental reform
17 Jan Civil Service Reform
Chris Wormald has once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver fundamental reform
Here's what the new cab sec needs to do to build a civil service that’s ready for the challenges of the next decade
Civil servants are hungry for reform, but Starmer's 'tepid bath' jibe has done a lot of damage
10 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Civil servants are hungry for reform, but Starmer's 'tepid bath' jibe has done a lot of damage
Starmer has undermined the leadership of the civil service in the very week that he appointed a new cabinet secretary
Civil service pay: Let's drop the ideology and focus on outcomes
14 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Civil service pay: Let's drop the ideology and focus on outcomes
FDA chief responds to criticism of the union's support for creation of civil service pay review body
Ministerial code: If Starmer is serious about ethics, he needs to go further
08 Nov 2024 HR
Ministerial code: If Starmer is serious about ethics, he needs to go further
The prime minister remains the ultimate decision maker – a far cry from a truly independent process
Clickbait claims about jailing civil servants do not a leader make, Kemi
04 Oct 2024 HR
Clickbait claims about jailing civil servants do not a leader make, Kemi
If you’re running to be leader of a political party with ambitions to lead the country, you have a responsibility to be truthful
Labour has been appalling at defending cronyism row appointments
06 Sep 2024 Civil Service Reform
Labour has been appalling at defending cronyism row appointments
The appointments row raises questions over processes and pay levels
Blaming the 'technocracy' and hiring more spads isn't the solution to political failure
18 Jul 2024 Civil Service Reform
Blaming the 'technocracy' and hiring more spads isn't the solution to political failure
Policy Exchange has shared some bold ideas for reforming the civil service – but what this government needs is clear policy, not ministers messing with recruitment
From London to Llandudno, the country and civil service is crying out for stability and a long-term plan
27 Jun 2024 Local & Devolved
From London to Llandudno, the country and civil service is crying out for stability and a long-term plan
The big challenges all governments face require big thinking, but that requires stability, writes FDA general secretary Dave Penman
We can’t rely on ministers to be 'good chaps' – as this whole sordid costings affair shows
11 Jun 2024 Politics & Constitution
We can’t rely on ministers to be 'good chaps' – as this whole sordid costings affair shows
Reports of an ethical government have been greatly exaggerated
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
17 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
Esther McVey's EDI crackdown is a fake war, against fake enemy from a minister with a fake job title
Dave Penman: What's your issue with the civil service, John?
19 Apr 2024 HR
Dave Penman: What's your issue with the civil service, John?
Cabinet Office minister John Glen's latest attack is both ill-advised and damaging
Under the Rwanda bill, civil servants face an impossible dilemma. The government must put this right
14 Mar 2024 Legal
Under the Rwanda bill, civil servants face an impossible dilemma. The government must put this right
Ministers want to break the law; civil servants have a legal duty to uphold it
We need a constitutional reset but a pick 'n' mix of ideas is not the answer
12 Feb 2024 Civil Service Reform
We need a constitutional reset but a pick 'n' mix of ideas is not the answer
With a cast of heavy-hitters, the UK Governance Project has some good ideas, says Dave Penman, but forget a Royal Commission: ministers need practical suggestions if we are to make real change
Ministers' 60% in-office drive has no bearing on reality
12 Jan 2024 Civil Service Reform
Ministers' 60% in-office drive has no bearing on reality
Government's in-office mandate isn't backed by evidence and is a pitch to a voter base that doesn't understand how modern workplaces work
Johnson and Cummings thought their inherent exceptionalism would prevail over Covid. They failed time and again
06 Nov 2023 Coronavirus
Johnson and Cummings thought their inherent exceptionalism would prevail over Covid. They failed time and again
Lee Cain said Covid was “the wrong crisis" for Boris Johnson’s "skill set”. The phrase will hang round Johnson’s neck like a VW emblem on a Beastie Boy
What did Hunt’s civil service announcement mean? Your guess is as good as mine
05 Oct 2023 Brexit
What did Hunt’s civil service announcement mean? Your guess is as good as mine
With its arbitrary targets and savings based on mythical rates of headcount-growth, civil servants would be forgiven for thinking that the chancellor’s conference speech didn’t represent a serious policy from a serious government
Crumbling concrete intervention proves why ex-senior civil servants shouldn't always stay quiet
08 Sep 2023 Education
Crumbling concrete intervention proves why ex-senior civil servants shouldn't always stay quiet
It takes a great deal for a former permanent secretary to intervene. I believe Jonathan Slater’s intervention on RAAC puts him on the right side of history
Civil servants feel undervalued. The revised pay offer is an opportunity for a reset
15 Jun 2023 HR
Civil servants feel undervalued. The revised pay offer is an opportunity for a reset
The government’s shift in approach on pay is a positive signal, but to really change it must face up to facts and lead – rather than undermine – its officials
The Raab-resignation circus shows we need an independent look at ministerial bullying
25 Apr 2023 Civil Service Reform
The Raab-resignation circus shows we need an independent look at ministerial bullying
The UK government should follow the example of parliament, Scotland and Wales to improve the way complaints of bullying are handled
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
22 Mar 2023 HR
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
FDA general secretary Dave Penman warns Rishi Sunak of the impact of letting standards in public life fall by the wayside
To ensure trust in the Raab investigation, Sunak must prioritise people rather than political control
09 Feb 2023 HR
To ensure trust in the Raab investigation, Sunak must prioritise people rather than political control
Everything must be done to give confidence to those who have made the enormously difficult decision to raise complaints against some of the most powerful people in the country
As fast streamers gear up to strike, ministers must wake up to the damage already done
19 Jan 2023 HR
As fast streamers gear up to strike, ministers must wake up to the damage already done
Ministers may talk about “union barons”, but the disputes are unions responding to their members, not the other way around
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
14 Nov 2022 HR
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
Fast streamers in the FDA union are considering strikes as low pay outweighs the prospect of future promotion.
The mysterious case of Liz Truss and the missing standards adviser
18 Oct 2022 HR
The mysterious case of Liz Truss and the missing standards adviser
Civil servants don’t appreciate having no-one to complain to about wayward ministers
Sacking Tom Scholar shows weakness. Good ministers don't fear robust advice
12 Sep 2022 HR
Sacking Tom Scholar shows weakness. Good ministers don't fear robust advice
The Treasury perm sec's exit bodes ill for both Liz Truss's administration and the principles underpinning a permanent and impartial civil service
There is no one issue that led to Boris Johnson's downfall, but the predominant one is integrity
07 Jul 2022 HR
There is no one issue that led to Boris Johnson's downfall, but the predominant one is integrity
"The disconnect between what Johnson said and did was what ultimately did for him"
Maude's making a comeback – but if Frankie said relax, I'm not sure I would
17 Jun 2022 Civil Service Reform
Maude's making a comeback – but if Frankie said relax, I'm not sure I would
The news that Francis Maude is reportedly conducting a review on civil service governance feels like a government running out of ideas, writes Dave Penman
The Politburo has spoken: unpicking 'plans' for 91,000 civil service job cuts
16 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
The Politburo has spoken: unpicking 'plans' for 91,000 civil service job cuts
Plans to cut one in five civil service jobs are beyond irrational – until you consider the real reason for the announcement
Ministers' ideological obsession, not efficiency or effective government, is driving civil service reform
13 Apr 2022 HR
Ministers' ideological obsession, not efficiency or effective government, is driving civil service reform
Ministers still view officials with suspicion and resentment, and at worst views them as pawns to score a cheap headline
Ministerial hand-wringing over working from home is beyond a joke
22 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
Ministerial hand-wringing over working from home is beyond a joke
While Jacob Rees-Mogg fixates on the numbers of officials who are back at their desks – and hugely damages morale in the process – civil servants are getting on with the job of delivering public services
'Get paid less, work more and have your reputation trashed' isn't a great sell for the senior civil service
18 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
'Get paid less, work more and have your reputation trashed' isn't a great sell for the senior civil service
Competency-based pay could represent some light at the end of the tunnel, but it needs proper funding or it will be just another train
The Queen's portrait row at BEIS reminds us patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
18 Feb 2022
The Queen's portrait row at BEIS reminds us patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
As Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to quash a fake news story, the PM's 18th century namesake has some useful lessons for members of the current cabinet
Dave Penman: Sound ideas and worrying signs from the Sue Gray investigation
01 Feb 2022 HR
Dave Penman: Sound ideas and worrying signs from the Sue Gray investigation
Reviews of civil service code and its counterpart for special advisers suggest Boris Johnson thinks he has found a get-out-of-jail card on Partygate