Public service reform
Matt Hancock vows to fight low pay, but fails to emphasise the importance of low inflation
Matt Hancock, the business and skills minister, addressed the Resolution Foundation’s low pay debate this morning, an indication of how seriously the Tories are taking the rising cost of living.… Continue reading
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Jeremy Hunt’s NHS Mandate will make the service even more cumbersome
Earlier this week my wife called to make a GP appointment for our daughter, who has been experiencing some worrying tummy pains. Middle of next week she was told, earliest.… Continue reading
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Tories swing into action in Corby, at last
The Corby by-election campaign is warming up, with the Tories selecting Christine Emmett as their candidate. Emmett is a local woman who lives in neighbouring Rutland. She runs her own… Continue reading
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Winsor — the outsider
In nominating the lawyer and former rail regulator Tom Winsor as her choice to be the next chief inspector of constabulary, the home secretary has stoked more discontent among the… Continue reading
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Choice — easy to talk about, a slog to deliver
The birth of the White Paper on public service reform was a tortuous business — but, now it’s been out for several months, the government is keen to make the… Continue reading
20 CommentsGove knows the importance of adoption
The coalition’s work on adoption is one of its more impressive bits of public service reform. It starts from the right premise, that adoption is vastly preferable to children being… Continue reading
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When failure actually counts as success
Michael Gove’s latest prognosis for schools was delivered at a lunch in Westminster yesterday, but it’s important enough to repeat the morning after. The Independent has a full report here,… Continue reading
15 CommentsLabour’s late to the policemens’ ball
Labour has today unveiled a panel of experts to consider the future of British policing. The review, chaired by the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens, will report by spring… Continue reading
21 CommentsBack to square one
Benedict Brogan has some bad news from the engine room of public service reform. ‘I’m told Downing Street is starting all over again on public service reform. Will Cavendish, one… Continue reading
19 CommentsLansley’s real fight
Yesterday was a rare good day for Andrew Lansley: the Health Bill survived its trial in the House of Lords. But there are no fanfares in this morning’s press for the… Continue reading
13 CommentsGove: the Tories are the party of state schooling
Apologies for my recent, extended absence, CoffeeHousers — Vietnam and my immune system just didn’t get on. But I’m back now, and firmly embedded in Manchester, where Michael Gove has… Continue reading
14 CommentsGearing up for the Tories
Westminster is preparing for the Tory conference and Ben Brogan reports that a confident mood pervades the blue camp. The positive briefings have begun. The Guardian reveals that the speed… Continue reading
21 CommentsExploiting a conservative moment
Away from the resurrection of David Miliband, other Labour modernisers convened at the Progress rally earlier this evening. These weren’t just any old party hacks; they were grandees: Douglas Alexander,… Continue reading
10 CommentsCorporatism, comms and civil servants
David Cameron renewed his calls for global action for growth last night and it seems that the work begins at home. The Times reports (£) that 50 of Britain’s largest… Continue reading
25 CommentsCameron’s foreign frustrations
David Cameron’s much trailed speech to the UN is tinged with frustration. He will say, “You can sign every human rights declaration in the world but if you stand by and… Continue reading
18 CommentsClegg’s chance to lead by example
Nick Clegg will deliver his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat conference later this afternoon. It has been substantially trailed this morning, despite competing for airtime with Nick Robinson’s story… Continue reading
4 CommentsClegg wants to communicate
Communication, communication, communication: that appears to be Nick Clegg’s new political mantra. Speaking to the Today programme earlier this morning, the Lib Dem leader said: "If there is a legitimate… Continue reading
6 CommentsTime to recognise that the hospital is dead
For many years, it has been Government policy to move healthcare out of hospitals and into community units and homes, and concentrate specialist surgeries in centres of clinical excellence. This… Continue reading
19 CommentsBernard Hogan-Howe named as new Met commissioner
Theresa May has named Bernard Hogan-Howe as the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Hogan-Howe was the early front-runner and a finalist for the role last time round. He is apparently highly respected… Continue reading
26 CommentsThe Swedish case for school profits
Should state schools be able to make a profit? We asked this of you on our Coffee House poll this week. 71 per cent of you said yes, and with… Continue reading
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