Dave Penman

Great to hear John O'Dowd MLA, Minister of Finance in the Northern Ireland Executive, with responsibility for the NICS, address the FDA Northern Ireland Conference on the scale of the fiscal challenge in NI and need for a fairer financial settlement combined with transformation of public services.

As a told the @telegraph.co.uk, a lot of the criticism aimed at Romeo are about attributes that would be seen as a compliment if used to describe a man, such as wanting a profile or being ambitious. Some of the language is underlined by misogyny.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

Another cabinet secretary gone – and still no lessons learned The treatment of Chris Wormald isn’t just reprehensible, argues FDA general secretary Dave Penman – it shows ministers have learned nothing from th...

The briefing has to stop. Plausible deniability is not good enough and it never was. Only the prime minister can stop what is ultimately done in his name.

My latest column for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

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My response to today's announcement of Sir Chris Wormald's departure as Cabinet Secretary.

Politicians have a responsibility to protect the impartiality of the civil service and that constitutional settlement. It is disappointing this government is yet to learn the lessons from the Cummings era and has not taken that responsibility seriously.

Civil servants can't publicly defend themselves, which Lord MacDonald knows from his professional experience. I think his intervention last night was poor judgement.

As I told World at One, this is no way to run a country. The briefing and speculation about the Cabinet Secretary not only undermines the individual and the office of Cabinet Secretary, but has a chilling effect across the entire civil service.

Press release from FDA Union. “Farcical” to wait until 2030 to make decision on restoration and renewal of parliament, says FDA Responding to the latest publication of UK Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal Board, Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman said: “It is farcical that a decision has not already been reached. The Restoration and Renewal Programme was established in 2013 and MPs were first asked to consider options and make recommendations in 2015. “Waiting until 2030 to make the decision on enhanced maintenance versus a full decant of the parliamentary estate is not a viable option. “Over a decade has already passed. The facts have not changed. Independent reports and parliamentary staff agree - a full decant of the estate is the safest, quickest, and most cost-effective way to make parliament safe. Every other measure fails to adequately address safety and security concerns. “The only thing that has changed is the increased costs and danger. Since 2015, costs have risen from £3.8 billion to £15.6 billion as construction prices have increased, the building falls further into disrepair, and we continue to spend £75.9 million a year just on maintenance. “In the last decade there has also been 36 fire incidents, 12 asbestos incidents, and 19 stonemasonry incidents. “No more reports, no more commissions, no more dithering and delaying. Parliamentary leaders must now take an urgent position on the delivery approach and choose a full decant of the estate. “The health and safety of members, staff, and visitors take precedence. We cannot wait for a catastrophic incident to focus minds and make the decision for us.”

No more reports, no more commissions, no more dithering and delaying. We need a decision on the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminister now.

Waiting any longer will only continue to increase the costs and the danger posed.

Darren Jones showed he is a thoughtful minister – this government must now show it can address the legitimate concerns of voters Time will tell on Jones' reform plans, but it's good to see a minister acknowledge complex challenges head on and publicly

Jones is right, blaming ‘the blob’ makes you a rubbish minister. But can he convince civil servants they won’t be blamed by ministers for taking the risks the govt is pushing for?

My latest for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

Following his speech today on modernising Whitehall, I asked
@darrenpjones.bsky.social how government can convince civil servants, who have too often been scapegoated by politicians, to take risks without knowing they won’t get quickly blamed by ministers when those risks don’t work out.

At @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's annual conference I asked Mel Stride how, when he won’t know the state of public services in 2029, the health of the economy or even the programme his own govt would have if elected - he knows how many civil servants will be needed then.

At today’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference, I asked @darrenpjones.bsky.social how he responds to concerns about the fragmentation of responsibilities, including changes to his own role, preventing civil service reform.

At @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's annual conference, I asked Wes Streeting what he is doing to give staff in the NHS and civil service the support and stability they need to deliver public services and drive efficiencies whilst navigating the uncertainties of major organisational restructures.

Tories pledge to sack underperforming civil servants Sir Mel Stride will promise his party plans to no longer tolerate mediocrity in Whitehall

Transforming public services will not happen by trotting out tired old tropes about the civil service.

This is not the approach of a serious govt, its an intellectually corrupt process designed to deliver a headline not efficient or effective public services.

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

As I told @gbnewsonline.bsky.social, reports of a 'mass exodus' of civil servants if Reform come into power need to be taken with a pinch of salt - chatter in Westminster watering holes isn't representative of the vast majority of civil servants working to deliver public services across the country.

After reports of civil service over-regulation & obstruction stopping Labour delivering, I told @rowenamason.bsky.social the civil service didn’t put the system in place, ministers did & it’s entirely within govt’s power to change it. But it can only change if there’s strong political will to do so.

As I told @civilserviceworld.bsky.social, people working together and interacting in person is better, but a mandate is too blunt a tool for achieving this – it needs to be applied with sensitivity and nuance. The failure to recognise this builds resentment.

Unions slam Reform UK plans to oust perm secs and cut 68,500 jobs Party announces more details of civil service reform policies including weakening pensions in favour of higher bonuses, increasing office working a...

As I told @civilserviceworld.bsky.social giving ministers more authority to dismiss the people that advise them will not deliver better government. It will lead to yes-men and chaos as entire leadership teams change with every ministerial reshuffle.

www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

"You can have a bigger or smaller civil service but your plans have got to have a bit of coherence... I think that was the bit missing"

@fdagensec.bsky.social on Reform UK's announcement on civil service reform.

Reform UK pledges to cut 68,500 civil service jobs Danny Kruger says Whitehall machine is ‘overstaffed and badly led’

“Reform UK talk about utilising AI but want massive cuts in key areas of government that drive efficiency and effective use of resources, including digital, engineering, project management and commercial" - @fdagensec.bsky.social tells @financialtimes.com

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Press release from the FDA Union responding to Reform UK's plans for the civil service announced this morning by Danny Kruger

This morning we had our first glimpse of the detail of Reform UK's plans for the civil service.

However, the idea you can slash swathes of “corporate functions” while protecting front line services in the likes of HMRC, the Border Force, and prison service is unrealistic.

As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, my hope is that this legislation will create better workplaces. Letting employees know they have a right to join a union & be represented isn't pro-union, it's just factual. It's about your rights at work & that's really important for employees.

Member Iain Campbell accepting the FDA’s highly commended award for best campaign communication for ARC’s Funding the Nation.

FDA’s entry for Funding the Nation, highly commended for best campaign communication at the 2025 TUC Communications Awards

It’s not often a campaign ticks all the boxes. Strong evidence base, great member engagement and influencing a new government’s policy. Could not be prouder of the FDA team behind Funding the Nation - our superb reps and talented staff working together to deliver real change.

As I told @cathynewman.bsky.social, I want to see the Employment Rights Bill passed and the improvements enacted in a wide range of areas from sick pay to union access to workplaces. This is a fair compromise on unfair dismissal if it gets this Bill through the Lords.

St Andrew’s cross made up of Scotland football players and their manager, with the slogan ‘We’ll be coming 26’

Well. That was a match. At last Scotland’s renowned Samba soccer gets the credit it deserves. We’ll be coming 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It was a pleasure to meet with Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination in the Pakistan Govt & his team, looking at civil service reform & lessons that can be learnt from the UK experience.

If you’re in Fylde View come down and say hi - in reception room all day, and lunchtime in room A3.05.

A race to the bottom on pensions will only worsen the crisis in our public services, with the civil service already unable to compete on attracting & retaining talent.

Reforming public services takes investment in people, skills & tech, which Reform need to recognise if serious about governing.

As I told @christopherhope.bsky.social, government works well when civil servants are there to offer ministers impartial, evidence-based advice. That only works if they are hired based on what they know, rather than what they believe.

Downing Street ‘viper’s nest’ causes civil service dismay Briefings against cabinet secretary Chris Wormald point to infighting at heart of Starmer government

Scapegoating the civil service didn’t work as a strategy for the last government and it won’t work for this one.

As I told @georgewparker.bsky.social anonymous briefings against the Cabinet Secretary are always self-deafting for governments.
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