Dave Penman

"The civil service does have a real and long documented problem with attracting working class talent".

Speaking to Times Radio FDA National Officer Robert Eagleton discussed planned changes to the civil service summer internship.

The civil service has made a lot of progress in improving its diversity, but as I told @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social it has further to go, particularly on socioeconomic backgrounds.

That requires a range of tactics, these changes to the summer internship programme aren't enough in isolation.

As I told @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, attempts - including changes to the summer internships - to increase the number of working class people entering the civil service is welcome, it is also about improving progression up through civil service grades.

I’m pleased that the government have introduced the Ethics and Integrity Commission, but it also an opportunity missed. It’s not the acronym that matters – it’s the powers that go with it.

My piece for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social on the new Ethics and Integrity Commission.

Whatever the motivation, it’s clear the new guidance on speaking at public events for civil servants is unworkable and misjudged. Grateful to @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for curating this letter and proud to be one of the signatories.

That’s why it’s disappointing the government won’t commit to a more robust and independent process for holding ministers and the PM to account under the Ministerial Code. We saw under Johnson what happens when all roads lead to the PM on standards.

Future proofing standards isn’t easy but that shouldn’t stop you trying. I don’t doubt that the Prime Minister has a strong moral compass and ethical code, but as we’ve seen not all do.

But that only works if you can be shamed into action, and with Johnson he couldn’t - not even when ignoring recommendations from his ethics adviser and having them resign as a result.

As Nick Thomas-Symonds MP confirmed in answer to my question today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference on the Nolan Principles, the govt believes visibility is the key to ensuring future prime ministers do the right thing when it comes to the Ministerial Code.

The PM is the most senior public leader in the country and how they behave sets the tone. By creating an ethics and integrity commission, this government would be demonstrating that it's prepared to hold itself to account.

Good to take part in @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel session asking 'How can politicians demonstrate ethical leadership?' today, for their Nolan Principles at 30 event. As I told @timdurrant.bsky.social civil servants don't expect ministers to follow their advice but they should expect respect.

Photo of Prospect Senior Deputy General Secretary Sue Ferns OBE

Not every honour feels deserved, but there can be no doubt that @FernsSue, Senior Deputy General Secretary @ProspectUnion, fully deserves her OBE. She always adds substance and wisdom to any debate. A committed, pragmatic trade unionist to her core and a lovely person to boot.

Civil service strategic workforce plan delay 'disappointing' – union chief Civil servants left 'with more questions than answers' as to how Spending Review cuts are to be implemented, FDA head says

It’s disappointing to see that the civil service strategic workforce plan, promised with the Spending Review, will now not be published until later this year.

As I said to @civilserviceworld.bsky.social , this lack of detail leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.

FDA press release: ‘Disappointing’ lack of workforce plan leaves more questions than answers over spending review cuts, says FDA

The Chancellor’s commitments need to match the resources available within public services.

That’s why it’s disappointing to see the strategic workforce plan, promised with today’s Spending Review, won’t be published until later this year. This leaves civil servants with more questions than answers.

A spending round is all about priorities.

You can't just look at one side of the equation on numbers, those have to match what government's commitments are. The civil service needs a clear plan on how it will deliver the government's programme with the resources it's allocated.

‘Regrettable losses’ in senior civil service jump to 83% Senior Salaries Review Body warns “excessive churn means too many posts are occupied by individuals still building their expertise and key networks...

Retaining - as well as recruiting - talent is key to any organisation’s success, not high churn rates and uncompetitive pay. If the government wants to transform public services it must move away from a hand-to-mouth approach and deliver a new long-term strategy on pay.

As I told @lewisgoodall.com, much like the spending rounds for central government, cutting public spending and public services is about political priorities. There are no mythical billions to be saved just by doing things differently.

As I told Alex Phillips, the civil service needs stability and a plan that matches commitments to resources. That way we will get a slimmed down, more efficient and more effective civil service.

One in 10 UK civil service jobs facing axe About 50,000 Whitehall posts set to be cut in ‘brutal’ public spending review, officials say

As I told @georgewparker.bsky.social, successive governments may have spent a great deal of energy talking about cuts, yet in reality they piled promises on top of promises. The number of civil servants had to grow to try and match those political commitments.

www.ft.com/content/1311...

Paul Nowak singing and playing guitar at the Betsey Trotwood pub

Ella Spencer singing and playing the banjo at the Betsey Trotwood pub

He’s not quite as good a musician as he is a trade union leader, but it’s close! Great to hear @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social play at The Betsy Trotwood with other amazing musicians, including the haunting voice of Ella Spencer, and who’s more upbeat than @ianprowse.bsky.social & Nico

As I told @tomswarbrick.bsky.social, while it is welcome to have a government that accepts independent pay body recommendations, what we really need is a long term plan to address systemic pay issues.

Should public sector pensions be less generous? The attractive defined benefit schemes are a huge expense for the government — we get opposing views on whether the system needs a rethink

We all want improvements to public services. A civil service that can attract the right skills is essential to that. Cutting the pension scheme will only make that harder. My opinion piece for @thetimes.com.

www.thetimes.com/business-mon...

Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz, Maria Miklińska, Jacek Kraj, Łukasz Kuna & Magdalena Chojnowska from the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) meet with FDA General Secretary Dave Penman

It was great to meet Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz, Maria Miklińska, Jacek Kraj, Łukasz Kuna & Magdalena Chojnowska from the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) on the many shared challenges in growing our unions and responding to the under investment in public services.

Day 2 in Warsaw and I’m seeing UK plc in action at the UK-Polish Airport Development Forum. Poland is expanding its airport capacity significantly and the embassy has a key role in supporting UK businesses compete and win contracts, particularly in state owned sectors.

Few trade unions have a history as significant as Solidarność, so it was an honour to meet their Deputy President Bartłomiej Mickiewicz to talk about the challenges faced by trade unions in Poland and in particular the public sector.

What strikes you immediately is the breadth of issues the Embassy has to deal with. It really is a microcosm of govt. security, economic growth, law and order, customs and broader international relations with a key European & NATO ally. (4/4)

It’s also an economy on the up. 2/3 of those refugees are working in Poland, yet it still has the second lowest unemployment rate in Europe. A remarkable economic transition in a little over two decades. (3/4)

Poland faces some extraordinary challenges following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Not only is it at the forefront of NATO’s eastern flank, but has accommodated over 1m Ukrainian refugees. (2/4)

Representing the UK’s interests across the world is a vital and complex task. To help understand the challenges I’m meeting with FCDO & other govt department civil servants at our Embassy in Warsaw. (1/4)

Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Georgia Gould tells our conference: “The FDA has been a source of advice, partnership and… robust challenge.”