Will the corruption ever end? Gavin Williamson resigns

Incidentally, aides aren't civil servants. They're special advisors and are appointed by ministers because they know that the aides will do the research for them, while they're in charge. They're very loyal to their ministers. Civil servants have detailed specialist knowledge that ministers don't have when they take on a new portfolio. It's their job to let politicians know if plans are unworkable or need adjusting.

Well exactly whose throat was meant to be split? I am confused!

A Ministry of Defence Civil Servant he took a dislike to.

Or wouldn't do what he wanted...

It really doesn’t matter how ‘exasperated at an aide or civil servant ronib. Individuals who can’t control their temper and tell others to slit their throats have no place in public service.
Dickens, your post about the need to avoid ‘woke’ and speak strongly to ‘subordinates to get things done’ could ge taken from the rhetoric of Republicans in the USA
Bullying is bullying, it’s never good people management

In a long working career, including years as a manager, I had various staff working for me, who nearly drove me to drink, but I never at any time did I abuse them verbally, or write anything I might have any reason to regret.

in fact managers who did shout and bully were generally despised.

Iam64

It really doesn’t matter how ‘exasperated at an aide or civil servant ronib. Individuals who can’t control their temper and tell others to slit their throats have no place in public service.
Dickens, your post about the need to avoid ‘woke’ and speak strongly to ‘subordinates to get things done’ could ge taken from the rhetoric of Republicans in the USA
Bullying is bullying, it’s never good people management

Well I rather think half current members of Parliament behave and speak in quite extraordinary ways during televised debates. It can appear to be unacceptable behaviour and out of step with general business practices.
I am not justifying the actions of Gavin Williamson rather asking what tensions exist in the corridors of power.

It’s a culture ronib imo, where behaviour that wouldn’t be acceptable in most workplaces, becomes ok. Like sending out for a new fridge to hold essential alcohol,

Bet they’ll never repeat ‘the thick of it’ -
Haha

ronib I come from a family where a number of members have worked in the "corridors of power". The son of a friend worked for years for a current government minister. I've been told that it's not quite like the impression the public has. The majority of senior civil servants are far from "woke". Special advisors are different because they tend to be of the same political persuasion as the government in power.

Civil servants in particular are professionals with detailed, in- depth knowledge of specific areas. They know what the issues are in delivering public services, so if a minister comes along and says he/she wants to do something which is unworkable, it's the civil servants' duty to point out the issues. Politicians sometimes over-promise to win votes without considering practicalities and resourcing. They then land the problem with civil servants who can't work miracles. Gavin Williamson seems to have thought that bullying could get the job done.

PS. Williamson might still have some supporters, but I bet none of them are involved in education. He made an absolute pig's ear of his brief.

Kandinsky

Bet they’ll never repeat ‘the thick of it’ -
Haha

I think it was the first episode in 2005 that introduced the idea of the national spare room database. In 2012 the government introduced the bedroom tax

Iam64

It really doesn’t matter how ‘exasperated at an aide or civil servant ronib. Individuals who can’t control their temper and tell others to slit their throats have no place in public service.
Dickens, your post about the need to avoid ‘woke’ and speak strongly to ‘subordinates to get things done’ could ge taken from the rhetoric of Republicans in the USA
Bullying is bullying, it’s never good people management

Yes, Iam64 I quite agree.

We seem to be catching the same fever (and fervour) of the Trumplicans.

British values certainly have changed over the last decade or so, we appear to be more 'officially' tolerant of bullying.

GW used / uses the language of the bully. Nasty piece of work IMO. And totally unprofessional to boot.

Thinking of your recent bereavement - life must feel so very different now. x

Much more important, is why Suella Braverman was re-appointed? And why she has not been sacked since.

We know the ERG is behind this, but how, why? Something is very seriously fishy here. Blackmail? Worse? One day it will come out, and I am sure it is not going to be pretty (pun not intended!).

I think we know why Braverman was reappointed though Fleurpepper, she’s the candidate of the far right/ERG so is a sop to their priorities to keep them behaving whilst Sunak leads. Not saying I agree with her appointment, she should be gone, but that’s why she’s there, I’m not sure that’s fishy.
I’ve yet to hear a good explanation of why Williamson was there, other than ‘he knows too much’. What though?

Civil servants in particular are professionals with detailed, in- depth knowledge of specific areas. They know what the issues are in delivering public services, so if a minister comes along and says he/she wants to do something which is unworkable, it's the civil servants' duty to point out the issues. Politicians sometimes over-promise to win votes without considering practicalities and resourcing. They then land the problem with civil servants who can't work miracles.

That was very much the gist of one of my first politics lectures at uni. The theme was, iirc, Where does power lie in government? The lecturer had a particular interest in minister/civil servant relationships as he'd been a researcher on the Fulton Report in the 1960s.

He did point out that there could be tension between a minister and their civil servants when a minister encounters unpalatable advice on the practicalities of their policy initiatives.. (Not that that in any way justifies ministerial bullying)

PS. Williamson might still have some supporters, but I bet none of them are involved in education. He made an absolute pig's ear of his brief.

Of course, some MPs are given ministries in which they have very little interest or knowledge about. It's possible that the Williamson/Dfe pairing was one of those situations....

Interesting point Maisie D which makes me think that Uk political organisation is so ‘last century’ ….

Good riddance. Braverman next?

Blossoming

I’m waiting for him to tell us where the bodies are buried.

Me too, Blossoming

Casdon

I think we know why Braverman was reappointed though Fleurpepper, she’s the candidate of the far right/ERG so is a sop to their priorities to keep them behaving whilst Sunak leads. Not saying I agree with her appointment, she should be gone, but that’s why she’s there, I’m not sure that’s fishy.
I’ve yet to hear a good explanation of why Williamson was there, other than ‘he knows too much’. What though?

It is fishy because the ERG is a secret society, with aims which are not declared, about from being anti EU. They are wagging the dog with a dangerous tail. So we know why she was re-appointed, to satisfy them. But we don't know what pressure was applied and how. What is truly fishy is that such a secret society pulls the strings and rings the bells. Fishy on speed!

🎥 Sadly it’s turned into ’the shitshow’ … not sure whether it’s a disaster movie or a comedy … daily doom and gloom!
Everywhere is chaos and we are all paying the price of the generational incompetence - too many ego’s, ignorance and working for themselves rather than for the people they are supposed to serve! ~Us!
It’s no wonder we are in the mess we are.
Looking to other countries, it’s hard to find a government doing it right?
🫣 At least we won’t be invaded by alien forces … definitely be a red flag planet - one to swerve!

I despair sometimes at the language used on some of these posts. They are similar to trolling on other social network sites when we start calling individuals “Cruella” and such like. This site should be better than that!

Frank Spencer may have been rather stupid, but he was kind and generous. Williamson is a rather nasty piece of goods.

Perhaps he will end up in next year's jungle after a lot of coaching on how to creep back into public favour.

Wyllow3

Actually, I think it is corrupt to bully. Intimidation to get your way is corrupt imo.

Agree.

grannyscott

I despair sometimes at the language used on some of these posts. They are similar to trolling on other social network sites when we start calling individuals “Cruella” and such like. This site should be better than that!

Braverman expressed some very harsh and misguided opinions about some of the poorest and most vulnerable people so I don’t think the name is in the extreme at all.

It is fishy because the ERG is a secret society, with aims which are not declared, about from being anti EU. They are wagging the dog with a dangerous tail. So we know why she was re-appointed, to satisfy them. But we don't know what pressure was applied and how. What is truly fishy is that such a secret society pulls the strings and rings the bells. Fishy on speed!

Having some shadowy organisation in the background pulling strings is not the way to run an open and transparent democracy.

We should know who these people are and what are their aims.