Rob

@ukcivilservice | Personal comments only.

[Rob @PolicyRob]

Boiling frog

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

I heard a lovely anecdote today about Sir Alex Younger, the former head of MI6, who has died at the age of 62.
Around the time the James Bond film “Spectre” was coming out, there was a private viewing at MI6’s HQ in Vauxhall with some of the production team and actors, including Ralph Fiennes.
Alex Younger compared the event, which included an opportunity for members of the audience (who were largely real life spies) to quiz the actors and producers.
One person asked Ralph Fiennes: Who was your favourite Bond?
He gave an answer about how they were all good, but his favourite was Daniel Craig. The rest of the team said similar.
Then Alex threw the question back to the person in the audience who had posed it, asking them who their favourite Bond was.
But before this person had time to give an answer, someone else in the audience shouted out: “You, sir!”

The individual (a former diplomat) who shared this story with me said it was one of so many examples of how admired, liked and respected Alex was by his colleagues.

“He was one of the best chiefs”.

[Yvette Cooper @YvetteCooperMP]

The country owes Sir Alex Younger an enormous debt of gratitude for his lifetime of dedicated service. His outstanding leadership, steadiness and integrity kept us all safe and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his friends at this incredibly difficult time.

[David Cameron @David_Cameron]

This terrible news has really knocked me for six. Alex Younger was a truly outstanding Head of MI6 during my time as PM and an exemplary public servant. He has been taken from us far too soon.

Due to the nature of their work, few fully understand the service and sacrifice made by those working in our intelligence and security services - but be in no doubt, Alex made our country a safer place and we all owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for that.

I had the privilege to continue working with Alex and to remain good friends after we both left office; I will miss him dreadfully. He was a remarkable man - tremendously knowledgable and insightful, but also such fantastic company and fun to be with. Kind, thoughtful; a good man in every sense.

At a time when our world is more confrontational, volatile and, frankly, dangerous, his expertise and great wisdom will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and his family at this sad time.

https://t.co/jbGkmTjfUr

[Dan Jarvis MP @DanJarvisMBE]

MI5 and Five Eyes have exposed the tactics China use to secure sensitive information.

I urge all govt and military personnel to read the NPSA advice and be vigilant.

We will never tolerate activity which threatens our national security.

https://t.co/nQ31ifVAjL

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@AndrewKenyon6 🐿️

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@AndrewKenyon6 Fair winds and following seas to our fallen. 🫡

[Rob @PolicyRob]

Stand down. Rest easy. A devastating loss.

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Henry Nowak’s family have lost their son and brother in the most appalling circumstances.

Nigel Farage is exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division.

It’s completely unforgivable.

[Rob @PolicyRob]

Steve 'barefoot warrior' Hilton.

Good grief.

https://t.co/2pEPx7peKL

[Shabana Mahmood MP @ShabanaMahmood]

The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable.

The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.

There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.

I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@Shippers999 It's available on YouTube if you're interested.

https://t.co/ArjeOAzUnT

[Rob @PolicyRob]

Listening to the live @spectator discussion about 'Enoch Powell’s complicated legacy' with @michaelgove and Simon Heffer. Fascinating stuff.

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@Shippers999 Yep, they just mentioned that at the end. It was a fascinating discussion.

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@AndrewKenyon6 🫡

[Rob @PolicyRob]

I couldn't not help laughing at this crackadoodle.

[Danny Shaw @DannyShawNews]

On the murder of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Singh Digwa, it is worth reading this paragraph, below, of Judge William Mousley KC's sentencing remarks.

While we await the investigation, the judge probably has the most complete view of what happened - and the impact of Digwa's lies:

[Rob @PolicyRob]

☕🫡 #AllezHop

[Rob @PolicyRob]

@UK_Daniel_Card Gnocchi with homemade tomato, bacon, mushroom, onion and pepper sauce (dash of red wine 😁) topped with parmesan. 🤤