Inquisitive laid back, whisky & craft beer, traveling, hiker, gig goer Dad. Adopted by Manchester. Currently heading up local strategic transport policy.
I genuinely don't understand what happens to people when they enter Government. Starmer has some really smart people around him. But how do grown adults sit in a room and say "We need to communicate change" then say with the next breath "Let's wheel out Harriet and Gordon".
The government's official line this morning is that the appointment of Mandelson despite the fact he failed to clear vetting is a ***'failure of state'***
I'm not sure that's right. On any level - even taking the government's position at face value - this is a failure of individuals
There is the failure of Robbins and other senior officials in the foreign office to inform No 10 about the fact that he had failed to clear vetting
There is the failure of Number 10 and the prime minister to establish the basic facts over a period of many, many months to such an extent that he made public statements that were untrue
It's always easier in situations like this to blame systems, to talk in abstract terms. But it ultimately comes down to individuals making bad decisions
Robbins was sacked following at least one call with PM y’day evening. But I picked up quite a bit of disquiet in Whitehall over this last night.
One ally of Robbins told me it was ‘awful treatment of a v good public servant’ Another former senior mandarin told me it didn’t make sense, arguing that if someone failed vetting, the first thing a perm sec would do is “share that with their political masters”.
Robbins has been summoned to the FA committee to explain why he told MPs in Sept Mandelson’s trying had ‘concluded with DV clearance being granted’. So many Qs to answer in all of this…
Not sure why people seem surprised with PM’s ‘admission’ at #PMQs he knew about Mandelson’s post-conviction relationship with Epstein incl staying at his flat.
Everyone knew this. It was a matter of public record. Of course it was on vetting docs.
The PM knew and took the risk.
1.Hello
2.Acquiesce
3.Morning Glory
4.Some Might Say
5.Bring ItOnDown
6.Cigs&Alcohol
7.FadeAway
8.Supersonic
9.RollwithIt
https://t.co/mmWURRkEHL Tonight
11.Half The World Away
12.Little By Little
13.D'youKnowWhat I Mean?
14.Stand By Me
#Oasis#oasislive25
https://t.co/pMLakOVeMW
#BBCDebate@bbclaurak@ChrisMasonBBC this is utterly poor and terrible sound quality with reverberation at the venue. Can't focus on this anymore. Switching off.
Great to welcome @alexhynes to the team at @transportgovuk today.
Having previously led Scotland's Railway, Alex has huge experience and enthusiasm for the sector, and I look forward to working closely with him as we help industry deliver for passengers and freight.
The whole William Wragg saga is yet another example of poor discipline across a running scared government that's imploding on itself. If someone committed such a data breach, sharing personal contact details of colleagues in any other employment setting they'd be out....