Dominic Cummings has been seen as a controversial and divisive figure, but as with so many people at the political extremes, significant parts of his analysis can be agreed upon by disparate factions across the political spectrum.
In this special episode we unpick the good and the less good from this lauded and demonised character, assess the reality he found himself confronted with and also assess where he went wrong. His intent to improve significantly the capacity of central government to produce meaningful change throughout Britain has been felt by many past radicals in and around no 10.
And we have the unexpected good fortune to have a co-presenter – Ed Straw – who has been deeply involved in an attempt to achieve the same aims as Dominic Cummings – civil service reform. And who can spell out in clear terms why, regardless of his wit, intelligence and muscle, he was never going to succeed in reforming the government machine.
Why does the Civil Service need reform? What might be the best way to achieve it? Why was Cummings’ attempt more on less doomed from the outset? Indeed, why have all 5 attempts, over 5 decades, at civil service reform – failed? Is this a symptom of something else?
Find out in this hastily assembled episode, dense with anecdote, comparison and analysis.
Links
The actual control room – Chile 1973: “Cybersyn”
Stafford Beer “The Godfather of systems thinking”
Salvador Allende, Communist president of Chile
Ed’s 2004 report, adopted by Tony Blair – The Dead Generalist
The Thick of It – Available on Netflix, or here are some “deleted scenes”
Yes Prime Minister – also on Netflix, I think – On The State of Education
Also available to listen to on
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