Alex Thomas
Programme Director
Alex's recent work
The parties should focus on substance as well as sales ahead of the election
Election fever is hotting up in the aftermath of the local elections.
Liz Truss blaming the deep state is an excuse for failure
Liz Truss's deep state delusions are undermining any serious argument she might make.
The PCS challenge on arms sales to Israel shows the strengths and limits of civil service unions
Civil service unions have a particular responsibility to show restraint on political activity.
All work
Improving ethical standards in government
Greensill, and subsequent revelations on relations between private sector interests and the government, have exposed serious weaknesses in the rules o
Finding the right skills for the civil service
What skills the civil service has and those it needs to meet the demands of government in the coming years.
Responding to shocks: 10 lessons for government
10 lessons that government should learn from its handling of the Covid crisis.
The government’s integrated review describes but does not resolve foreign policy tensions
In implementing the “integrated review” of security, defence, development and foreign policy, the government will need to resolve tensions
Gaps in policy, not just operational failings, are the problem with Covid test and trace
However much the government spends on test and trace, the cash cannot make up for gaps in policy
Investigating the Home Office’s criminal records blunder can improve government accountability
The Home Office’s deletion of important criminal records should not have happened
Civil Service Code
The Civil Service Code outlines the values and standards of behaviour that civil servants are expected to follow.
The centre of government should do more to help the prime minister
Sir Michael Barber should prioritise strengthening No.10 and the Cabinet Office
The heart of the problem: a weak centre is undermining the UK government
The effectiveness of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office and ways to improve how they work.
The government will regret relaxing the Covid rules over Christmas
owever tempted Boris Johnson is to fudge Christmas Covid restrictions, this is a judgement call he cannot duck