James Kemp
@jamesmkemp.bsky.social
Public servant, delivering change mostly. Have worked in many departments. Based in Scotland. #GovPDC Explorer Scout Leader, sometimes gamer & writer
Well, the government has a seven page memo on devolution and England and... there is a lot in there! Will add some thoughts, but the most striking thing is the pace. A lot of the serious reforms are due to come in April 2028 - this is not a gradual roadmap! www.gov.uk/government/p...
Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement
This publication sets out this government's plan to fundamentally rewire the state by shifting power, funding and accountability from Whitehall to local leaders
gov.uk
Spent some of last weekend doing archeology (as a grunt) at House of Dun looking for a medieval castle
I have words on the "I only use AI for...." fallacy. bsky.app/profile/drsu...
Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)@drsurekhadavies.bsky.social · last wk.No, it's not okay to use genAI for research- or writing-adjacent activities. Those actions are also part of writing and thinking and research! Don't fall for the con of genAI boosters. Hang onto your humanity. 2/ buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
I have blogged! The State of the Present: Andy Burnham’s new government or - Why the abolition of DSIT is baffling and bad - Why I'm worried about what it means for civil service reform - Some opportunities for the new government around data, digital, open government medium.com/state-of-the...
The State of the Present: Andy Burnham’s new government
In common with lots of other policy people in recent weeks, I’ve been reading Head North, the (very readable) book by new Prime Minister…
medium.com
50% off hardback of mine and @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social "Folklore: A Journey Through the Past and Present"! Only until 9 July. The paperback edition is out in September. Your choice!
Seems to be a lot of selective memory in UK's right-wing newspapers about schools not closing during the 1976 heatwave. I just checked and, yes, many schools did close early as well as allow parents to "keep their children at home if they wish". This clipping from London Evening News, 29 June 1976
At some point this Government will come to its moral senses and realise that retrospectively denying people settled status/citizenship is wrong. With Reform on the horizon that moral imperative is even more urgent. It should be encouraging people to become citizens. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keir Starmer and home secretary in row over minister's future
Shabana Mahmood believes Mike Tapp should be sacked for writing an article but No 10 say he remains in post.
bbc.co.uk
27°C here in Forfar today, which compared to the Red Weather Warnings down south doesn't seem that warm. However our record high is 29°C, so it's very warm for here. Do stay in the shade where there's a breeze if you can. Hydrate loads too.
Currently reading Silence of the Gods by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social . I'm just getting into it but it's great so far. Weirdly, I got it as a like new former Brooklyn library book via Thriftbooks. Hopefully I'm not contributing to illicit library theft
Crossing the Silvery Tay on my way to Civil Service Live in Edinburgh! Looking forward to an interesting day.
I note that this is true about many other things as well, from food to clothing colors to styles of art to....
Indie Book Spotlight@bookspotlight.bsky.social · 2mo agoI am once again begging folks to understand the difference between ‘I don’t like this’ and ‘Nobody likes this’. You are not the main character of the world. Readers and authors have different tastes. You are not the arbiter of what authors should and should not put into books.
Cached US #KindleBookGiveaway: 10 copies of Hench by @nataliezed.bsky.social, which I *have* and *have read* and *love* and *have given out today*. This is a *great* book about the societal damage police forces cause, using superhroes as a metaphor. There is a sequel out now!
Tomorrow is Civil Service Live in Edinburgh, I'm finally getting to be on a panel! Drop by and say hello if you like.
Inexplicably, everyone here wants to talk about my off-the-cuff opinions about MPs and not the 3,400 word newsletter I sent earlier today about filling in forms. As if, conceivably, such a think might be boring buttondown.com/justenoughin...
Forms don't love you back
Some days, you just don't want to have to fill in another form. An essay (sorry) about AI and the coming formification of everything.
buttondown.com
The next 'X-Gov Sheffield' breakfast meetup for public sector folk is on 2 June! Sadly I’m away for this one, but don’t let that stop you signing up if you’re in the area 👇
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
Lasting Power of Attorney is an important and sensitive government service. Once the form has been filled in, it has to be sent off - to an address in Birmingham which Royal Mail doesn't believe exists. Hardly reassuring. #FixTheForms
With public trust at record lows, the case for open government has never been clearer, so get involved. The Call for Evidence deadline for UK Open Government plan is today. Submit 250 words Info here: opengovernment.org.uk/the-seventh-... Submit here: www.gov.uk/government/c... #opengovernment
Seventh UK National Action Plan for Open Government: call for evidence
We’re seeking evidence to inform the initial phase of the Seventh UK National Action Plan for Open Government.
gov.uk
I don't know who needs to hear this, but you're not a lazy procrastinator, you just have debilitating anxiety problems
Ahahahahaha 36C on a work day absolutely the fuck not
London & Southeast🔅@thesnowdreamer.bsky.social · 2mo agoI’m not sure if we’ve become desensitised or what but there are high res models showing 35-36C on Tuesday. “It’s just summer” apparently in final spring month. The much touted 1976 summer never got hotter than 35.9C in early July. We are in May….
[blogpost] AI = Ain't Inclined digitalbydefault.com/2026/05/24/a...
AI = Ain’t Inclined
Originally I titled this post ‘AI = Not Interested’ but I realised that is not really my state of mind. I am somewhat interested. I am not dismissive of the discourse. There is something happening…
digitalbydefault.com
The science fiction writer William Gibson said that "the future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed." No part of the economy is missing out on the future as much as the public sector is. So today we're setting out a new approach.
Re:State@re-state.bsky.social · 3mo ago🚨New research Today we have published 'From legacy to leadership' - our deep dive into the way that outdated technology holds back the State, and what the Government can do about it. re-state.co.uk/publications...
Over on inst@ the Locked Library are giving away two signed copies of their edition!
Pretty fair chance that Josh Simons applies to be “Crown Steward and Bailiff of the three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and *Burnham*” - is that not serendipity? That feels serendipitous.
Twlldun@twlldun.bsky.social · 3mo agoSidebar: look at the name of one of the three Chiltern 100s
Was already full daylight when I rolled out of bed at 0510 this morning. It's getting dark about 2200 now, definitely feels like summer should be here, even though it was barely 2°C when I went out for the bus!
this graduation speech moment is notable, and her amazed shock at having failed to read the room feels instructive. when you're inside the bubble, you think everybody else is. but everybody isn't.
Works in RPGs and also for most office based paid employment....
Delaney King (She/Her/Whomst)@delaneyking.bsky.social · 3mo agoOkay here is some quick tips for making your TTRPG games better. Just quick stuff taken from all over. Feel free to tack on your own in comments. 1) give the players enough rope. Players love coming up with clever theories to seemingly random hooks. Let them. LISTEN. Run with any good ones.