Ed Hammond
@se13ed.bsky.social
Local government governance person, supporting English councils on stuff relating to decision-making, oversight, transparency, etc. Views my own.
Reposted by Ed Hammond
Yep. So annoying when lobby journalists are like "So sorry, to explain this gossip about two cabinet ministers who hate each other we're going to have to talk about boring old policy. Uh-oh! Looks like these poindexters are going to use some numbers!"
I don't think it's all of it by any measure but I do absolutely believe that the political media's raging anti-intellectual streak has got worse with time and has ended up influencing the way MPs talk, and what they choose to talk/think about
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
November 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Yep. So annoying when lobby journalists are like "So sorry, to explain this gossip about two cabinet ministers who hate each other we're going to have to talk about boring old policy. Uh-oh! Looks like these poindexters are going to use some numbers!"
just remembered that Sustrans has rebranded to "Walk Wheel Cycle Trust" and got irrationally angry
November 27, 2025 at 10:57 PM
just remembered that Sustrans has rebranded to "Walk Wheel Cycle Trust" and got irrationally angry
Intriguing text from my son's school
"Multiple pairs of glasses have been handed in. If your child is missing their glasses, please come pick them up from the office."
"Multiple pairs of glasses have been handed in. If your child is missing their glasses, please come pick them up from the office."
November 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Intriguing text from my son's school
"Multiple pairs of glasses have been handed in. If your child is missing their glasses, please come pick them up from the office."
"Multiple pairs of glasses have been handed in. If your child is missing their glasses, please come pick them up from the office."
Reposted by Ed Hammond
We're looking for a Senior Governance Consultant to join our team, as we deliver more of our governance and scrutiny services to local government.
If this sounds like you, then follow the link to find a full job description and information on how you can apply....
www.cfgs.org.uk/join-cfgs-se...
If this sounds like you, then follow the link to find a full job description and information on how you can apply....
www.cfgs.org.uk/join-cfgs-se...
Join CfGS – Senior Governance Consultant
We are looking for someone to join the CfGS team to expand and develop the support we provide to the local government sector in England
www.cfgs.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
We're looking for a Senior Governance Consultant to join our team, as we deliver more of our governance and scrutiny services to local government.
If this sounds like you, then follow the link to find a full job description and information on how you can apply....
www.cfgs.org.uk/join-cfgs-se...
If this sounds like you, then follow the link to find a full job description and information on how you can apply....
www.cfgs.org.uk/join-cfgs-se...
gilt-y pleasures
U.K 30 YEAR GILT YIELD DOWN 9.8 BPS TO 5.23%, IN BIGGEST ONE DAY FALL SINCE APRIL
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
gilt-y pleasures
in local government we require that papers be published five clear working days in advance of the formal debates where they'll be discussed, but what do I know! Perhaps having to wade through hundreds of pages of complex technical data while a debate is ongoing makes the process of scrutiny better
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
in local government we require that papers be published five clear working days in advance of the formal debates where they'll be discussed, but what do I know! Perhaps having to wade through hundreds of pages of complex technical data while a debate is ongoing makes the process of scrutiny better
it's slightly on the nose to see video of a huge fire breaking out at the COP conference and a load of people just milling around ignoring it
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
it's slightly on the nose to see video of a huge fire breaking out at the COP conference and a load of people just milling around ignoring it
just in case anyone wonders what it's like to redraft a Council's constitution
November 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
just in case anyone wonders what it's like to redraft a Council's constitution
A welcome climbdown from Government on the rights of existing councils to continue to operate the committee system form of governance. Government amendments today provide a way for some councils to continue to operate committees (for a while, anyway) - will write something more detailed later
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A welcome climbdown from Government on the rights of existing councils to continue to operate the committee system form of governance. Government amendments today provide a way for some councils to continue to operate committees (for a while, anyway) - will write something more detailed later
don't usually make overtly political posts for obvious reasons (and this shouldn't be an overtly political point, really!), but feel compelled to say that this may be the most grotesque three sentences to ever find their into an actual White Paper
November 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
don't usually make overtly political posts for obvious reasons (and this shouldn't be an overtly political point, really!), but feel compelled to say that this may be the most grotesque three sentences to ever find their into an actual White Paper
Important to bear in mind that the longer the delay the longer a 20+ year full decant is required
EXCL:
Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s
MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen
Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s
MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen
Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s
It’s a fire-hazard that’s prone to tumbling masonry — but fear of a public backlash is again delaying repairs to the world famous building.
www.politico.eu
November 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Important to bear in mind that the longer the delay the longer a 20+ year full decant is required
I regularly post about politics online but I buck this behavioural characteristic because my heart is black as pitch and I pay no heed to the suffering and misery of my fellow man
🤔 People who post about politics online are much more likely to describe themselves as “more kind than average”. Might be that we need a national self-awareness day as well as global kindness day.
November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I regularly post about politics online but I buck this behavioural characteristic because my heart is black as pitch and I pay no heed to the suffering and misery of my fellow man
But what about Police and Crime Panels, I hear you say? (1/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
But what about Police and Crime Panels, I hear you say? (1/)
Mannequin 2: On The Move
Carry On Columbus
Blue Ice (Michael Caine and Sean Young, if you've forgotten)
Critters 4
Carry On Columbus
Blue Ice (Michael Caine and Sean Young, if you've forgotten)
Critters 4
Pope Leo has shared his four favorite movies of all time, as the Vatican prepares to host dozens of actors and directors in a “World of Cinema” gathering on Saturday at his official residence. See which films made the pope's list. nyti.ms/4p3exK9
Pope Leo Shares His Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event
The list leans heavily on uplifting classics.
nyti.ms
November 12, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Mannequin 2: On The Move
Carry On Columbus
Blue Ice (Michael Caine and Sean Young, if you've forgotten)
Critters 4
Carry On Columbus
Blue Ice (Michael Caine and Sean Young, if you've forgotten)
Critters 4
Imagining the big security conference at the Louvre and everyone agreeing to change the network password to "Louvre1"
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Imagining the big security conference at the Louvre and everyone agreeing to change the network password to "Louvre1"
this is a great example of the central problem that afflicts the British state, and critiques of it - we are great at diagnosis (the BBC's editorial processes and its responses to criticism are feeble!) but crap at imagining and delivering change that might improve things (1/)
Personally I'd be pleased to see BBC News disappear entirely. To argue, as many do, that British politics or our news environment would be so much worse without the BBC you have to explain why British politics and news environment is so very bad with the BBC.
November 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM
this is a great example of the central problem that afflicts the British state, and critiques of it - we are great at diagnosis (the BBC's editorial processes and its responses to criticism are feeble!) but crap at imagining and delivering change that might improve things (1/)
Not sure who does the playlist for Co-op instore radio but they're an indie kid in their mid 40s because we've just had "Going for Gold" by Shed Seven immediately followed by "Girl From Mars" by Ash, I was half-expecting Mark and Lard to come on
November 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Not sure who does the playlist for Co-op instore radio but they're an indie kid in their mid 40s because we've just had "Going for Gold" by Shed Seven immediately followed by "Girl From Mars" by Ash, I was half-expecting Mark and Lard to come on
Walking up the road past a big line of traffic, some idiot gets impatient and pulls out, driving up the road on the wrong side and trying to push in at the lights. Two unmarked police cars peel out of the queue, blue lights on, to give chase. Lovely stuff
November 5, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Walking up the road past a big line of traffic, some idiot gets impatient and pulls out, driving up the road on the wrong side and trying to push in at the lights. Two unmarked police cars peel out of the queue, blue lights on, to give chase. Lovely stuff
Weekend at Bernini's, or something
October 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Weekend at Bernini's, or something
Funny that in Back to the Future II, Biff Tannen, the antagonist and Trump proxy, has demolished Hill Valley's courthouse and erected a huge casino on the site, and that plot point always felt a bit heavy handed
October 26, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Funny that in Back to the Future II, Biff Tannen, the antagonist and Trump proxy, has demolished Hill Valley's courthouse and erected a huge casino on the site, and that plot point always felt a bit heavy handed
personally I would get Mel and Sue to present Strictly. Or for a slightly different but no less late-90s vibe, Lee and Herring
October 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM
personally I would get Mel and Sue to present Strictly. Or for a slightly different but no less late-90s vibe, Lee and Herring
to all the other different governance models - autocracy, democracy, kleptocracy etc - we must now add "caseyocracy", or "government directed entirely by Louise Casey"
October 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
to all the other different governance models - autocracy, democracy, kleptocracy etc - we must now add "caseyocracy", or "government directed entirely by Louise Casey"
Can't believe that Faisal Islam writes a long read for the BBC News website about price fluctuations of frozen concentrated orange juice and doesn't mention these guys
October 22, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Can't believe that Faisal Islam writes a long read for the BBC News website about price fluctuations of frozen concentrated orange juice and doesn't mention these guys
when you book a visit from a BT engineer, you still get a splash page reminding you about COVID precautions
October 21, 2025 at 11:07 AM
when you book a visit from a BT engineer, you still get a splash page reminding you about COVID precautions