Director of think tank Civil Exchange, ex-civil servant including Private Secretary to two PMs, author of People Like Us and Bad Government, published 30 June.
London
Joined March 2011
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Govt is warned it's vulnerable to the next lobbying scandal: 'lack of transparency creates the impression that vested interests are unfairly influencing decisions about policy, legislation or contracts and that other groups without the same deep pockets or networks are excluded.'
"We are at a pivotal moment for standards reform."
In a new blog post, EIC Chair Doug Chalmers reflects on last week's letter to the Prime Minister, public trust, and the importance of the Commission's lobbying recommendations.
Read it here: eic.independent-commission.u…
Why would an organisation that published a report seeking to curtail the funding and voice of what it calls the 'NGO–Charity complex' anonymize its authors and actively conceal who owns and manages it? bylinetimes.com/2026/10/19/m…
caroline slocock retweeted
OPEN LETTER: Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public. Their withdrawal from sale, on the basis of ill-conceived and draconian anti terror legislation, is an affront to basic principles of free speech and expression so long taken for granted in this country. We categorically reject censorship - whether direct or indirect - and urge the government to change course, amending the legislation which has led us to this point of repressive absurdity.
It's hard to think of a better example of #BadGovernment than this, starting with Matt Hancock's claim they'd thrown 'a protective ring' around care homes from the start of the pandemic, when in fact they'd done exactly the reverse.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2026…
Been driving for 40 years but never had the parking issue the govt is trying to solve. I do see the effects of global warming, young people who worry about their future because of AI, and a potential war ahead. I’d like more answers to these than just advice to stockpile food.
caroline slocock retweeted
If one billionaire can slow down the internet for an entire country, shut down Starlink during crises, turn off your car and your wifi, and censoring voices online, that billionaire has way too much power, with no capability of accountability. The definition of power, unchecked.
In today’s Sunday Express talking about my book, Bad Government (And How To Make It Better). My top tips to Burnham: inspire the govt machine to deliver what you want through a clear sense of purpose not micromanagement; collaborate with civil society etc to solve shared issues.
Surprised to hear @bbcnickrobinson @BBCr4today suggesting @CharityCommission should be stopping charities from campaigning & 'being political'. The fact is political campaigning by charities isn't just permissible, it's a vital way for diverse voices to be heard in policy debates
Once US owned AI underpins every aspect of our lives, including vital infrastructure, imagine the damage Trump, Musk and others could do if we crossed them. Likewise China.
EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk came to Donald Trump with the plan to throttle Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet network, sources have told the Telegraph.
The tech billionaire made the proposal during the US President’s row with Volodymyr Zelensky over strikes on Russian oil refineries.
‘The reality is that they were both in it,’ a senior source said of Musk’s and Trump’s involvement.
But after a night of carnage in Kyiv caused by the slowdown, Musk was alarmed about the possibility of adverse consumer reaction in Europe.
The SpaceX boss then proceeded to tweet, blaming the US administration, and ultimately, President Trump for authorising the slowdown.
‘He tweeted out that he was innocent and that it was the US administration that did it,’ the source said.
Richard Hermer nails the challenges and need for urgent action on AI but, if the experts are to be believed, the PM’s attempt to establish international agreements at the G7 summit next November will be far too late to control superintelligence. theguardian.com/commentisfre…
Jenrick says racism has no place in Reform and they’ll remove bad apples, but look at their own statements. He’s called for lethal force to stop small boats. Braverman maintains that children of migrants can’t be English. No wonder people who hate migrants migrate to Reform.
This is not a good look for a govt that promotes democratic freedoms across the world: books by an Irish author who is protesting the UK ban on Palestine Action pulled from UK bookshops. Nor is arresting 3K peaceful protestors for just holding PA banners. thetimes.com/culture/books/a…
MI5's warning about Russia etc promoting division is well made, but some of the hate that has entered our politics and social media has definitely been stoked by USA actors eg Musk inciting anti-migrant feeling and violence at the 2025 Tommy Robinson march, plus X's algorithms.
caroline slocock retweeted
112 months since Grenfell.
72 lives lost to systemic failures that should never have happened.
The Met has now handed its files to the CPS, but more than nine years later, no one has been held criminally accountable.
We are still fighting for justice.
caroline slocock retweeted
In awarding this year’s #NobelPeacePrize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wants to remind the world that the rule of law – national and international – underpins the system we have set up to ensure peace and resolve conflicts non-violently. Peace requires justice.
History has shown that a world operating without the rule of law is unjust, unwise and inhumane. The judges – those who guard the thin red line between order and chaos – are therefore highly deserving of our praise. But today, as these same judges are sanctioned, and their institutions are attacked, we need people of courage, vision and determination – qualities that 2026 peace laureate Navi Pillay demonstrates in her work on the bench.
#NobelPrize
caroline slocock retweeted
Agree Sophy
We need to celebrate Kemis rejection of Suellas divisive rhetoric on Englishness
But we also need to challenge Kemi and others on their divisive anti Muslim rhetoric because
I don’t want to explain to my son, when we’re watching our brilliant England team play cricket, that some people don’t think our Muslim players are English or equally British or are from culturally inferior backgrounds .
My party cannot be selective about which forms of bigotry they are outraged by.
The strongest section of Kemi Badenoch's speech so far:
"To those who say “unite the right”... we are not uniting with THAT. I don’t want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists, call veterans traitors and debate whether my mixed-race children are English.
"I don’t want to explain to my son, when we’re watching our brilliant England team play football, that some people don’t think our black players are English.
"I remember back in the day when Ian Wright and John Barnes were playing - nobody was questioning whether they were English. We certainly didn’t have sitting MPs questioning whether they were English.
"We must not let these people take us backwards. That is not the country we are. I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but I am black. I am British. I’m proud of my country, I’m proud of our history."
Pleased Badenoch has drawn a dividing line with Reform on what it means to be English: we need more politicians to stand up against the growing racism and anti-migrant feeling in politics. But her culture war attacks on DEI and 'identity politics' helped open that stable door.
It would have been good to have heard this when he was in govt but I’m glad he’s saying it now. Why aren’t other politicians talking about this?The rest of us can see this economic and social storm coming, especially the young. What’s their plan? We need an honest debate.
I keep raising the alarm bell about AI removing jobs, instead of enhancing them; and companies improving profits but workers losing their wages.
I’m often told: there’s no evidence of AI disrupting the labour market.
We have to shape AI in the interests of workers and the UK economy and not just wait to see what happens - these changes are coming whether we like it or not.
We need to be both pro-tech and pro-worker.
If too many workers lose their jobs and are unable to find alternative work to maintain their lifestyles we’ll have very serious societal problems to deal with.
It’s good that Badenoch has set out principles and values, as politicians need a lodestar if they are to maintain direction and not simply court headlines (such as a bullshit iron dome). Not so good: these are borrowed from Thatcher and are neither authentic nor rooted in our now
caroline slocock retweeted
Really looking forward to such a topical discussion as Burnham and Healey want to reduce inefficiencies and push for growth in every postcode.. Is Whitehall the problem? Register and join me @Radix_UK tomorrow online at 6pm to discuss with @carolineslocock and @Steffanaquarone
TOMORROW - how could Whitehall work better?
Join @carolineslocock, @Steffanaquarone, & @realVickyPryce for an interactive webinar drawing on decades of experience in and around government
📅 Tues 6th Oct ⏰ 6PM
🎟️ Register & have your say radixbigtent.org.uk/events/w…
#FreeWebinar
