Dave Penman

The Union Chain Suspension Bridge, linking Scotland and England across the Tweed, built with Welsh steel. In many ways I feel an affinity standing in the middle. After 28 years living and working in England, I have one foot in both.

FDA statement on settlement agreement for Sir Oliver Robbins.

It is so disappointing to see a public body, under this Govt, resist FDA recognition in this way. There should be nothing to fear from a union that is a strong advocate for its members but also a pragmatic, constructive partner. Time to think again FCA.

The key to good workforce transformation is timely and effective engagement. So was good to get that commitment from First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Cabinet Minister Dafydd Trystan Davies as well as a recognition of the commitment from the civil service to help deliver the Programme for Govt.

Up with the lark this morning on my way to beautiful Cardiff, to meet with @prifweinidog.gov.wales to discuss the programme for Govt in Wales. The FDA is the only union in all of the Govts of the UK, giving us unique insight to build strong partnerships with all the devolved Govts.

The FDA is a union growing in membership, influence and reach. We’re looking for a National Officer to help us continue and accelerate that journey. It’s exciting, demanding work providing strategic leadership to our fantastic reps, as well as directly negotiating and representing members.

Announcing ever increasing finger-in-the-air numbers on civil service job cuts is a stunt, not a plan for govt. Any elected govt can decide if it wants a bigger or smaller civil service, but only serious ones demonstrate how, & what public services they’ll cut as a result. www.ft.com/content/199d...

Insourcing pensions administration will take years. So “Insource Now!” may make a good war cry for those standing with placards and pitchforks, but it is not a viable solution to the hardship and uncertainty faced by current and retired civil servants. www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

I was honoured to second the vote of thanks to this year’s TUC President Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association.

Reports in today's papers is about this government trying to solve the issue that foxes all Prime Ministers when they enter office.... How does No.10 make things happen? I discussed the issue with @sebastianpayne.bsky.social on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social this afternoon.

As I told @theipaper.com, this isn’t about ministers who are robust, this is about systematic bullying. No one has confidence in a system when the individual who put that minister there in the first place is the same person who determines the outcome of a complaint. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

I spoke to @siennarodgers.bsky.social about the challenges and opportunities of operating a No.10 North and what it might mean for the civil service. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

This morning on Times Radio I argued the PM's decision to sack Robbins was made in a matter of minutes without any process after reacting to a newstory. This is not only bad Olly, but bad for the whole permanent civil service, and bad for the government's ability to deliver for the public.

Statement from the FDA regarding legal action launched today by Sir Olly Robbins, challenging his dismissal:

I just love how those that worship the private sector don’t realise that any successful company doesn’t trash their staff publicly and expect to succeed. If Reform UK are serious about Government, they need to get serious about governing.

As I told @theipaper.com, the clock is ticking. Andy Burnham is starting as a mid term PM & the last thing he or the country needs is the civil service to be rearranging the deckchairs, unsure of the seating plan, rather than getting on with delivering. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Whatever the issue, whether it’s digital transformation with AI or a new agenda for devolution, constructive engagement between unions and govt is key to effective public sector reform. My latest for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social with Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy.

Pleased to be able to announce a new Partnership Working Framework launched today with the Cabinet Office, the FDA, Prospect and the Prison Officers' Association.

Since hybrid working started under the Coalition Govt. more than a decade ago, hundreds of millions of pounds have been saved by having a smaller civil service estate. Unwind that if you want, but do tell us where the money is coming from for all the new offices.

As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, whoever becomes the next PM needs to think carefully about the damage and disruption that unforced changes can have on the ability of govt to deliver for the public.

The govt’s recent reforms to SCS pay are a welcome step in the right direction and have implications for wider pay reform across the civil service. A good argument for why pay review bodies are a good idea. More of that please. My latest for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

Kruger's latest proposals for the civil service starts off with fair analysis on the need for better delivery. All too quickly though you can sense the vitriol driving the proposals. Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

As I told @fayebrownjourno.bsky.social, as long as civil servants are not being asked to break their professional code, including upholding the rule of law, they don't get to decide which bits of policy they implement and which they don't. news.sky.com/story/civil-...

Is there a better view from a conference centre in the country? Great to be back at the @tuccymru.bsky.social Congress at a pivotal moment for the movement in Wales.

As I told @evanhd.bsky.social, civil servants do not choose that career if they are uncomfortable serving different ministers or governments of different political persuasions. But they do get frustrated when change is happening for change’s sake. This is what gets in the way of good government.

Standing up for members, supporting careers, & delivering real outcomes. That’s what makes us different, that’s what makes us strong, & that’s why we’re the fastest growing union in the country. A pleasure to deliver my speech to the FDA’s annual conference, celebrating the strength of our union.

A day of drama in Westminster. The big questions of how Government delivers and improves the lives of working people. Will he, won’t he… Yes it’s FDA’s annual conference and yes I will… be mentioning Partick Thistle in my speech.

As I told Talk TV, work evolves all the time. The evidence shows that, when it's managed well, hybrid working does deliver efficiencies and productivity.

As I told Channel 5's Storm & Alexis show, when done well, hybrid working can boost productivity and save taxpayer money. These constant attacks against civil servants for working from home, when many can't even find a desk to work from, need to stop.

Anyone who watched Sir Olly Robbins give evidence could see he has not been treated fairly. Of course civil servants being treated this way is going to send a chill throughout the service.

As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, diplomats are made, not born, and require high levels of experience, skill and expertise to carry out very difficult work - the practice of politicians using these posts as tokens or retirement presents for their friends/allies needs to stop.

As I told @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, I think the Prime Minister thinks this suddenly becomes a question of Olly Robbins' judgement about approving vetting rather than his judgement about appointing Mandelson and No.10 just leapt on that to be honest. And Olly's the fall guy in all of this.

As I said on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, there is no one now in the leadership of the civil service who doesn't think, "if it's politically expedient, I will be thrown under the bus."

Anyone who watched Sir Olly give evidence today could see the passion and commitment he has for public service.

At the heart of this debacle we have seen the unceremonious dismissal of a public servant who, as I said to @lbc.co.uk, has dedicated his career to the work of government and the protection of our national security.

As I told @lbc.co.uk, Sir Olly Robbins outlined today that there's a reason the vetting process is kept separate from ministers - to protect the integrity of the process, and ultimately national security.

You would think from some of the commentary out there that, instead of Dame Antonia Romeo, the cabinet secretary, publishing her objectives on Tuesday, she had instead authored her own version of the Communist Party Manifesto. My latest column for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

FDA National Officer for Northern Ireland @robertmurtagh1.bsky.social has responded to the written ministerial statement made by Minister for Education Paul Givan this afternoon:

Another problem is that as soon as you have political picks, when you change a minister they will want their own pick as well. In the last 10 yrs we have had whole football teams of secretaries of state. If you changed the permanent secretary every time it would be a massive churn, & very disruptive