GOD on governance
Noting Sir Gus O’Donnell’s views on the importance of checks and balances in
Sir Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary, Photo CC UK in Canada
good governance, from yesterday’s Observer:
“What is the secret to his survival through four such different PMs: Major, Blair, Brown and Cameron? “Civil service values,” he insists. “They didn’t want ‘yes men’. They’ve all wanted people who tell them what they think objectively. It’s important.”
O’Donnell admits he was no fan of “sofa government”; though he won’t name Blair or indeed criticise any prime minister. “I’m at the more formal end. I like calling PMs ‘PM’. I like the proper committee structures, properly recorded minutes. I want government to have a safe space where people can disagree and argue – to be accurately recorded and kept private.””
Photo, CC UK in Canada
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