British Conservative politician
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After weeks of speculation, and many rounds of interviews, Sir Chris Wormald has been confirmed as the UK's new cabinet secretary. But who is Chris Wormald, why has Keir Starmer appointed him, and how can he succeed as the country's top civil servant? David Lidington, the former minister for the Cabinet Office and Theresa May's one-time de facto deputy prime minister, joins the IfG team to make sense of someone who is both the conventional pick and yet also the surprise choice for the job of the country's top civil servant. What does Wormald bring to the role? What is waiting in his in-tray? How exactly could he set about that big rewiring job? And what steps he can take to ensure the civil service can deliver Keir Starmer's priorities? Presented by Emma Norris. With Cath Haddon and Alex Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of People Talk...Politics, our Policy Fellow Matthew Brooker interviewed Rt Hon Sir David Lidington CBE, UK's longest serving Minister for European Affairs, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office in Theresa May's government. They discussed how internal divisions in the Conservative Party may affect its electability and what issues and policies the Tories should emphasise in their campaign. Sir David also shared his insights on the relationship between government, the civil service and local government, outlining potential reforms that could increase efficiency, transparency and decentralisation.
War has returned to the European continent, putting many previous divisions into perspective. This has caused European leaders to think afresh about their politics – and raised the question of the United Kingdom's role in European foreign policy. Seven years after the Brexit referendum, the EU and the UK have finally resolved some of their differences through the Windsor Framework. The possibility of a reset between the UK and the EU on foreign policy could be on the horizon. In this year's mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison examine what a reimagined EU-UK relationship might look like. In this second episode, Mark and Susi welcome David Lidington, who was the United Kingdom's longest serving minister for European affairs between 2010 and 2016, to discuss what this renewal of relations might look like. How can the Conservative and Labour parties ensure a constructive and forward-looking approach to the UK's relationship with the EU? Can bilateral relationships complement engagement with Brussels in navigating the UK's position in Europe? This podcast was recorded on 23 June 2023. Bookshelf: The Conservative Party After Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation, by Tim Bale What went wrong with Brexit: and what we can do about it, by Peter Foster Aubrey & Maturin series, by Patrick O'Brian
Therese Coffey made her first big announcement as Deputy Prime Minister in the Commons today. With archive and new interviews, Matt Chorley hears from people who have held that role in both an official and unofficial sense, including Michael Heseltine, Nick Clegg, Peter Mandelson and David Lidington to find out how it works. PLUS: James Marriott and Patrick Kidd on anxiety, imposter syndrome and pot noodles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The new King addresses parliament and vows to uphold democracy. Elsewhere, the UK's economic crises rumble on. We discuss both with Theresa May's de facto deputy, former cabinet minister, David Lidington. Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll also hear from former Bank of England policymaker Andrew Sentance on the economic clouds gathering and the challenges facing the central bank. Plus: our reporter Lizzy Burden joins us from outside Buckingham Palace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former Cabinet Office Minister, David Lidington, says removing Tom Scholar as permanent secretary to the Treasury was a bad decision by the Prime Minister Liz Truss. 'It's not good for the political masters to start moving professional civil servants around,' he tells Bloomberg's Dani Burger and Stephen Carroll. Lidington also discusses attending the weekend's Accession Council, the event where Charles was formally proclaimed as King.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Lidington, Chair of RUSI, Former Conservative MP & Minister for the Cabinet Office.
In this episode of our Podcast we are joined by Sir David Lidington, Chairman of the Conservative European Forum. Sir Lidington has been active in European politics for years as well as participating in politics and government of the United Kingdom. Together we talk about the terrible situation in Ukraine, the astonishing resistance and resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the aid the UK is sending to Ukraine. Next to this we discuss European cooperation after Brexit and preserving the Northern-Ireland Peace Process.
David Lidington, exlord canciller de Reino Unido, habló de la tensa situación entre Ucrania y Rusia y la postura británica frente al tema. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are former deputy PM Sir David Lidington, Conservative MP Dr Dan Poulter, CLASS Director Ellie-Mae O'Hagan & the Institute for Government's Alex Thomas.
In this week's episode, host Steve Anglesey hears listeners thoughts on MPs having second jobs and their answers as to what second jobs they would like to see Boris Johnson and his cabinet occupying in an ideal world. Former minister for Europe, former MP and Theresa May's de facto deputy David Lidington joins the podcast to discuss this timely issue further and the government's impatience with the rules. The New European journalist Clár Ní Chonghaile shares her thoughts on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a decades-old debt and the government's misdirection and inaction on the issue. Plus, Roger Helmer, Mark Pawsey MP and Ann Widdecombe all feature in the Hall of Shame this week. Enjoyed this episode? Let us know by tweeting @TheNewEuropean
As Boris Johnson prepares to host an awkward dinner party at chequers this weekend, Matt Chorley gets the best anecdotes from those who know the Prime Minister's country residence inside out, including Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames, and former de facto Deputy Prime Minister, David Lidington. PLUSDaniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening is former Conservative MP and de facto deputy prime minister Sir David Lidington, Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, Financial Times Chief Political Commentator and UK Editor at Large Robert Shrimsley & the Mirror's Fleet Street Fox Susie Boniface.
In the first CER podcast of 2021, CER Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow Katherine Pye speaks to the CER's director Charles Grant, senior research fellow and trade expert Sam Lowe and RUSI chair David Lidington. They discuss the substance of the UK-EU TCA which was concluded on Christmas Eve, what we can expect from the future UK-EU relationship. Music by Edward Hipkins Produced by Rosie Giorgi
In this episode, Karin talks to the new Chair of the Institute, the Rt. Hon Sir David Lidington, KCB, CBE. Sir David discusses his career from the early days as a special adviser to eventually becoming Prime Minister Theresa May’s de facto deputy, as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Sir David will also be reflecting on the difficult choice of leaving government and on the poetry that best reflects the mood of 2020.
As Boris Johnson committs billions to the UK defence budget, the biggest investment since the Cold War, Matt Chorley talks national security with David Lidington. Plus, Times columnists Esther Webber and Robert CramptonThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/timesredbox See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sir David Lidington, Baroness Claire Fox, Hashi Mohamed & Florence Eshalomi
The plans for a merger between the two departments has united three former prime ministers in their criticism. Andrew Mitchell, Tory MP and former International Development Secretary, certainly thinks it's a disastrous idea, and claims that Boris Johnson promised to his face that this would not happen. Andrew joins Katy Balls and Jame Forsyth on the podcast, together with David Lidington, former Cabinet minister and previously at the Foreign Office, who thinks that it's actually a good idea. Click here (https://subscription.spectator.co.uk/?prom=A521B&pkgcode=03) to try 12 weeks of the Spectator for £12 and get a free £20 Amazon gift voucher.
It's a big day for acting prime minister Dominic Raab. He chairs his first Cabinet meeting and joins world leaders including Donald Trump for a virtual G-7 summit. David Lidington, former cabinet minister and Theresa May's de facto deputy, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek about the pitfalls of the job. Plus, a leaked report has reignited tensions within Labour. Can new leader Keir Starmer unite the sparring factions? And what direction will he take the party in? David Kogan, author of Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party, joins to discuss.
Corona is straining Government as never before outside peacetime – and Boris Johnson is still mostly incapacitated. David Lidington, Theresa May’s former deputy, explains exactly what happens when the understudy must step up. How much power does Dominic Raab actually have right now? And do we need a US-style formal succession programme? Plus: When should the lockdown be eased? Does virtual government work? And what is Parliament doing during this strange recess?“The Whitehall machine had already been working with the dial in the red because of Brexit when this crisis hit.” – David LiddingtonPresented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon with Hannah White. Audio production by Alex Rees. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this week are Former Conservative MP David Lidington, Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford Vicky Foxcroft, Historian and Broadcaster David Starkey and Dreda Say Mitchell; journalist and broadcaster.
As the 2017-2019 Parliament ends and Britain girds itself for a General Election, how will this Parliament be viewed by history? Has it perhaps done its job better than some people think? Will future governments need to do things differently now that Parliament has flexed its muscles?“Backbenchers have found that they can get together, form coalitions and do things that Government doesn’t want,” says Hannah White. “That’s a real wake-up call for Government.”Plus: The loneliness of the long-distance Cabinet minister. What do potential ministers need to look out for? Could we really get by without a budget at all? And might No Deal come back from the dead at the end of the General Election?Also, our Chief Economist Gemma Tetlow drop in to explain everything you didn’t know - but need to know - about the strange and precarious future of taxation. If good behaviour from the public is bad for the tax base, how will we pay for the things we need? And we speak to David Lidington, the former de facto Prime Minister who’s now stepping down as a Conservative MP, on the lasting legacy of this Parliament.Hosted by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Joe Owen, Hannah White and Gavin Freeguard. Audio production by Robin Leeburn at Fairly Media. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Deputy Prime Minister on doing PMQs, the Tory leadership battle and the dreaded 3am phone call, plus some Elizabethan history and a re-enactment of University Challenge
Lesley made her first appearance on BBC Scotland's Debate Night last Sunday and she wonders if, in trying not to be the bear pit of Question Time, it has become too staid. This leads us neatly, well in my mind anyway, into Nicola Sturgeon's declaration, at the SNP Party Conference, of a Climate Emergency. We try and pick apart the implications of this and the possible motivations behind it. Lesley was at the Conference and tries to give a flavour of the atmosphere, and in particular the major debate on the Growth Commission Report. Despite the big guns being wheeled out to support the Commission's position on an independent currency Dr Timothy Rideout's Amendment D was passed. Was this a defeat for the Commission's 6 tests or not? In a week which saw Ofcom censure Andrew Neil, the return of Ruth Davidson, and David Lidington venturing north of the border, I question, not for the first time, the professionalism of BBC journalists. Lesley continues the theme in the light of the reporting of the Spanish election results. Finally, Lesley pays tribute to the late Dennis Macleod of Helmsdale who died this week. A truly remarkable man.
Katy Balls rounds up the highlights from Sunday's political interviews. Featured today are David Lammy, David Lidington, Gerard Batten, Jennifer Robinson and Iain Duncan Smith. This podcast was produced by Matthew Taylor.
In this episode, we talk to Minister for Implementation, Oliver Dowden CBE MP about digital government. A full transcript of the episode follows: Sarah Stewart: Hello and welcome to the GDS podcast. I'm Sarah Stewart. I'm a senior writer at the Government Digital Service. We're recording this podcast on location in the office of today's guest. Oliver Dowden became Minister for Implementation in January 2018. With this promotion came responsibility for digital government. One year on, we will talk about his year in office, his current focus and the future, in particular innovation. Minister, welcome. Oliver Dowden: Good afternoon, thank you for having me on. Sarah Stewart: Now, most people can imagine what a studio looks like but not many people would know what a minister's office looks like. So can you help set the scene? Where exactly are we? Oliver Dowden: Well I'm very fortunate with this ministerial office. It's the sort of ministerial office that people imagine their minister to have. It's actually overlooking Horse Guards Parade, so you can see where the Trooping of the Colour happens. And it's one of those classic sort of 18th century buildings with a very high ceiling. So it's a very pleasant place to work. I'm very privileged to have an office like this. Sarah Stewart: And we're right in the middle of Whitehall as well, so we're really at the centre of government. Oliver Dowden: Yes, completely. We're number 70 Whitehall, so we are next door to 10 Downing Street and to the Treasury building, Parliament is diagonally opposite and it’s in the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office is really the heart of the government machine. It's kind of like the government's HQ. It brings different parts of government to work together. It coordinates, it cajoles. We try to facilitate things working across the whole of government. And one example of this is the Government Digital Service - how we ensure that digital transformation happens across government, how we have the same standards across government, how we embrace emergent technologies in government. Sarah Stewart: It’s a really fantastic place from which to operate. So, just before we start...I take it at the portrait of Pitt the Younger on your wall isn't from your personal collection? Oliver Dowden: No, sadly, sadly it's not and I'm certainly not trying to send any message with Pitt the Younger behind me! [laughter] I look at Pitt the Younger and think how little I have achieved! I think he became Prime Minister in his twenties, although I think he perhaps died when he was about my age or shortly afterwards. Sarah Stewart: Well at great risk to my reputation, I'm going to venture some 18th century political trivia – I believe it was it was Pitt the Younger who shaped the role of Prime Minister into one of a coordinator of government departments – so this is my convenient segue into asking you how it feels to be a coordinator of a government department. Oliver Dowden: Well I work to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington, so I suppose he's the ultimate coordinator of my government department in which I serve as a minister. But certainly an awful lot of what I do as a minister is coordination. So whether that is the functional agenda that works across government, so the coordination of a common government estates policy, coordination of common government HR, common government commercial relationships and common government digital practices, all of this is about trying to move from a situation where you have in each individual government department you have a completely separate commercial team, a completely separate estates team completely separate HR team, and say ‘actually in most government departments we have a lot in common so why don't we try and work together, follow the common good and harness our combined powers’, as it were, and it also fits into another part of my brief which is implementation...I’m the Minister for Implementation people usually ask ‘well what does that actually mean?’... Sarah Stewart:...Yes, how did you get that title? Is that something you select yourself? Or..? Oliver Dowden: Yes, well it was the Prime Minister...so when the Prime Minister appointed me at the beginning of last year, she said that one of the big challenges we have in government is it's perhaps the easiest thing is for politicians to make promises. It's harder, in particular at the moment, in a hung parliament, to get legislation through Parliament to make it happen. But then how do you actually ensure that the delivery happens on the ground? And what can we do as a Cabinet Office, as ministers to try and coordinate the delivery on the ground and to deal with problems when delivery isn't happening in the way that we want. That's the essence of the implementation role: trying to unblock those problems, trying to ensure that we're on track to deliver the things that the public elected us to do. And also, I'm aided in that by the fact that I have oversight of all the government functions, so I can use the sort of mechanisms we have into our procurement relationships through commercial, our digital relationships through the digital team to try and get that broader picture of how government works. Sarah Stewart: So was there anything in your background that prepared you for your role? How did you end up here? Oliver Dowden: Well it depends where you want to begin with the journey. I mean, I went to my local comprehensive school and from there, I did quite well academically and I thought you know, I did quite well academically, what do you do if you get good grades? I fancy could I be a maybe a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher or maybe an accountant? Those were the only things I could think of. So I thought well law sounds... being a lawyer sounds quite interesting, so I applied and was fortunate enough to win a place to study law at Cambridge. I studied law...I didn't find it the most exciting, enjoyable thing to do [laughs] but I got offered a place, a training contract, with a city firm. But I wasn't so sure about it so I decided to try and do something different. So I actually worked in Japan teaching for a year in rural Japan... Sarah Stewart: Oh wow. Oliver Dowden: ...which was a fascinating experience in very, very rural Japan. I was a long way from any other English speakers and I didn't actually speak a word of English – of Japanese – when I arrived so I sort of had to learn my Japanese from a book. But it was a fascinating experience. I came back, I completed my legal training, but I realised very rapidly that law wasn't for me and after a few different jobs, I kind of got into advisory work and from there found out about an opportunity to work for the Conservative Party. I've always been a Conservative, but never thought of politics as being something I'd actually do for my main job. I worked on the 2005 election campaign and I got to know David Cameron. And when he became leader of the Conservative Party, I ended up working for him on the 2010 General Election campaign and he asked me to go into Number 10, initially as political adviser and then deputy chief of staff in Downing Street. And I genuinely thought when the 2015 election came around, I'll leave after that. And then essentially my home seat... the incumbent Member of Parliament was retiring from my home seat, and eventually after lots of sort of deliberating and discussing it with my family, I thought I'd regret not, you know, seizing the opportunity and having the privilege of representing an area that I knew so well. And I was fortunate enough to be selected as a candidate and elected as Member of Parliament in 2015, and then fortunate enough to be appointed as minister in the government by the Prime Minister at the beginning of 2018. I mean, I think in terms of what shaped me and helped me in this, I think having exposure to lots of different people from lots of different backgrounds whether that's, you know, a complete culture shock of teaching in rural Japan or...I certainly don't come from a political family or a family that has any experience in sort of government, so you certainly get a different perspective there in terms of seeing things from the outside. That's certainly given me, and in my wider ministerial role, a passion for ensuring that we have genuine diversity both in the Civil Service and in public appointments, because I really think that if you get a group of people around the table who have different experiences whether that's culture, education, gender, ethnic background, those different experiences coming together helps you make better decisions and strengthens decision-making. And also, I think it's morally incumbent on government, for the country, to be governed by people who represent the country as a whole. Sarah Stewart: I'd like to know what your very first job was. Oliver Dowden: My very first job was actually working in a warehouse in Dunstable, which is just outside of Luton in Bedfordshire. It was an import/export business and I spent many holidays and summers and so on. Particularly two tasks I remember: respraying faulty produce that came in and then and wiring lamps. I wired lots and lots of lamps during those years and then boxing and packing and sending them on. But it was a relatively small organization and our duties extended to everything including cleaning, and you know the whole gambit. Sarah Stewart: So the seeds for technology were sewn actually at a very early age. Oliver Dowden: The practical application of technology, definitely! Sarah Stewart: So you we're David Cameron's deputy chief of staff, so you were around during the creation of the Government Digital Service. How does it feel to go from witnessing the creation of an organization to being the minister responsible for it in quite a short period of time? Oliver Dowden: I mean I don't I don't want to overplay my hand in the creation of the Government Digital Service – I pay real tribute to Francis Maude who was the minister that drove the creation of this. And you know, in Number 10, we were very supportive of it, and I think what Francis did fantastically with the Government Digital Service was to seize the opportunity of creating something that sits across the whole of government, drives digital transformation. And he took some very bold decisions. He wasn't afraid to break things as it were, to drive the digital transformation. And he really got the Government Digital Service established and established the UK's a world leader in this space. So I kind of had a sense of the origins of the Government Digital Service, certainly coming in as one of the ministers responsible for it, reporting to David Lidington. I think there's more we can do to be telling the story of how much GDS has achieved and how much it is currently doing. So for example if you look at Government as a Platform, the creation of GOV.UK, that's a common platform for all of government, it brings together disparate areas of government activity which now literally has billions of hits every year. We're pioneering things like GOV.UK Notify, GOV.UK Pay, again all of this is trying to do two things. First of all to move away from individual departments to the common government experience. I think most people just want to go somewhere and get government to do something for them. So removing those kind of artificial boundaries, but secondly continuing this push about how we drive the best innovation and disruption because it's really the tech revolution is driven by disruption and it's that's quite a challenge for government to cope with it but we have to keep on pushing because otherwise we will find government falling behind the rest of the economy. Sarah Stewart: So what's the current focus for digital government at the moment? Oliver Dowden: Well I think it's a number of things. First of all it is continuing and driving their end-to-end digitisation of government services so we need to... almost all government services now have an initial digital interface, but it's not the case that all government services are digitised all the way through. Often there are mechanical back-office functions, that slow things down and we're not taking the best advantage of the use of tech. So that is the kind of that digital transformation sits at the core. It's also creating commonalities across government, so continuing to drive the government as a platform and continue to develop such as GOV.UK Notify and so on. It's about driving up training and understanding – not just people in the digital profession – but wider policymakers say they understand the potential and it's also about seeing how we can apply the latest technology and GDS being a guide and a leader for departments in how they can embrace that new technology. Sarah Stewart: So as you've alluded to, your brief is very varied. How do you focus your time? Oliver Dowden: Well, to a certain extent they complement one another. So if you take, for example, emergent technology, I'm very keen for the government to embrace emergent technology, to use the opportunities that are there to help transform the service that citizens receive, and do so in a more efficient way. That kind of then links in to how we deliver and how we achieve implementation, but it also links into the commercial part of my brief because a lot of that has to be procured from the private sector. So I tend to think of it more in terms of where can I really focus my efforts. But an area that really interests me, and I think we've got a huge potential, is in relation to GovTech and to innovative technologies and government digital transformation. I think for a number of reasons. I think first of all, it's one of those few areas where you can say hand on heart, if we get this right we can deliver more for less and we can deliver a better outcome for citizens. That's pretty unusual across different areas of government. The second reason is that we have a wonderful tech sector in this country and actually if we can prove that tech works to deliver better outcomes for people in the UK Government, it unlocks opportunities for tech companies to apply that around the world. I think thirdly, in terms of the wider implementation role, if you think about how people's experience of consuming in the private sector has changed enormously in the past 10 or 20 years through disruptive technologies whether that's – not recommending any particular company – but let's say the way Amazon has transformed the shopping and consumer experience, Airbnb in relation to accommodation, as Spotify and others in relation to the consumption of music, all those kind of disruptions are making products more easily available, often more cheaply available and more readily accessible in general. I think we should be aspiring to do the same thing in respective to public services. And I think if we fail to do that in respective public services in years to come people will begin to draw an unfavorable contrast between how they consume services in the public sector versus how they do so in the private sector. Sarah Stewart: So, what exactly is standing in our way, in terms of government making process? Oliver Dowden: There are areas of very very good practice across different bits of government. So, for example, HMRC has done a lot of work in terms of embracing repeat robotic processes, similarly DWP, if you look at, for example, the government GovTech Challenge. This is a fund to use new and emergent technologies. We've been doing some fantastic stuff around AI and geospatial data but it's not a consistent picture. So I think one of the things I'm trying to do in the production of an emergent technology strategy, is to try and draw out the best of what government is doing, showcase it, learn what we did to make that work well so then those lessons can be applied elsewhere in government. But it links into other areas as well. How we procure those kind of things from the private sector how we get the best of innovation from the private sector and it goes to things like the culture of government. So we want to make sure that people feel empowered to be able to take proportionate risks. I think you're not going to get innovation without taking risks and sometimes those risks will go wrong. It is okay to fail, if you're helping to drive that innovation. So, trying to achieve that that cultural change as well. Sarah Stewart: Why do we need a strategy? Oliver Dowden: It’s not about government sticking a finger in the air and saying ‘we want to go for blockchain because it's the technology of the moment’, it's just thinking how we how we can make use of that, so that that kind of started the ball rolling. But when you start the ball rolling about how do you think you can use emergent technology, that opens up wider questions, as I said around procurement, around the culture of government, so it's sort of broadened into those different areas. And actually it's been very interesting in framing this strategy – rather than us sort of sitting in Whitehall with a few at policy officials trying to come up with a policy, we've tried to go out there and talk to people. So I've held events in different parts of the country, indeed I also attended an event in in Paris where we talked about this as well, which was hosted, well variously attended, by both the President of France and the Prime Minister of Canada, which gives you some sort of indication of the seriousness that all governments are taking. But we've also been to Edinburgh, to different parts of England, the rest of United Kingdom. And you get consistent messages coming through. And those relate to how we need to change the culture of government, to embrace new technologies, how we need to change the way we buy in technologies, how we need to improve skills. So hopefully what people will see in the strategy, when it's produced, are sensible steps to help us do that. I'm not promising that this is going to be the endpoint, clearly it won't be, but hopefully there will be some helpful signposts along the route. Sarah Stewart: So in that period of engagement was there anything that really stood out to you? Any ‘aha!’ moments you learned from any of the academics or the practitioners or tech leaders in the field? Oliver Dowden: I think all roads lead back data. And it's certainly the case that data...it really feels to me that this year and the next year is the moment where we move from seeing the potential of data that's been talked about a lot to actually it's starting to lead to some big breakthroughs in how we do things differently. And actually you're starting to see it in the health sector already. And I think that it strikes me that this is a very exciting time, but in order to unlock that there's a lot of work to be done. For example, the government holds a huge amount of data, but often that data is not accessible, so we need to look about how we make it more accessible and we also need to look at how we make people not just do all the sort of tech experts understand the potential but all policymakers need to understand the potential of the data that they hold. So I think if there's one ‘aha moment’ when I thought that this is something we could really go big on that is probably it. Sarah Stewart: If I could just move on to talk to you about your work with SMEs and the GovTech sector.You've said previously that innovation relies on, or successful innovation relies on, a good relationship with the private sector. Why can't government go it alone? Oliver Dowden: Well I think we have we have so many opportunities out there. If you look at the kind of interesting, innovative stuff that is going on with SMEs, it’s not just SMEs, large companies as well they're doing interesting stuff with emergent technologies, they're doing interesting stuff with data. The idea that government is going to have all the answers or can create all the answers... if we don't embrace that what's going on the private sector [could mean] we're missing out on a huge amount of knowledge and creativity. And I think the best way to proceed is to work in in partnership, so there will be some instances – and GDS does this a lot – GDS does stuff in-house, but equally we buy in skills and knowledge and I think that then reinforces a healthy mixed-market economy whereby we create opportunities for the private sector. The private sector manages to grow through having those opportunities, but we get lots of ideas and intellectual property from the private sector. I think that enriches both sides of the economy in the UK and helps strengthen our position as a global digital leader. Sarah Stewart: How are you making – or how is government – making it easier for the private sector and the public sector to collaborate? Oliver Dowden: We've already made a good start with GovTech [Catalyst] which is a £20 million fund announced by the Treasury just last year that has been run through Cabinet Office and the Government Digital Service. We've had three rounds of challenges doing lots of interesting... taking lots of interesting challenges and using emergent technologies to address them. And what GovTech has done is to try and sort of soften the barrier between government and the private sector through procurement, because I think, too often, government decides what it wants then goes out to market with a very prescriptive solution and quite a rigid procurement process. Having the opportunity to have a competition where you have different stages so different people pitch into what the solution might look like is one things we managed to do with GovTech, and it forms part of a pattern that I hope we can add to where we have the opportunity for soft engagement in procurement before it actually happens. We can get the ideas from the private sectors to what we're after and how we procure it. Sarah Stewart: So there is life for digital government beyond the end of the Government Transformation Strategy? They'll always be work to do. Oliver Dowden: Oh there will always be work to do. I don't think the digital transformation of society and the economy as a whole is going to end anytime soon [laughter] and government has to keep up with it. Sarah Stewart: And of course, we're supporting EU exit as well. GDS is playing an important role there. Do you think that meeting the short-term needs of EU exit will in be in any way compromised, or compromise, the longer term ambitions for government transformation or indeed, do you think it will accelerate it? Oliver Dowden: I think it's more likely to be the latter. I think there are there are big opportunities created by the need to adapt to Brexit and certainly, necessity can often drive innovation and I think that's one of the core things that GDS is doing. Sarah Stewart: You mentioned the principles of GDS and indeed other departments who are undergoing digital transformation. And the first principle is users first. And I suppose as a constituency MP, you're doing user research all the time, listening to what people want and wanting to deliver on those things. How does that play into your role as a minister? How does what they say, translate? Oliver Dowden: I'm the number one thing is that most people care about outcomes not processes. I think what GDS is doing is increasingly shifting that focus towards the output regardless of the different government processes so for example we're looking at how you can just type in ‘learn to drive’ and it cuts across the different parts of government that help you achieve that or ‘start your own business’ or ‘move house’ – all those kind of things. That's that's what citizens are looking for and I think that's that would be an increasing trend in what we're doing I think. That also links in to how you interface as well. Depending on almost precisely how old you are, you relate to digital in different ways and increasingly there's use of voice technology, accessing technology through all different mediums we need to make sure we're keeping up with that. Sarah Stewart: You mentioned visiting the GovTech summit in Paris. Do you keep an eye on what other governments are doing in the innovation space? Is there any country in particular that's piquing your interest? Oliver Dowden: Well I think we're fortunate to be quite ahead of the curve in the UK, but I'm always conscious of who's playing catch up and it's interesting – all around the world people are starting to do this. So Singapore have made it a huge priority and hopefully I'm going to Denmark later this month, where again the government there is really committed to digital transformation and everyone knows about Estonia as well, that was the leader though clearly Estonia it’s slightly different. Canada is doing a lot of work. I was talking to High Commissioner about it just the other day. So there is definitely...I wouldn't say a race because I think we're all trying to get to the same endpoint, but I want to make sure that the UK is at the forefront of doing that. Sarah Stewart: Yes, what do they say? A rising tide lifts all ships? Oliver Dowden: Exactly. Sarah Stewart: When you were on your travels and conducting your engagement to inform the strategy was there anyone in particular that you found particularly interesting or that really helped shape your understanding? Oliver Dowden: Yes there's lots of examples. I think what's being done with CivTech in Scotland it's very interesting. We've kind of done a similar thing to it with GovTech but I think there are definitely lessons that we can learn from there. You can't help but be impressed by some of the tech applications particularly in relation to virtual reality. That's some way down the line for government but it is certainly something that makes you think. Sarah Stewart: And just as we draw to a close, what have been the high points of your year? Oliver Dowden: Well it was I must say it was a tremendous privilege to be in Paris and President Macron hosted us for lunch at the Élysée Palace, we were able to talk about this on a pan-European level. That brought home to me how this is an exciting and emergent trend, but also looking in terms of the practical application, seeing how the use of technology has been transforming people's lives and that's what we're all in government for in the end, making people's lives better. Sarah Stewart: And there was one more thing…the podcast of course. Oliver Dowden: Of course! Oh but you asked up til now! The podcast is ongoing! Sarah Stewart: Well that brings us to the end of today's podcast. Thank you so much for joining us it's been really interesting. Oliver Dowden: Pleasure, thank you. Sarah Stewart: Thank you very much for listening. I hope you enjoyed it and that you'll listen again next month when we talk to more interesting people about interesting things in the world of digital government. Until then, farewell.
Descarga este episodio Descarga este episodio EL 'ALGORITMO' EN LOS ESTADOS DE WHATSAPP, TAMBIÉN. Facebook está cambiando la forma en la que aparecen los estados de WhatsApp para que funcionen de manera parecida a Instagram o Twitter. Los algoritmos serán los encargados de ordenar las publicaciones de nuestros contactos, en función de parámetros que, obviamente, no son públicos. Por el momento estas pruebas están siendo realizadas con usuarios de iPhone en países como España, Brasil e India. Más adelante llegará a más países y a usuarios de otras plataformas, como Android. ANDRO4ALL | COMPUTER HOY PRIMERA PRESENTADORA DE RAZA NEGRA EN LA RED GLOBO. Una periodista se convirtió este fin de semana en la primera presentadora de raza negra del principal telenoticiero de la red Globo, considerado el más influyente de Brasil y que con casi 50 años de existencia por fin abrió las puertas a una mujer afrodescendiente como cara del informativo. Maria Júlia Coutinho, conocida en el medio periodístico como “Majú”, comenzó a trabajar con Globo en 2007 como reportera y en 2013 asumió el reto de informar la previsión del tiempo de los telediarios “Majú” es una de las siete periodistas negras que han sobresalido en Brasil en programas e informativos de televisión, un número irrisorio para un país donde más del 50 % de la población es negra o mulata. UOL | JOVEM PAN APLAZADO EL INICIO DEL PRIMER JUICIO CONTRA CRISTINA FERNÁNDEZ. El primer juicio contra la expresidenta argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner no comenzará el 26 de febrero como estaba previsto sino el 21 de mayo, para dar tiempo a que uno de los magistrados se recupere de una cirugía cardiaca a la que será sometido este martes. Fuentes judiciales citadas por la agencia de noticias pública Télam han confirmado que uno de los jueces, Jorge Tassara, será sometido a un triple bypass coronario. Este primer proceso pretende dilucidar las posibles responsabilidades de Fernández y otras 15 personas más en las presuntas irregularidades registradas en la adjudicación de obras públicas en la provincia de Santa Cruz. TELAM | PRENSA LATINA EL GOBIERNO BRITÁNICO ADMITE QUE SERÁ "MUY DIFÍCIL" RENEGOCIAR EL BREXIT. El 'número dos' del Gobierno de Reino Unido, David Lidington, ha admitido este lunes que "reabrir" el Tratado de Retirada con la UE será "muy difícil", aunque ha considerado "muy útiles" las conversaciones que se han desarrollado en la última semana entre las dos partes. Londres aspira a renegociar el acuerdo que ya había pactado con los Veintisiete el Ejecutivo de Theresa May, después de que el pacto actual recibiese un rechazo abrumador en la Cámara de los Comunes. Sin embargo, las autoridades europeas rechazan reabrir el texto. REUTERS | CLARIN TRUMP ENFRENTARÁ DEMANDAS POR SU DECLARACIÓN DE “EMERGENCIA NACIONAL”. Las autoridades de California tienen en vista una demanda contra el presidente de Estados Unidos., Donald Trump, para bloquear la declaración de "emergencia nacional" con la que el mandatario busca reunir fondos para construir el muro en la frontera con México, sin el visto bueno del Congreso. El fiscal general de California, el demócrata Xavier Becerra, confirmó hoy esa inminente demanda y adelantó que "una docena de estados" se sumarán a la querella, entre ellos Nevada, Nuevo México, Nueva York, Oregón, Hawái, Minesota, Colorado y Nueva Jersey. RT | CNN PAYLESS CIERRA SUS TIENDAS EN EEUU Y PUERTO RICO. La conocida tienda de zapatos con descuentos cerrará sus 2.100 locales en Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico en los próximos meses.Según información de Usa Today, la compañía dijo que todas las tiendas permanecerán abiertas hasta fines de marzo y la mayoría permanecerá abierta hasta mayo. No obstante, Payless mantendrá los establecimientos en Latinoamérica, así como las tiendas en régimen de franquicia que tiene en el extranjero. En la actualidad, la empresa opera con más de 3.600 puntos de venta en cuarenta países. MODAES ALIS EL “JJ” CONDENADO A 20 AÑOS DE PRISIÓN. José Jorge Balderas Garza, alias “El JJ” fue sentenciado por un Juez Federal a cumplir una condena de 20 años de prisión y una multa de 500 días por el delito de delincuencia organizada en la modalidad de contra la salud. “El JJ” estuvo involucrado en la agresión en contra del futbolista paraguayo Salvador Cabañas, ocurrida en 2010. En ella, el delincuente del Cártel de los Beltrán Leyva le disparó en la cabeza al deportista, quien salió vivo del ataque. INFOBAE NETFLIX Y MARVEL SE DICEN ADIÓS. Finalmente Netflix y Marvel finiquitan su relación. La plataforma cancela The Punisher y Jessica Jones. Netflix lo confirmó a Deadline, y Marvel por su parte, también ha lanzado un comunicado para reconocer los logros que han alcanzado desde 2013 con Netflix, y su mensaje deja la puerta abierta para el retorno. "El presidente de la división de Televisión de Marvel, Jeph Loeb, publicó una carta dirigida a los fanáticos de los shows de Marvel en Netflix, agradeciéndoles su apoyo a cada una de las series así como al especial The Defenders (2017). La carta no menciona a Netflix por su nombre, pero sugiere que Disney quizás continúe las historias de estos superhéroes en otros lugares. XATAKA EDUARDO BERIZZO ES NUEVO DT DE LA SELECCIÓN PARAGUAYA DE FUTBOL. Se ha oficializado el reemplazo del colombiano Juan Carlos Osorio. El elegido es Edardo "Toto" Berizzo, quien se unirá a los guaraníes este viernes 22 de febrero cuando sea presentado oficialmente. El estratega tendrá como principal objetivo armar el plantel para los amistosos de marzo, frente a Estados Unidos, México y Perú. Posteriormente, deberá realizar una buena Copa América y clasificarse a la cita de Catar 2022. TIGO SPORTS TODOS POR IGUAL EN LOS OSCAR 2019. La Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de Hollywood, ante las clamorosas protestas de muchos sectores del mundo del cine, da marcha atrás y finalmente todos los premios de los premios Oscar 2019se darán en directo. Es decir, que en contra de lo inicialmente previsto por los organizadores de la gala, el próximo 24 de febrero las estatuillas a mejor fotografía, mejor cortometraje de ficción, mejor montaje y mejor maquillaje y peluquería no se entregarán durante la publicidad sino, como el resto de premios, durante la retransmisión. La rectificación llega tras la avalancha de protestas de muchos sectores del mundo del cine. Robert de Niro, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro y Alfonso Cuarón, entre otros, estaban en contra. RCN QUEEN TOCARÁ EN LA CEREMONIA DE LOS PREMIOS OSCAR 2019. Y hablando de los Oscar 2019 la organización anunció que Queen + Adam Lambert tocarán en la nonagésima primera entrega de los Oscars. La noticia, anunciada hace tan sólo algunas horas, fue dada a conocer por la propia organización a través de un mensaje publicado en su cuenta oficial de Twitter en el que también compartieron un video de una performance en vivo del grupo. La participación de la legendaria banda y el ex American Idol en la ceremonia se debe a que Bohemian Rhapsody, obtuvo cinco nominaciones a los premios de este año: Mejor Película, Mejor Actor (Rami Malek), Mejor Edición de Sonido, Mejor Mezcla de Sonido y Mejor Edición. YOUTUBE Share on facebook Facebook Share on google Google+ Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Te pedimos que te tomes un pequeño tiempo para responder a esta breve encuesta. Nos sirve para mejorar.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of the interviewer/interviewee and do not in any way represent the views of the Holywell Trust, its partners or their funders. David Lidington, Member of Parliament for the Aylesbury constituency and current Minister for the Cabinet Office is visiting the city and the Holywell Trust. Amongst his roles David Lidington is in charge of the delivery of Brexit and for this special edition of the Brexit Focus Podcast, Paul was exclusively afforded the opportunity to interview the Minister regarding the border, the fiuture of the Peace Programmes and contingency plans for a No-Deal Scenario. Never miss an episode of the Holywell Trust Podcast, the Holywell Trust Testimony series or Brexit Focus Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/holywell-podcast/id1229484179?mt=2 Follow us on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/user-743120821 And you can now listen to the Holywell Trust Podcast and Testimony series on Stitcher Radio http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/dee-curran/holywell-podcast Please feel free to comment on our Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Soundcloud pages and don’t forget to rate the programme. Thanks for listening and sharing the links.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of the interviewer/interviewee and do not in any way represent the views of the Holywell Trust, its partners or their funders. David Lidington, Member of Parliament for the Aylesbury constituency and current Minister for the Cabinet Office is visiting the city and the Holywell Trust. Amongst his roles David Lidington is in charge of the delivery of Brexit and for this special edition of the Brexit Focus Podcast, Paul was exclusively afforded the opportunity to interview the Minister regarding the border, the fiuture of the Peace Programmes and contingency plans for a No-Deal Scenario. Never miss an episode of the Holywell Trust Podcast, the Holywell Trust Testimony series or Brexit Focus Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/holywell-podcast/id1229484179?mt=2 Follow us on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/user-743120821 And you can now listen to the Holywell Trust Podcast and Testimony series on Stitcher Radio http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/dee-curran/holywell-podcast Please feel free to comment on our Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Soundcloud pages and don’t forget to rate the programme. Thanks for listening and sharing the links.
Isabel Hardman is here with the best of Sunday's political interviews. Highlights today come from Sir Keir Starmer, Dominic Raab, David Lidington, Nicola Sturgeon and Ken Clarke. This podcast was prodced by Matthew Taylor.
Brexit day in 12 months' time should be marked by “huge celebrations” and the sounding of Big Ben, a leading Eurosceptic Cabinet minister says today. The remarks by Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, put her at odds with John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons and David Lidington, Theresa May's effective deputy, who have both ruled that Big Ben will not sound when Britain leaves the EU in March next year.
Isabel Hardman takes you through the best of Sunday's Political Interviews. Today's podcast features contributions from David Lidington, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa Villiers, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Donald Trump. Produced by Matthew Taylor.
All of the best of Sunday's political interviews condensed into a ten minute podcast. Interviewees this week include Sir Vince Cable, Owen Paterson, Debbie Abrahams, Angela Rayner and David Lidington. This podcast is presented by Isabel Hardman and produced by Matthew Taylor.
Sophy talks to justice secretary David Lidington about Tory leadership rumblings and shadow work and pension secretary Debbie Abrahams on Labour's spending plans.She also heard from the CBI's Paul Drechsler about what businesses want to see from Brexit.
Joshua Rozenberg examines the implications for the criminal justice system - especially the courts and prisons - of the growing number of prosecutions and convictions of older people for sexual offences. The programme also discovers the legal implications of the explosion in the theatrical use of holograms of both the living and the dead. And we find out what's on the agenda for the new Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, David Lidington.
After the House of Lords amended the Government's Brexit Bill, Sophy speaks to the chairman of the Brexit Select Committee Hilary Benn and the leader of the House of Commons David Lidington. She also talks business rates with Caroline Lucas and finds out from Paul Nuttall who is 'the cat' in UKIP. #Ridge
Leader of the House, David Lidington, answered questions from MPs on behalf of the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on Wednesday 7 December 2016.
20 years ago the European Union embarked on an ambitious project which clearly ranks among its greatest achievements – the creation of the Single Market. The Single Market has brought down barriers to trade and created a level playing field for European businesses and consumers. To mark the 20th anniversary, a series of events took place across the EU. In the UK, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in cooperation with the European Commission, organised a half-day conference at Lancaster House on 18 October 2012 and published ‘Twenty Years On: The UK and the Future of the Single Market’