Disappointed I haven't yet seen a 'Cummings Greatest Hits in government' list, because it really is a fine collection. So let's try to correct this terrible wrong. Tagline - 'Unlike most Greatest Hits you never want to hear these again...'
Never start with the greatest hit, so let's go with Track 1, the algorithm to fix the planning system. Nothing could be more guaranteed to enrage as many Conservative MPs as possible while failing to fix whatever problem it was trying to solve. telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/2…
Track 2, one of my favourites, epic and petulant responses to media articles. Such as "his anonymous source is variously described as a ‘senior adviser to Downing Street’ and a ‘senior Downing Street adviser’. The two things are not the same." healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/19/res…
3, the new government control centre. Because we want to pretend we're sending people to the moon, rather than co-ordinating government departments with different concerns. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8…
Hard of course to know why we need a control centre when we have super-forecasters. Although sometimes some time travel is required to make sure the predictions are right. Track 4, predicting covid after the event... mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/d…
The unfinished track, 5, the rather bizarre tales of Cummings inspecting defence sites because apparently he was going to be the main power behind the nation's defence review. theguardian.com/politics/2020/…
There were of course the direct human costs. Let us not forget that for reasons best known to himself, the PM allowed Cummings to in effect remove the Chancellor. Number 6... dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7…
How can we forget the weirdos and misfits? As if government didn't already have enough of these, Cummings specifically requested more. The results were rather predictable, 7, unpleasant weirdos... independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
Number 8, the 'hard rain' to fall on the civil service. Never entirely clear beyond a few sackings and threats to send everyone to Middlesbough or some such what the actual plan was. But we'll probably find out now, in a very long blog ft.com/content/a2806a…
But there were some positive parts of the Cummings agenda. Well, one to be specific. Greatest Hit 9, ARPA. We were going to bet the entire country's future on a research projects agency. Detail, as ever, to follow. theconversation.com/arpa-what-is-i…
10, control over SpAds. Never sounded a great job to be honest, but with Cummings as your boss? David Brent minus charm plus malice? theguardian.com/politics/2020/…
Finally for now, 11, the mastery of anonymous briefings to a pliant media. Which, in the great way of such things, was what ultimately brought down Cummings. What goes round come round. Sadly we probably shall see his like again... ukandeu.ac.uk/anonymous-numb…
PS pls suggest others
PS pls suggest others
PS This is true. You'll have to wait for someone else to bring out the Cummings box set.
https://twitter.com/PureRonin/status/1327930944079196162
PPS Missed this one. The remake of "The Wrong Trousers" but considerably more expensive, "The Wrong Satellites"
https://twitter.com/ChrisKimberley/status/1327971715595513856
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