Dr Benno Blaschke: Yes (but we can’t) Minister!

Once upon a time, “Yes Minister” gave us Sir Humphrey Appleby, scheming, obstructive, magnificently verbose, but above all, competent. He could bury a reform in procedure without breaking a sweat. A master of his craft.

If we made that show today, Sir Humphrey’s successors would barely understand what they are obstructing. They’re not cunningly verbose. They are genuinely confused. Welcome to the modern public service, where we have replaced magnificent scheming with bewilderment.

JC: A Meeting to End a War Started One

At least of words. I will try and give some balance to this article. Not the easiest of tasks but here goes.

The meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky did not go as expected. Depending on your point of view it could be said Trump came across as a bully, that Zelensky gave as good as he got and the fact that the meeting didn’t go well was the fault of one or the other.