Good things about the new government

[plodder]

Dominic Cummings thinks big chunks of the government are essentially incompetent and corrupt. He's got his sights set on MoD procurement for starters. I'm pretty sympathetic towards this, despite anything else I might think about him.

https://www.forces.net/news/defence-spe ... sons-radar

Published before he joined the Government, Mr Cummings hit out at the programme to build the carriers.

Calling the scheme a "farce", he added that MOD procurement specialists had "continued to squander billions of pounds, enriching some of the worst corporate looters and corrupting public life via the revolving door of officials/lobbyists".

"Scrutiny by our MPs has been contemptible. They have built platforms that already cannot be sent to a serious war against a serious enemy," wrote Mr Cummings, who is regarded as a key player in the election strategy that produced a victory for Mr Johnson.

He poured scorn on the quality of those overseeing the purchasing process, adding: "The officials in charge of multi-billion processes are mostly mediocre, often appalling."

[Woodchopper]

Johnson’s majority means that the ERG, DUP and any other fringe extremists will have far less influence than they have done since 2010.

Brexit will happen. But at least Mogg no longer has an effective veto over what kind of Brexit.

[El Pollo Diablo]

I think it's ridiculous in a way that it takes a few seats in the north east going tory to happen, but Johnson's apparent intention to build new infrastructure in the north of England - IF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS - is also a good thing. I have some criticisms but I'll save that for another thread.

Thanks for starting to thread, though. It is good to try to find these tiny nuggets here and there.

[GeenDienst]

The new government will be based in a possible meteorite impact site.

[dyqik]

Dominic Cummings thinks big chunks of the government are essentially incompetent and corrupt. He's got his sights set on MoD procurement for starters. I'm pretty sympathetic towards this, despite anything else I might think about him.

https://www.forces.net/news/defence-spe ... sons-radar

Published before he joined the Government, Mr Cummings hit out at the programme to build the carriers.

Calling the scheme a "farce", he added that MOD procurement specialists had "continued to squander billions of pounds, enriching some of the worst corporate looters and corrupting public life via the revolving door of officials/lobbyists".

"Scrutiny by our MPs has been contemptible. They have built platforms that already cannot be sent to a serious war against a serious enemy," wrote Mr Cummings, who is regarded as a key player in the election strategy that produced a victory for Mr Johnson.

He poured scorn on the quality of those overseeing the purchasing process, adding: "The officials in charge of multi-billion processes are mostly mediocre, often appalling."

And if it doesn't work (which it probably won't), then he'll have wasted several years of time and energy on something that doesn't directly affect most people, and ruined his reputation at the same time.

[plodder]

why won't it probably won't?

do you know something we don't know?

[dyqik]

why won't it probably won't?

do you know something we don't know?

Many have tried before, and not succeeded. Thus a priori, the chances of success are low.

And most government procurement inefficiency is to do with the number of rules in place to prevent misuse and abuse, plus the low number of qualified vendors. It remains inefficient because procurement on this scale and with this level of national security risk, which must be controlled, is hard. There's nothing in Dominic Cummings' CV that suggests he has any relevant experience to this problem.

In other news, Jared Kushner has taken on the task of sorting out peace in the Middle East.

[JQH]

The new government will be based in a possible meteorite impact site.

Past or future impact site?

[TopBadger]

In addition to Dyqik's post - MOD procurement is also wasteful because:

1. We insist on generating UK specific designs for things (e.g. Rifles)
2. Where we do buy off the shelf we insist on retrofitting UK specific upgrades which takes an age (refitting Apache with RR engines and other mods comes to mind - took 9 years from signing the procurement to getting an operational Sqn)
3. We're not able to order in sufficient quantities to get volume discounts. Our military is pretty small.

1 and 2 are a consequence of trying to protect our local defence industries. 3 is a consequence of reducing the defence budget.

So unless the Tories willing to kill off UK industry and buy in bulk from overseas, I don't think anything Dom or anyone else comes up with will change this.

[jimbob]

In addition to Dyqik's post - MOD procurement is also wasteful because:

1. We insist on generating UK specific designs for things (e.g. Rifles)
2. Where we do buy off the shelf we insist on retrofitting UK specific upgrades which takes an age (refitting Apache with RR engines and other mods comes to mind - took 9 years from signing the procurement to getting an operational Sqn)
3. We're not able to order in sufficient quantities to get volume discounts. Our military is pretty small.

1 and 2 are a consequence of trying to protect our local defence industries. 3 is a consequence of reducing the defence budget.

So unless the Tories willing to kill off UK industry and buy in bulk from overseas, I don't think anything Dom or anyone else comes up with will change this.

Dom might be able to get a good deal on Russian kit.

[nekomatic]

They’ve not shown any concerns about UK industry so far, I don’t see why you expect them to start now.

One thing is that while Brexit is far from done yet, the campaigning energies of the people who have spent the last three and a half years fighting Brexit will increasingly become available for fighting all the other sh.t.

[cvb]

Dominic Cummings thinks big chunks of the government are essentially incompetent and corrupt. He's got his sights set on MoD procurement for starters. I'm pretty sympathetic towards this, despite anything else I might think about him.

https://www.forces.net/news/defence-spe ... sons-radar

Published before he joined the Government, Mr Cummings hit out at the programme to build the carriers.

Calling the scheme a "farce", he added that MOD procurement specialists had "continued to squander billions of pounds, enriching some of the worst corporate looters and corrupting public life via the revolving door of officials/lobbyists".

"Scrutiny by our MPs has been contemptible. They have built platforms that already cannot be sent to a serious war against a serious enemy," wrote Mr Cummings, who is regarded as a key player in the election strategy that produced a victory for Mr Johnson.

He poured scorn on the quality of those overseeing the purchasing process, adding: "The officials in charge of multi-billion processes are mostly mediocre, often appalling."

Presumably the wrong snouts are getting wetted at the moment. He will see to it that this is changed.

[plodder]

Bad procurement is about way more than the small gene pool of suppliers. I’m willing to bet there’s weak governance, piss poor scope definition (that’s not linked to any meaningful set of strategically aligned benefits), little-to-no contract management and no consequences if things go wrong.

All of these are pretty easy to fix if you’ve got enough clout.

[Grumble]

Bad procurement is about way more than the small gene pool of suppliers. I’m willing to bet there’s weak governance, piss poor scope definition (that’s not linked to any meaningful set of strategically aligned benefits), little-to-no contract management and no consequences if things go wrong.

All of these are pretty easy to fix if you’ve got enough clout.

Bidding for MoD work is much like any other bid in my experience.

[dyqik]

Bad procurement is about way more than the small gene pool of suppliers. I’m willing to bet there’s weak governance, piss poor scope definition (that’s not linked to any meaningful set of strategically aligned benefits), little-to-no contract management and no consequences if things go wrong.

All of these are pretty easy to fix if you’ve got enough clout.

I'm going to bet that there isn't much more of those than in any other procurement area of that scale. And that they largely can't be removed without adding layers of bureaucracy.

[Woodchopper]

In addition to Dyqik's post - MOD procurement is also wasteful because:

1. We insist on generating UK specific designs for things (e.g. Rifles)
2. Where we do buy off the shelf we insist on retrofitting UK specific upgrades which takes an age (refitting Apache with RR engines and other mods comes to mind - took 9 years from signing the procurement to getting an operational Sqn)
3. We're not able to order in sufficient quantities to get volume discounts. Our military is pretty small.

1 and 2 are a consequence of trying to protect our local defence industries. 3 is a consequence of reducing the defence budget.

So unless the Tories willing to kill off UK industry and buy in bulk from overseas, I don't think anything Dom or anyone else comes up with will change this.

To add to your list:

4. Politicians requiring that designs and requirements are changed after contracts have been signed.

5. (Slightly different from 2) A requirement that new equipment have cutting edge UK made technology rather than buying off the shelf from the US. Which involves inevitable time delays and budget overruns.

[Grumble]

The new government will be based in a possible meteorite impact site.

Past or future impact site?

We’ll have to do an impact assessment.

[Gentleman Jim]

If power is an aphrodisiac and Boris is not known for his restraint, how long before certain parts of him are "worn away"?

[GeenDienst]

Trouble is, that kind of scandal has no traction any more for the far right. It just makes him More Of A Lad and his base love it.

[Gentleman Jim]

I didn't mean scandal, I meant actual physical erosion

[GeenDienst]

I'm reminded of the story about an ex-ladyfriend of Nicholas Soames saying that sex with him was like having a wardrobe fall on you with the key sticking out.

[plodder]

Trouble is, that kind of scandal has no traction any more for the far right. It just makes him More Of A Lad and his base love it.

Can you define “far right” with reference to Johnson please, and tell me where Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage fit onto your spectrum?

[GeenDienst]

OK, "far right and their appeasers".

[plodder]

Is Johnson only “appeasing” the far right in your opinion, or is he also “appeasing” centrists, for example?

[GeenDienst]

I have not, and really CBA to consider a list of people Johnson has appeased, although I guess I'd struggle to think of how he has reached out to centrists. Nevertheless, his whole stance on Brexit, trade relations etc. and his continual racist remarks provide great encouragement to the far right.

If you have a point you could always, y'know, make it.