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How to Prepare for Government

From arguments about fonts to the preferred sandwich fillings of a new PM, Cleo Watson and Helen MacNamara go behind the scenes of the civil service during purdah.

As the 2024 General Election comes to an end and politicians and their aides turn their minds to who should serve in the Cabinet and where they'll sit in Downing Street, civil servants all over Whitehall are busy preparing for a new government. Ex-Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and former Downing Street aide Cleo Watson speak to former officials and SpAds about access talks, policy implementation and the tiny details (fonts, sandwiches, mints) that make all the difference.

Presenters: Cleo Watson and Helen MacNamara
Producer: Eliane Glaser
Executive Producer: Jon Holmes

An unusual production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Contributors:

Former senior civil servants:
Peter Hill
David Normington
Sonia Phippard
Mark Sweeney
Alex Thomas

Former political advisers:
Kate Fall
Edward Lister
Sally Morgan
Jonny Oates
Jonathan Powell

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Tue 2 Jul 2024 16:00

Broadcast

  • Tue 2 Jul 2024 16:00