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<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="HMS Daring in Pompey" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Surprisingly, one of the critical issues leading to Starmer’s resignation was a disagreement within the cabinet about the defence budget and strategy. I have persistently argued that Labour’s defence party strategy was aimed at defending labour’s right against his left rather than the country against any threats. The government has now published what they call...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="HMS Daring in Pompey" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HMS_Daring-1-via-wikipedia-cc-brianburnell-by-sa-2010-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Surprisingly, one of the critical issues leading to Starmer’s resignation was a disagreement within the cabinet about the defence budget and strategy. I have persistently argued that Labour’s defence party strategy was aimed at defending labour’s right against his left rather than the country against any threats. The government has now published what they call the defence investment plan and so debates around that continue to occur. In addition the labour party’s national policy forum produce a section on defence. Personally I’m not happy with the nature of debate and here are some notes I made while considering some issues raised by the politics of the DIP. It seems I am not alone. See Luke Cooper’s substack article Andy Burnham should scrap the Defence Investment Plan and start again . He focuses on supply chains and rentierism, although he also looks at innovation speed, the lessons from Ukraine and he need for ‘exquisite’ weapons. I agree with the views expressed in his article with P. Mary Kaldor https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/06/16/organised-irresponsibility/, By failing to raise taxes to address these needs, defence spending is now directly competing with investment in welfare, public services and infrastructure. These are all areas desperate for funding if we are serious about countering the rightwards trend in this country -we need to address the frustration of those who have faced years of austerity and develop resilience to malign interventions by hostile states. and thus I also oppose the military industrial complexes and their political agents attempts to pay for the military budget by squeezing the Social Security budgets. The fact is the Tories have left us in a very poor position in terms of public finance, tax base, human capital infrastructure and defence capability. My TLDR Is that the government’s approach to both the RAF and the Royal Navy is inadequate. https://share.gemini.google/SWU9zjKr8hrk defence treaties, should we be East of Suez? https://share.gemini.google/nFvIAzjrDAw4 is the UK premature in moving to a hybrid naval capability https://share.google/aimode/0xSkxGqmWxllSTUEs end of life of the Type 45/Daring https://share.google/aimode/Px0ZTXk5tlRXxfgFI defending the surface fleet The RAF is overly dependent on US aircraft, including cargo planes, AWACS and helicopters, also the US satellite systems, Starlink, the GPS and the GNSS. We note that US software can be denied. I feel we need to consider our air defence capability including anti-missile and anti-drone defences for the UK. This might be best done with the European industrial syndicates supporting the Ukraine’s defensive capability. See aksi Labour’s NPF on Defence, the conclusions are on pages 76 & 77. See also the-uk-governments-strategy-for-international-development and the-defence-investment-plan, both at gov.uk. ooOOOoo On defence sovereignty https://davelevy.info/wiki/tag/defence See also the https://nationalpolicyforum.labour.org.uk/
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose from above" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-45x45.jpg 45w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I am trying to draft an NPF reference back on Immigration. Links I found this, What I seek to get to Conference Commission: Safer Streets, Subsection: Conclusions: Asylum decision-making and system efficiency p37 & Contribution p38 Reasons for reference back The report fails to make substantive recommendations for policy on welcoming immigrant workers and refugees...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose from above" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/redrose-edwardhowell-unsplash-rotated-w1080-45x45.jpg 45w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I am trying to draft an NPF reference back on Immigration. Links https://nationalpolicyforum.labour.org.uk/ see pages 37 & 38, the section dealing with this issue is Safer Streets. I asked Google about the immigration tribunal numbers, what is the appeal rate success for immigration tribunal cases? , what proportion of immigrants are rejected on first hearing? and how many cases did the first tribunal hear in 2025? The success rate is between 36% & 67%. The variation is caused by counting those cases where the HO failed to present their case, the second question is poorly formed, and the answer is a repeat of the first, ~52,500 cases were closed, this is considered high as they were clearing the Tory backlog. I found this, Access to Citizenship and the Economic Assimilation of Immigrants, quick access aids integration What I seek to get to Conference Commission: Safer Streets, Subsection: Conclusions: Asylum decision-making and system efficiency p37 & Contribution p38 Reasons for reference back The report fails to make substantive recommendations for policy on welcoming immigrant workers and refugees and allowing them to create new lives. Conference calls on the NPF to look at and revive the 2024 promises to repeal the hostile environment, to take evidence and make proposals to ensure that workers are not tied to specific jobs and employers, that migrants should not be required to make greater contributions to society than non-migrants, that routes to citizenship should be reasonable and affordable, and that refugees should be able to work while waiting for status decisions and that the Labour Party rejects the idea that asylum decisions allowing entry to the UK can be reversed. Any advice gratefully received.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="from Lewisham Green's manifesto, their incumbent councillors and supporters" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-100x100.png 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />A number of Green led councils are having problems fulfilling their promises, on housing, and disinvestment. Lewisham Greens manifesto is published here, and I have made a mirror. It is also available on the wayback machine, as is the its landing page. The final line on the manifesto web page is, Lewisham already has everything...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="from Lewisham Green's manifesto, their incumbent councillors and supporters" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lewisham-Greens-100x100.png 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> A number of Green led councils are having problems fulfilling their promises, on housing, and disinvestment. Lewisham Greens manifesto is published here, and I have made a mirror. It is also available on the wayback machine, as is the its landing page. The final line on the manifesto web page is, Lewisham already has everything it needs to thrive: strong communities, creativity, resilience and pride. What’s been missing is the political leadership to bring it all together. Let’s see if that is so. I had a look at the housing manifesto promises; they promise to build 1,000 houses for social rent, over the term of office. Google gemini suggests this may not be as easy as they think. It is one of the few SMART promises they make.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="doors to a British polling station" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-45x45.jpg 45w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />One of the issues I rarely consider when looking at democratic reform is term limits, although I am in favour of them for Mayors. I found this paper, Term limits in parliamentary mandates – Democratic renewal or disruption? published by the European Parliament. I note that they are more common in Presidential republics, as in...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="doors to a British polling station" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pollingstation-elliottstallion-unsplash-w1080-45x45.jpg 45w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> One of the issues I rarely consider when looking at democratic reform is term limits, although I am in favour of them for Mayors. I found this paper, Term limits in parliamentary mandates – Democratic renewal or disruption? published by the European Parliament. I note that they are more common in Presidential republics, as in Parliaments, people often consider serving on the back benches as an apprenticeship for government. It presents the arguments for and against and catalogues those that exist, both national officials, mayors, and even intra-party restrictions. They are not common; funny that.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Bunrham's Cabinet in No 10 North" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The key responsibilities in Government for IT delivery, and AI have moved, swapped even; regulation remains at DDCMS. Links He is abolishing DIST, i.e. innovation scient & technology, AI gets a cabinet seat. A lot of this depends on whether you think GDS was a success or not. Benjamin Welby seems to think it was....
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Bunrham's Cabinet in No 10 North" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/55415893744_984e289673_c-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The key responsibilities in Government for IT delivery, and AI have moved, swapped even; regulation remains at DDCMS. Links He is abolishing DIST, i.e. innovation scient & technology, AI gets a cabinet seat. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/machinery-of-government-changes-fact-sheet, this is quite short and therfore easy to understand A blog by https://bm.wel.by/2026/07/22/five-things-i-think-about-gds-data-and-ai-being-split-up-again/ A lot of this depends on whether you think GDS was a success or not. Benjamin Welby seems to think it was. I need to read his evidence more carefully. HMG is much more dependent on the US Cloud providers than it was. ICL & ARM have been sold to Japan. I believe that the delivery systems are still based on COTS i.e. the GDS architectural strategy work is focused on web front ends. When I heard the criticisms of the reorg by fans of GDS , I was of the view that there are three problems, delivery, regulation and innovation. Also that UK regulation is overly focused on child (and now women’s) safety and privacy and not on political disinformation. The re-org also over-emphasises the importance of AI as a source of innovation in the UK economy. (I’d look at whether the UK can recover its position in battery and windmill manufacture). I reflected on this on Federalism and IT governance on this wiki.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Lisbon skyline at dusk" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />This needs to be checked off my list, my Portugal stay was business only. What to do! Hotels The main difference between 4-star and 5-star hotels in Lisbon comes down to depth of amenities, room size, and staff-to-guest ratios, with 5-star properties offering full luxury infrastructure like extensive spas and fine dining.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Lisbon skyline at dusk" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/lisbon-andreasbrucker-X87yB-jvYHw-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> This needs to be checked off my list, my Portugal stay was business only. What to do! 10 best things to do in Lisbon, and nearby by tripadvisor, what they say about Museums, they also talk of boat trips, & food tours. A blog, listing trips in Portugal, not so much about Lisbon, by Daniela. Another, by Blonde Atlas. The maritime-museum The Belem district of Lisbon: a tourism guide for 2026 Hotels The main difference between 4-star and 5-star hotels in Lisbon comes down to depth of amenities, room size, and staff-to-guest ratios, with 5-star properties offering full luxury infrastructure like extensive spas and fine dining.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Mexican national palace" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />This is the first draft of this note, which will focus on the Mexican upper house, known as the Senate of the Republic. Politics The President There is now a term limit of one six year term. They have no Vice President. The president can be recalled by referendum. The Senate GG says, that, On...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Mexican national palace" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mexicannationalpalace-1280px-Wikimania_2015_cc-by-sa-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> This is the first draft of this note, which will focus on the Mexican upper house, known as the Senate of the Republic. Politics Elections_in_Mexico from wikipedia, or Electoral system in Mexico (2024) from Wikipedia’s 2024 Mexican Election page The_Mexican_Electoral_System from the Institute Nacional Electoral (INE) The President There is now a term limit of one six year term. They have no Vice President. The president can be recalled by referendum. Mexico does not have a vice president. [1] Abolition: The position of vice president was officially abolished under the Constitution of Mexico in 1917. [1] Historical context: The role existed intermittently under earlier constitutions starting in 1824, but it was permanently removed to prevent potential rivalries and coups against the sitting president. [1, 2] Succession: If the president is unable to serve or vacates the office, the Mexican Congress designates a temporary or substitute president according to constitutional guidelines rather than relying on a vice president The Senate GG says, that, Mexico’s upper house, the Senate of the Republic (Senado de la República), has 128 members elected to serve six-year terms alongside the president. [1, 2] Senators are elected using a mixed electoral system combining direct plurality, first minority, and proportional representation: [1, 2, 3] Direct/Relative Majority (64 seats): Two senators are elected from each of the 31 states and Mexico City (32 federal entities total) using a first-past-the-post or relative majority system. The winning party ticket in each state takes both seats. [1, 2] First Minority (32 seats): One additional seat is allocated to the first minority party (the runner-up party or coalition) in each of the 31 states and Mexico City. [1] Proportional Representation (32 seats): The remaining 32 seats are distributed nationally via a single nationwide multi-member district based on the total proportional votes received by political parties using closed lists. [1] On asking about how the senate vote was counted GG said, No, the proportional representation (PR) seats in the Mexican Senate are not allocated using the d’Hondt method. [1, 2] Instead, Mexico uses a system of pure proportionality based on the Natural Quotient (cociente natural) and Largest Remainder (resto mayor) methods. [1, 2] Allocation Process The 32 PR Seats: The 32 national proportional representation senators are elected via a single nationwide multi-member district. [1] Natural Quotient (Cociente Natural): The total valid national vote cast for eligible parties is divided by the 32 available PR seats to establish the number of votes required to secure one seat. [1, 2, 3] Largest Remainder (Resto Mayor): Any remaining seats left unassigned after the initial natural quotient calculations are distributed to parties with the highest leftover vote remainders. [1, 2] Threshold: Parties must win at least 3% of the national valid vote to participate in this proportional distribution. [1, 2] House of Representatives/Chamber of Deputies It consists of 500 member,, which is just under the ∛ rule, if one doesn’t count their overseas citizens. The featured image is, By Dirk Ingo Franke – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via wikipedia
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a group of people at a table, with papers on the table, a meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I am trying to write something on the undesirability of unitary presidents, or over-powerful first amongst equals within collective executives. My wiki snip, On presidentialism has aged well, looking at how the mighty US Presidency came to be once the founding fathers decided to have a single president. The fact that its copies become deformed...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a group of people at a table, with papers on the table, a meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/committee-dylangillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I am trying to write something on the undesirability of unitary presidents, or over-powerful first amongst equals within collective executives. My wiki snip, On presidentialism has aged well, looking at how the mighty US Presidency came to be once the founding fathers decided to have a single president. The fact that its copies become deformed in the same way suggests to me there are fatal flaws in the constitutional settlement. I also wrote about it in my wiki article, On (2) founding-fathers. So I had a look for some white papers, both for and against the unitary executive. Gemini says, https://share.gemini.google/T66ACDIhBKQh and https://share.gemini.google/UYYJM7ouoeYt It summarises Hamilton in Federalist Papers No 70, “While generally classified as a historical essay rather than a modern policy white paper, this is the foundational text for the single executive in American constitutional theory. Hamilton argues that a unitary executive is essential for “energy in the executive,” which allows for “decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch.” He asserts that a plural executive—such as a ruling council—would inevitably lead to internal friction, conceal faults, and destroy democratic accountability by making it impossible for the public to know who to blame for administrative failures.” It also quotes, “The Fatally Flawed Theory of the Unbundled Executive” by Steven G. Calabresi and Nicholas Terrell (2009) who “maintain that voters are far better served by electing one chief executive who can balance competing policy priorities rather than fragmenting power across multiple uncoordinated, single-issue actors.” The anti’s are cited, “The Unbundled Executive” by Christopher R. Berry and Jacob E. Gersen (2008), and The Diffuse Executive” by Anya Bernstein and Cristina Rodríguez (2023); both of these are ficused on the USA. The focus on the US and on the founding process led me to ask Gemini to list the anti-federalist papers opposing a unitary executive. The quote, Letters from the Federal Farmer (Letter No. XI), attributinging likely authorship to Richard Henry Lee (or Melancton Smith), and summarising the argument as follows, “[critiquing] the structural balance of the proposed national government, specifically objecting to how the executive branch and the Senate shared and wielded immense administrative and appointment powers. The letters argued that a single executive magistrate would inevitably align with aristocratic elements rather than protect democratic interests, creating an unbalanced system prone to corruption and executive dominance over public offices and state authority.” Cato No IV, identifies the nexus of powers, that combining a four-year term with sweeping authorities over military command, appointments, and treaty-making created a recipe for an elective monarchy. He famously warned that if a president possessed personal ambition, the office provided “power and time sufficient to ruin his country,” eventually establishing an “imperfect aristocracy bordering on monarchy.” But another query pointed at European Governance A White Paper by the European Commission; to be read, but I asked for it to be summarised by gemini. It took the diffusion from the treaty based institutions. Possibly useful because it does not see the EU copying the the US with a President, bicameral legislature and a court, but seems to seek a new separation of powers based on three committees. I need some more, particularly pointing at Europe and maybe even the Soviet debates about what socialist constitution looked like.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="two people sitting in silhouette at the boundary of cyber space, in black and green" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />While considering the recent disposition of HMG’s re-organisation as it impacts the IT industry, I did some querying. I took the view that HMG has three domains of concern, regulation, macro-investment and implementation. Within implementation programmes, there is a massive problem of scale and probably divergent requirements. I made three queries at Google gemini. Q1...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="two people sitting in silhouette at the boundary of cyber space, in black and green" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/federalgovernance-deepai_org-CCPD-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> While considering the recent disposition of HMG’s re-organisation as it impacts the IT industry, I did some querying. I took the view that HMG has three domains of concern, regulation, macro-investment and implementation. Within implementation programmes, there is a massive problem of scale and probably divergent requirements. I made three queries at Google gemini. Q1 List three well cited papers on the conflict between entity wide Information Technology governance & requirements and the needs and policies of sub-entities. Here are three well-cited academic papers that explore the tensions, conflicts, and strategic alignments between enterprise-wide or headquarters-driven Information Technology governance and the autonomous needs, requirements, or local contexts of sub-entities and subsidiaries: Sambamurthy, V., & Zmud, R. W. (1999). Arrangements for information technology governance: A theory of multiple contingencies. MIS Quarterly, 23(2), 261–290.(Note: This is a foundational, highly-cited work discussing how enterprises choose among centralized, decentralized, and federal governance structures to manage the inherent tension between organization-wide standardization and sub-unit flexibility). Peterson, R. R. (2004). Information technology governance by design: Investigating hybrid configurations and integration mechanisms. Information Resources Management Journal, 17(4), 7–38.(Note: This study delves deep into hybrid/federal configurations, examining how organizations attempt to reconcile centralized corporate IT demands with the distinct operational requirements of business divisions and sub-units). Ekman, P., Thilenius, P., Thompson, S., & Whitaker, J. (2020). Digital transformation of global business processes: The role of dual embeddedness. Business Process Management Journal, 26(3), 570–592.(Note: This paper explores the continuous power struggles and conflicting needs between corporate headquarters and local subsidiaries when enacting entity-wide IT and digital initiatives). Q2 List two reviews of Sambamurthy, V., & Zmud, R. W. (1999). Arrangements for information technology governance: A theory of multiple contingencies Here are two academic reviews and critical discussions that examine the framework, impact, and legacy of the landmark paper “Arrangements for information technology governance: A theory of multiple contingencies” by Vallabh Sambamurthy and Robert W. Zmud (published in MIS Quarterly, 1999): Review 1: The Integration of IT Governance Streams and Expansion of Decision Rights Context & Focus: In the academic literature evaluating the evolution of IT governance research (such as structural framework evaluations by later researchers mapping the field), Sambamurthy and Zmud’s 1999 work is frequently reviewed as a critical turning point that moved the discipline away from treating IT governance as a simple binary choice. Key Findings of the Review: Prior to 1999, studies tended to view IT governance monolithically—largely as a choice between absolute centralization or decentralization. Sambamurthy and Zmud’s review and theory formation highlighted how organizations split decision rights across distinct domains (such as IT infrastructure, data administration, and application development). Reviewers note that the paper’s introduction of the federal (hybrid) mode provided a much-needed theoretical lens to explain why contemporary firms structure their IT authorities flexibly, combining corporate oversight with business-unit autonomy. Subsequent systemic literature reviews highlight that this specific paper laid the groundwork for modern enterprise architecture frameworks (like COBIT and Weill & Ross’s decision-rights matrices) by shifting the focus toward accountability patterns rather than just physical asset locations. Review 2: Evaluation through the Lens of Environmental Dynamism and Contingency Interactions Context & Focus: Found in specialized methodological discussions and follow-up studies regarding IT governance processes under environmental uncertainty (such as works by Peterson et al.). Key Findings of the Review: These reviews analyze Sambamurthy and Zmud’s core contribution: the Theory of Multiple Contingencies. Rather than looking at organizational variables (like firm size, strategy, or environmental turbulence) in isolation, the authors theorized that multiple contingency forces interact by amplifying, dampening, or overriding one another. Critical evaluations of this theory note its strength in moving contingency-based Information Systems (IS) research closer to organizational reality. By identifying scenarios where multiple contingencies are reinforcing, conflicting, or dominating, the paper successfully explained why organizations adopt complex hybrid structures. Later methodological reviews point out that while the multi-contingency model was robustly illustrated through eight case studies in the original paper, testing its complex interactive hypotheses quantitatively remains a rigorous challenge for subsequent empirical IS researchers due to the sheer number of interacting variables. Q3 List three popular review/commentary articles of Ekman, P., Thilenius, P., Thompson, S., & Whitaker, J. (2020). Digital transformation of global business processes The article by Ekman, Thilenius, Thompson, and Whitaker (2020), titled “Digital transformation of global business processes: the role of dual embeddedness” and published in the Business Process Management Journal (Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 570–592), is itself a primary empirical research study utilizing a longitudinal multi-case approach rather than a standalone review or commentary article (Ekman et al., 2020). Because direct secondary review or commentary articles dedicated exclusively to critiquing or reviewing this single paper are not standard outputs in academic literature, works that frequently cite, build upon, or incorporate its findings into broader reviews of digital transformation, subsidiary strategy, and multinational corporation (MNC) operations serve as the primary critical touchpoints: Demeter, K., Losonci, D., Szalavetz, A., & Baksa, M. (2023). Strategic drivers behind the digital transformation of subsidiaries: a longitudinal approach. Post-Communist Economies, 35(7), 744–769. Context: This study builds heavily on the longitudinal frameworks established by research into how multinational subsidiaries navigate digital changes, engaging with the complexities of headquarters-subsidiary alignment explored by Ekman and colleagues. Ionescu, A. M., Clipa, A. M., Turnea, E. S., Clipa, C. I., Bedrule-Grigoruță, M. V., & Roth, S. (2022). The impact of innovation framework conditions on corporate digital technology integration: Institutions as facilitators for sustainable digital transformation. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 23(5), 1037–1059. Context: This paper reviews and analyzes the internal and external organizational factors—such as financial, strategic, and technological considerations—that influence digital integration, citing Ekman et al. (2020) to underscore how organizational variables dictate digital achievement. Seow, R. C. Y. (2024). The Convergence of Digitalization and Internationalization: A Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. Abriz Business Journal. Context: A systematic literature review focusing on the intersection of international business theories and digitalization, highlighting the ongoing structural evolution of global business processes across multinational networks. Interestingly, the deeper I dig, the more obfuscating the language is. I then decided to see if I could discover a consensus on the success of the GDS. It is important here to understand the economic interests of the commentors. I found a piece on Linkedin which was vitriolic identifying the massive vendor lock-in to US big tech companies, both software & cloud providers, but can’t find it now;it seems I forgot to save it. While looking for it I found the following articles, via Linkedin. Google and other point a t BM Welby’s Five things I think about GDS, data and AI being split up again , he says, again because he wrote a similarly titled article in 2024. Welby is a fan of an integrated department. He takes a pop at Mahmood’s “earned settlement” as destructive to Burnham’s politics of place. Google gemini summarises the article as follows, “In this blog post, Benjamin Welby examines the UK government’s machinery changes involving the abolition of DSIT, the relocation of the Government Digital Service (GDS) to DDCMS, and the movement of AI oversight to the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet. Welby questions the rationale behind dismantling recent integrations that brought digital, data, and AI together. He argues that true public-sector transformation requires a cohesive approach connecting underlying data, services, and platforms. Ultimately, he fears that separating these interconnected functions risks leaving the government with both reduced structural coherence and diminished authority to drive reform. In his 2024 article, he references the OECD digital governance index. https://www.publictechnology.net/2026/06/05/science-technology-and-research/succession-plans-cutting-capital-spend-and-an-urgent-review-of-gds-a-closer-look-at-mps-digital-to-do-list-for-government/ I was pointed at State of digital government review. We should note that the UK is 4th I asked, “Has the GDS failed to prepare HMG’s IT for an evolution from big tech desktop, office, and databases?”; GG said, GDS did not fail entirely, but its mandate was functionally hemmed in. It successfully dragged the UK government out of the era of the 10-year, billion-pound big tech mega-contract for public-facing digital services. However, when it came to evolving the heavy internal plumbing—enterprise desktops, standardized office suites, and deeply embedded legacy departmental databases—GDS ran up against the immovable objects of Whitehall departmental siloization, risk aversion, and chronic underfunding of technical debt. I asked it for evidence that it had succeeded, and the full answer is here.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose held in a hand" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I have looked for this a couple of times, but found it last night. From Labour’s Rules, “The Labour Party does not tolerate electoral fraud” C5.I.B.ii – The Labour Party does not tolerate electoral fraud and no member who has been found guilty of an illegal or corrupt election practice as defined by the Representation...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose held in a hand" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/rose-unsplash-meghanschiereck-w1024-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I have looked for this a couple of times, but found it last night. From Labour’s Rules, “The Labour Party does not tolerate electoral fraud” C5.I.B.ii – The Labour Party does not tolerate electoral fraud and no member who has been found guilty of an illegal or corrupt election practice as defined by the Representation of the People Act 1983 and subsequent legalisation may be considered for selection for public office at any level without the prior approval of the NEC. With of course the mandatory caveat, unless the NEC grants an exception.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a laptop and screen on a desktop" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Another friend asks for advice I’m building a website. Ghost has been suggested, which led me to have a little look. This note looks at what I consider to be the critical selection criteria and make some notes about ghost and flat file CMS. On Ghost Flat-file CMSs “Content Management Systems (CMS) that use only...
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a laptop and screen on a desktop" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/desktop-domenicoloia-hGV2TfOh0ns-unsplash-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Another friend asks for advice I’m building a website. Ghost has been suggested, which led me to have a little look. This note looks at what I consider to be the critical selection criteria and make some notes about ghost and flat file CMS. On Ghost It’s not very popular. This means skills will be hard to find. It mandates the use of MySQL; at times I have sought to disintermediate my wordpress databases, which led me to look at flat-file CMSs. It’s hosting offering is in USD and presumably located in FISA land. GDPR & Online Safety Act compliance might be hard. WP has a Ghost exporter, otherwise see this on google. Flat-file CMSs “Content Management Systems (CMS) that use only the filesystem are called flat-file CMS. Instead of relying on a database like MySQL, they store your blog posts as plain text (e.g., Markdown or text files) in folders, making them incredibly fast, secure, and easy to back up. [1, 2, 3] The most popular options include: Grav: A highly flexible and modern flat-file CMS built for developers and content creators. It features an excellent dashboard and handles Markdown natively. [1, 2, 3] Kirby: A top choice for highly customized websites and blogs. It is incredibly lightweight, file-based, and gives developers complete control over the frontend. [1, 2] HTMLy: Designed specifically for lightweight blogging. It requires minimal server specifications and natively supports tags, categories, and scheduled posts. [1, 2] WonderCMS: The ultimate minimalist CMS, consisting of just five files and requiring no database or complex configuration. [1]” From google ai perspectives See also Best Flat File CMS for Simple and Efficient Websites and of course, there’s HUGO Key factors Cost of exit – how easy is it to get away from using the product. (Look at my adventures in recovering my Sun blog, and Snipsnap blogs). Keyperson Risk – how reliant on individuals is the project, can the market easily provide the necessary skills. Supplier Continuity Risk – is the product important to the supplier, what can one do if they withdraw the product. Obviously operational cost is important too. It seems I have considered this before, The importance of non-functional requirements in selecting web hosting solutions. on LInkedin.
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="postage stamps on a table" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I have picked this up as a project, certainly it takes up enough room and I haven’t looked at it for a while. I am quite looking forward to reviewing the UK and iron-curtain eastern European stamps. It was put together by my mum and her family and so it covers an extensive time period....
<img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="postage stamps on a table" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wiki/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stamps-tolgadenizaran-3_r6jZiPf6s-unsplash-w1080-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I have picked this up as a project, certainly it takes up enough room and I haven’t looked at it for a while. I am quite looking forward to reviewing the UK and iron-curtain eastern European stamps. It was put together by my mum and her family and so it covers an extensive time period. It may contain some stamps from Pa-Jim’s collection too. … I got a copy of Stamp Collector, and ordered it again. I found the following sites, https://www.stamp-valuations.co.uk/, I have contacted them. Warwick and Warwick : how-to-sell-your-stamp-collection, point at https://www.thepts.net/, W&W offer valuations. And UPA stamp auctions which is what interested me last time I looked. They have a web form requesting a collection valuation. They require an accurate overview statement of the inventory supported by pictures, but not too many, this maybe ideal. Stanley Gibbons still buy them, although maybe only as an auction service.