Via Tim Worstall’s weekly Britblog Roundup (a particularly good crop this week) I’ve found an excellent, obviously very informed Comment is Free piece by Daniel Davies about how continual “reforms” are making life impossible not just for NHS staff and teachers, but also for computer programmers. One big government system, (and in-house government not contracted-out government) has worked). But at least one factor in that is that change was specifically barred while it was being set up.

This reminds me of something I was taught very early on as an editor – not to use the word “reform” in a story – since that implied a value judgement about the action. You should say “changes” or similar. Sadly this doesn’t seem to have made it to London – I do try occasionally, but I’m swimming against the tide.