Stranger than Fiction 

Posted byBingo DemagoguePosted inUncategorizedTags:, , ,
In this article, I look at the books bought with public money by the SNP administration under Nicola Sturgeon and see what they can tell us about the state of mind, shortcomings and psychology of the administration – which persist under the continuity candidate. 

Before her sudden fall from grace, Nicola Sturgeon built a carefully crafted public persona around being a voracious reader: though it’s doubtful a true bibliophile would have defunded dozens of Scottish libraries1 or overseen such a drop in Scottish literacy.2 

Books that cast her administration in a different light were revealed when news organisations recently analysed Scottish government credit card payments. Officials in the SNP administration spent over £14 million in just three years 3 over 58,000 transactions, many of which seem frivolous, including Yoga classes, luxury hotels and travel services, disco balls, and over 3,000 transactions where simply no details were recorded. Within hours of the information being revealed by Scottish Labour, beleaguered First Minister Humza Yousaf ordered a probe into spending.4

However, as a book-lover myself, what caught my eye were the books bought by people in the SNP administration: if we look at the content, message and target audience of the books, what can they tell us about the state of mind, the operational environment, the concerns of the Sturgeon administration – and so the administration under the continuity candidate.

“A Dummies Guide to Government in Crisis”

I wrote recently about how comedy in Scotland was suffering from a Nationalist administration whose own actions were putting them beyond parody.5 This reading list, in an administration where every department faces a self-inflicted crisis, is comedy gold, including books such as “Why Does Everything Always Go Wrong?” “How to Run a Government” and “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team”. That so many of them are self-help books – some with over 20 copies ordered, is a clear cry for help. Here’s a summary of some of the most noteworthy publications, and then we will look at what this tells us. 

“The best books… are those that tell you what you know already” .

– George Orwell

“The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni is a renowned speaker, consultant, and author specialising in leadership and organisational health. This leadership guidebook uses a fictional story to explore teams’ common pitfalls. It identifies five fundamental dysfunctions that can hinder a team’s performance. 

  • 1. Absence of Trust: Team members must trust each other.
  • 2. Fear of Conflict: Healthy debate is necessary.
  • 3. Lack of Commitment: Everyone must buy into decisions.
  • 4. Avoidance of Accountability: Team members must hold each other accountable.
  • 5. Inattention to Results: Focus on collective results, not individual success.

“How to Run a Government So That Citizens Benefit and Taxpayers Don’t Go Crazy” by Michael Barber

Sir Michael Barber is a British educator and public policy expert. He has worked on Government and public service reform in over 50 countries. Barber served as the Chief Education Advisor at Pearson and was a founding partner at Delivery Associates. This book offers insights into how governments can be made more efficient and effective. Drawing from his experience advising leaders worldwide, Barber provides a blueprint for implementing public sector reforms that deliver results.

The critical points of his framework are – 

  1. Rigorous Prioritisation: Governments should focus on a few key priorities.
  2. Routine Accountability: Regularly measure and report on progress.
  3. Engage the Public: Citizen engagement is crucial for successful reforms.
  4. Data-Driven Decision Making: Use data to inform policy and track outcomes.
  5. Leadership and Culture: Foster a results-oriented culture in the public sector.

Chris Williams’ “Pick Me Up” Series

Prominent among the selected readings are several titles by Dr. Chris Williams, including “Why Does Everything Always Go Wrong?”, “I’m Not Good Enough”, and “Are You Strong Enough to Keep Your Temper?”. These titles are part of his “Pick Me Up” series, designed to offer guidance on various mental health challenges.

Dr Chris Williams is a distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. With a specialisation in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), he has conducted comprehensive research on self-help treatments addressing various mental health concerns. Not only has he twice held the position of President of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, but he also acts as a Medical Adviser to Anxiety UK.

Key Themes Across the Series:

  • Managing Anxiety: The series provides tools and techniques to assist readers in understanding and navigating their anxiety.
  • Mood Regulation: It offers strategies to aid individuals in modulating their moods and reacting to emotional stimuli more constructively.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Central to the series is the application of CBT techniques, a well-established approach for tackling mental health issues.
  • Direct Guidance: The “Pick Me Up” series is crafted to deliver concise and practical advice.
  • Supporting Broader Mental Health Initiatives: Notably, a percentage of the proceeds from the series is contributed to Anxiety UK.

Back to Basics 

The next two books were ‘Short Guides” – a step up from “Dummies Guide to” – the short guides series offer a brief introduction to the key elements of a topic. In the case of the Scottish Government, the two guides were on… Marxism and Taxation. 

“Marx: A Very Short Introduction” by Peter Singer

Peter Singer is an Australian moral philosopher best known for his work in applied ethics. He’s the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Singer’s work has addressed animal rights, global poverty, and effective altruism. He’s perhaps most famous for his book “Animal Liberation,” which is considered a foundational text in the animal rights movement.

His book offers a concise overview of Karl Marx’s life, philosophy, and the impact of his ideas. It delves into Marx’s critiques of capitalism, his vision of a post-capitalist society, and his theories’ various interpretations and applications in the 20th century.

The book is an excellent introduction, covering- 

  • Marx’s Life and Context: Provides a brief biography of Karl Marx and the socio-political context in which he lived and wrote.
  • Critique of Capitalism: Explores Marx’s criticisms of capitalist societies, including class struggle, alienation, and exploitation.
  • Vision of Communism: Discusses Marx’s idea of a classless society where the means of production are communally owned.
  • Legacy and Impact: Examine the influence of Marx’s ideas on global politics, economics, and social movements in the 20th century.
  • Controversies and Criticisms: Addresses the criticisms of Marx’s theories and the various interpretations of his work.

“Taxation: A Very Short Introduction” by Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith is a Professor of Economics at University College London (UCL). He was previously Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK’s leading independent economic research institute. He is the author of Britain’s Shadow Economy (OUP, 1986) , Environmental Economics: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2011), and many research reports and academic papers on tax policy and environmental policy. He has acted as a consultant and adviser to the Treasury, the IMF, the OECD and other government departments and international organisations.

His short guide to taxation provides an overview of taxation’s principles, concepts, and practices. It delves into taxation’s history, evolution, and purposes, explaining how taxes affect individuals and businesses. The book also discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding taxation, including issues of fairness, efficiency, and the role of taxation in economic and social policy. 

  • History of Taxation: Traces the evolution of taxation from ancient civilisations to modern times.
  • Principles of Taxation: Discusses the foundational principles that guide tax policies, such as equity, efficiency, and simplicity.
  • Economic Impact: Explores how taxation influences economic behaviour, investment decisions, and overall economic growth.
  • Tax Evasion and Avoidance: Addresses the challenges of tax evasion, tax avoidance, and the measures to counteract them.
  • Global Taxation Issues: Discusses the complexities of international taxation, including issues like tax havens and double taxation.

Other books I won’t go into in as much detail include “The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity” by Alan Cooper. Cooper offers a critical look at the design and development of many high-tech products. Cooper argues that many of these products are designed with more emphasis on technology than on user needs, leading to products that are often difficult to use and frustrating for consumers. And “Overcoming Relationship Problems: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” by Michael Crowe. Which is a guide for couple relationship therapy. 

What does this reading list tell us? 

My first thoughts on the selection of books are – mental health is a valid concern, and there is no stigma to it in organisations looking after employees’ mental health. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, in particular, is one of the most effective approaches and overlaps with many aspects of Stoicism. I’ve no criticism of any of the books themselves; I might even buy a few of them – I certainly wish my work would allow me to put books on the company credit card. I’m also sure there are far more scandalous purchases that will be uncovered in the data dump, which included thousands of purchases with no details recorded and a number already flagged as fraudulent. 

However – looking at the reading list, it should give us serious concerns about the culture, environment and performance of the Scottish Government as a dysfunctional organisation.

Organisational Dysfunction 

Inept Team Dynamics: The choice of Lencioni’s book suggests there is severe dysfunction within Scottish government teams. Leadership might be lacking, with poor communication, trust issues, and internal conflicts hampering effective governance. This is familiar to everyone with even a superficial knowledge of the SNP since Sturgeon, with their gagging orders, suppression of internal debate, and focus on style over substance, the five major dysfunctions read like SNP Standard operating procedure!

Governance Inefficiencies: Barber’s book title alone implies they don’t know how to run a government efficiently. If we consider the problems they are trying to solve, this seems an admission they know they are wasting taxpayer money and failing to deliver value to the citizens. The very actions he recommends are anathema to how the SNP run the Government – Their only priority is ultra-vires independence – meaning that Justice, Healthcare, Education, and Transport are all de-prioritised. There is no accountability: or we would surely have seen a resignation over the ferry fiasco. Often they seem to act against the data – for example, slashing Drug rehabilitation funding, even when told this will make the problem worse, or continuing with the over-hyped baby box because it is good PR when the data says it has had little impact.

Pervasive Negativity: The selection of titles like “Why Does Everything Always Go Wrong?” and “I’m Not Good Enough” paints a picture of an organisation concerned with low morale, constant setbacks, and a lack of confidence in their own abilities. To get an inside view, read this from “The secret civil servant” 6, who spills the tea on a culture of bullying, exposure, instability and unease. 

Economic Mismanagement: Smith’s book on taxation hints that at least some people in Government are struggling with basic economic policies, possibly overtaxing or mismanaging public funds. A lot depends on who is reading these books. This book is an excellent choice for a first-year tax accountant student. It’s a worrying choice for a civil servant meant to be advising on tax policy. 

Ideological Confusion: The inclusion of Singer’s book on Marx might indicate a government grappling with its ideological stance, perhaps trying to appease various factions – such as Scottish Green coalition partners, or lacking a clear vision for the country’s future and looking to come up with glittering generality ideas they can feed into their propaganda’ independence papers.’ 

Conclusion

Overall we should celebrate people looking to improve and applaud the simple guides and entry-level books used. I’ve nothing against the books, authors, or people reading them – but I would love to know who was reading what! Based on this reading list, the Scottish Government is in turmoil, struggling with internal conflicts, operational inefficiencies, and a lack of clear direction. 

Their choice of reading material paints a picture of a government constantly on the back foot, trying to catch up with modern governance practices but often falling short. While commendable, the focus on mental health hints at widespread burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction among public servants. The reliance on “very short introductions” and other simplified guides might indicate a desire for quick fixes rather than deep, sustainable solutions.

References

  1. Daily Record. 7th March 2022. “Dozens of library closures across Scotland over the last decade, shock figures show”. Retrieved from https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/dozens-library-closures-across-scotland-26399051
  2. BBC News. 9th May 2017. “Figures show a drop in Scottish pupil literacy rates”. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39856284
  3. iNews, 8th August 2023, “Scottish Government’s ‘frivolous’ credit card spending under Nicola Sturgeon revealed” https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/scottish-governments-frivolous-credit-card-nicola-sturgeon-revealed-2531782
  4. Hutcheon, P. (2023, 8th August). Humza Yousaf orders probe into Scottish Government’s ‘frivolous’ credit card spending. Daily Record. Retrieved from https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-orders-probe-scottish-30657844
  5. Demagogue,B. July 2023, “Send in the Clowns” https://populistsplaybook.com/2023/07/21/send-in-the-clowns/
  6. Civil Servant, Secret, “ScotGov Meltdowns” https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/23493400.secret-civil-servant-scot-gov-meltdowns-weathering-storms

Published by Bingo Demagogue

Twitter - @BingoDemagogue

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