Sad to hear of the passing of CJ Sansom. Although my first degree was in History, I don't think I'd ever read self-consciously 'historical fiction' before I read his stuff. If you've never tried it but fancy giving it a try, I can heartily recommend his first:

Abir Mukherjee Peter Riddell I thought he kicked Hilary Mantel into a cocked hat as an historian of the same period. I read him like I used to read the Berlin noir novels of the late Philip Kerr, for pleasure on the one hand and with an IPad in the other to check the accuracy of all the references.

Such a tragic loss. CJ Sansom was one of the finest ever writers of historical fiction. He was an inspiration to me and to many others. We are poorer without him.
panmacmillan.com/blogs/general/…

Peter Riddell Matthew Gill Maddy Bishop Callum Parris Institute for Government As on the civil service too!

1/11 Today Institute for Government published our new report on how parliament can better hold regulators to account.
My colleague Callum Parris has summarised our new data on the quantity of select committee scrutiny of regulators: twitter.com/cal_parris/sta…

For all my new followers today, if you want insight into how Parliament really works, without the usual gossip, horserace and spin, but with facts, figures and wit aplenty, listen to #ParliamentMatters with me & @DarcyTiP wherever you get your podcasts! ⬇️
buff.ly/44b4NEz

Staying in ancient churches, walking ancient lanes: a wonderful way of connecting with some of our greatest rural heritage. theguardian.com/travel/2024/ap…

Peter Riddell Yep - the ‘deep state’ basically takes its instruction from politicians and parliament as you say and more often helps than hinders govt agendas

In the The Spectator, Jonathan Ray correctly identifies the multifaceted glory of Carol Reed’s The Third Man, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
spectator.co.uk/article/the-th…

Changing a country is not meant to be easy - my piece on Liz Truss

“Deliberate, incremental improvements to the way we are governed are too important to be left to the conspiracy theorists”

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/liz-tr…

There's a budget/audience for Netflix films about Newsnight but increasingly not for actual Newsnight (at least as we knew it) and cannot help but feel uneasy about that

Peter Riddell Surrey Cricket Kookaburra makes a difference

Are you interested in UK govt? Would you like to spend a year working with fantastic colleagues on fascinating projects aimed at making govt more effective? If so, do apply for Institute for Government research internship by 30 April instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/caree…

RIP Hella Pick, a great journalist. Always curious, never cynical, intensely competitive, she was a trailblazer who came to the UK on the Kindertransport. Incredible life theguardian.com/media/2024/apr…

Enjoyed this Easter reading: A powerful warning about the lack of serious strategic thinking on the future of the UK by political unionists and the UK state Michael Kenny

naughtiej Peter Riddell That is sad news. For all her eccentricities, Hella was the real deal. Her regular visits to Washington were always good value

I seem to have done my old friend Hella Pick a modest disservice at the end. There are contradictory dates of birth listed in various places, but 1927 seems to be the echt year. So at her death this morning, Hella was 96. Farewell old friend.

Peter Riddell was in ConservativeHome yesterday, discussing his and Robert Hazell's recent Constitution Unit report.

The report focuses on seven watchdogs regulating the executive and sets out strengthening measures that can be taken quickly.

Find out more 👉 ucl.ac.uk/constitution-u….

Hella Pick, journalist of reknown, kindertransport veteran, devoted European traveller and music-lover, who was adored by an army of friends, died this morning, aged 94. A peaceful end to a wonderful story. Farewell Hella, with love.

From Peter Riddell: How to regulate, maintain, and improve standards in public life conservativehome.com/2024/04/03/pet…