Jon Shortridge
Encyclopedia
Sir Jon Shortridge KCB (born 1947) is a British Civil Servant
. He served as the Permanent Secretary
of the Welsh Office
in March 1999 and of the National Assembly for Wales
on its creation in May 1999. He became Permanent Secretary
of the Welsh Assembly Government
on its establishment as a separate institution in May 2007, and left the post at the end of April 2008. In 2009, he was brought back as interim Permanent Secretary of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
.
He was educated at Chichester High School For Boys
and has a degree (MA) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St Edmund Hall a College of Oxford University, and in Urban Design and Regional Planning (MSc) from Edinburgh University. He has two children.
He joined the Welsh Office
in 1984. Between 1987 and 1988 he was Private Secretary
to two Secretaries of State for Wales
, Nicholas Edwards
and Peter Walker
. From 1988 to 1992 he was Head of the Welsh Office’s Finance Division. He undertook the Senior Management Review of the Welsh Office
in 1995, and was appointed Director of Economic Affairs in 1997, with responsibility for establishing the National Assembly for Wales
.
In December 2002, Sir Jon was summoned by the Audit Committee of the National Assembly for Wales
in order to be questioned over delays and rising costs surrounding the construction of a new debating chamber, which was to become the Senedd
. £250,000 of taxpayers' money was spent on a legal dispute with sacked architects, the Richard Rogers Partnership. He stated during the hearing that the design submitted by the Richard Rogers Partnership would not have been eligible for the original competition if the true costs had been known.
Sir Jon also headed up the Welsh Assembly Government civil service that dismissed blogger Christopher Glamorganshire in the Autumn of 2007. Glamorganshire ran a blog which provided what readers saw as a neutral running commentary on 2007’s coalition negotiations involving Labour and Plaid Cymru. Former Conservative Assembly Member Glyn Davies
, a regular blogger, is quoted as saying “The Christopher Glamorganshire blog was on my list of ‘my favourites’. It seemed to me to be written in a sensible and rational manner. Clearly, if his contract of employment said he was not allowed to blog, he doesn’t have much of a case. But if it is simply a question of supposedly contravening the code, I think sacking him is very harsh and heavy handed. This all smacks of the heavy hand of the state.”
Betsan Powys
, Political Editor for BBC Wales reported on 18 September 2008 that the Employment Tribunal is still going ahead, and that it's unlikely to be heard until next year (2009) but that it will be discussed in an internal meeting, presumably in government offices in Cathays Park, next week. Ms Powys also reports on correspondence seen from solicitors acting for the government, mentioning that they don't mince their words "The letter ends on what I'll call a blunt note: go ahead and we'll apply for a full costs order against you, one that covers all fees, charges, disbursements and expenses incurred by WAG." Bluntly ending with "Give in now and we won't."
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. He served as the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Welsh Office
Welsh Office
The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
in March 1999 and of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
on its creation in May 1999. He became Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
on its establishment as a separate institution in May 2007, and left the post at the end of April 2008. In 2009, he was brought back as interim Permanent Secretary of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for...
.
He was educated at Chichester High School For Boys
Chichester High School For Boys
Chichester High School for Boys, often referred to as CHSB, is a community school, with specialist status of Business and Enterprise College, for boys aged 11 to 18 located in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England...
and has a degree (MA) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St Edmund Hall a College of Oxford University, and in Urban Design and Regional Planning (MSc) from Edinburgh University. He has two children.
He joined the Welsh Office
Welsh Office
The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
in 1984. Between 1987 and 1988 he was Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to two Secretaries of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Wales
The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
, Nicholas Edwards
Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell
Roger Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell, PC is a British Conservative Party politician and a former Secretary of State for Wales.-Background:...
and Peter Walker
Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester
Peter Edward Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, MBE, PC , was British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet as the Environment Secretary , Trade and Industry Secretary , Agriculture Minister , Energy Secretary and Welsh Secretary...
. From 1988 to 1992 he was Head of the Welsh Office’s Finance Division. He undertook the Senior Management Review of the Welsh Office
Welsh Office
The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
in 1995, and was appointed Director of Economic Affairs in 1997, with responsibility for establishing the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
.
In December 2002, Sir Jon was summoned by the Audit Committee of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
in order to be questioned over delays and rising costs surrounding the construction of a new debating chamber, which was to become the Senedd
Senedd
The Senedd , also known as the National Assembly building, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in...
. £250,000 of taxpayers' money was spent on a legal dispute with sacked architects, the Richard Rogers Partnership. He stated during the hearing that the design submitted by the Richard Rogers Partnership would not have been eligible for the original competition if the true costs had been known.
Welsh Assembly Government and Retirement
Sir Jon's career ended on a note of bad publicity over staffing matters. First was the case of an accusation of sexual harassment from a senior manager towards a minor grade employee, Christine Davies. Mrs Davies went on to confirm that "sexual harassment and bullying is widespread in the Welsh Assembly – and that women are intimidated by some male bosses on a daily basis". Sir Jon called for an internal inquiry after a judge upheld complaints that a senior civil servant sexually harassed a woman colleague. This resulted in the civil service of the Welsh Assembly Government clearing itself of all blame from its own inquiry into the allegations, and immediately before Sir Jon retired from office.Sir Jon also headed up the Welsh Assembly Government civil service that dismissed blogger Christopher Glamorganshire in the Autumn of 2007. Glamorganshire ran a blog which provided what readers saw as a neutral running commentary on 2007’s coalition negotiations involving Labour and Plaid Cymru. Former Conservative Assembly Member Glyn Davies
Glyn Davies (Welsh politician)
Glyn Davies is a Welsh Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire since May 2010, and is a former member of the National Assembly for Wales in the Mid and West Wales region .-Background:Educated at Castle Caereinion...
, a regular blogger, is quoted as saying “The Christopher Glamorganshire blog was on my list of ‘my favourites’. It seemed to me to be written in a sensible and rational manner. Clearly, if his contract of employment said he was not allowed to blog, he doesn’t have much of a case. But if it is simply a question of supposedly contravening the code, I think sacking him is very harsh and heavy handed. This all smacks of the heavy hand of the state.”
Betsan Powys
Betsan Powys
Betsan Powys , is a Welsh journalist, currently the political editor for BBC Wales.A native Welsh speaker, Powys joined BBC Wales as a News Trainee in 1989, before joining the newsroom in Cardiff as a bilingual, bi-media reporter...
, Political Editor for BBC Wales reported on 18 September 2008 that the Employment Tribunal is still going ahead, and that it's unlikely to be heard until next year (2009) but that it will be discussed in an internal meeting, presumably in government offices in Cathays Park, next week. Ms Powys also reports on correspondence seen from solicitors acting for the government, mentioning that they don't mince their words "The letter ends on what I'll call a blunt note: go ahead and we'll apply for a full costs order against you, one that covers all fees, charges, disbursements and expenses incurred by WAG." Bluntly ending with "Give in now and we won't."