Britain will become “the fastest adopter of AI in the G7” the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, proudly told us last month. If that is to be the case, she might want to have a word with her own department.

At the same time as Reeves was boasting to world leaders, HM Treasury was recruiting for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). According to the job specification, the successful candidate would shape how technology enables “one of the UK’s most influential departments to operate, decide and deliver”. They will “define technology strategy, oversee architecture, manage technical risk, work with suppliers, assure cyber resilience, and ensure systems are modern, secure, value for money and aligned with wider government strategy”.

The Government’s own State of Digital Government Review makes for painful reading

The Government’s own State of Digital Government Review makes for painful reading

The salary offered: £69,820 to £74,000 if in Norwich or Darlington (and an extra £3,000 if based in London).

This is the department responsible for setting tax and spend, the Government’s illusive growth mission, financial services, public investment and the machinery of economic policy. This is not about one Chancellor, one department, or one unfortunate job advert. It feels inevitable that the same approach will be continued under a Burnham premiership.

For decades, we have treated........

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