"My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do"
About this Quote
The key move is the double layering of responsibility. “My focus and that of all members of the Government” widens the claim from personal commitment to collective discipline, implying alignment across departments (and quietly daring anyone dissenting to look unserious). Then comes the heart of the subtext: “use all the skills it needs.” That phrasing telegraphs a problem without naming it: skills shortages, rigid hiring rules, pay ceilings, or an over-reliance on consultants. It’s a reform argument dressed as a reassurance.
Most revealing is the sentence’s final clause: “the job the public wants it to do.” That is both a democratic nod and a political shield. By anchoring the state’s purpose in public desire rather than ideology, Morris positions modernization as obedience, not experimentation. If new capabilities are required, it’s because citizens demand outcomes, not because ministers crave managerial novelty.
Contextually, this fits an era when UK public services were being pushed to deliver measurable results and “modernize” under heavy scrutiny. The language is managerial, but the intent is rhetorical: make capability-building sound like common sense, not a partisan project. It’s technocracy presented as public will.
Quote Details
| Topic | Management |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Morris, Estelle. (n.d.). My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-focus-and-that-of-all-members-of-the-19754/
Chicago Style
Morris, Estelle. "My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-focus-and-that-of-all-members-of-the-19754/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-focus-and-that-of-all-members-of-the-19754/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
