Open Government
Encyclopedia
"Open Government" is the first episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes Minister
, first broadcast 25 February 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.
being re-elected as MP
for his constituency at the general election
. However, his party is now no longer in opposition
and the next day he is at home with his wife, Annie, awaiting a phone call from the Prime Minister
. He eventually learns that, having previously been the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, he has been given the job of Minister
for Administrative Affairs.
He and his political advisor, Frank Weisel, are driven to Whitehall
, where he meets the civil servants
responsible for helping him to 'run' the department: Sir Humphrey Appleby
(the Permanent Secretary
), and Bernard Woolley
(his Principal Private Secretary
).
Hacker is eager to make a big impression and immediately informs Sir Humphrey that he wishes to act on his party's manifesto
promise to streamline the department and "cut through the red tape
". To that end, the department has already prepared a white paper
entitled "Open Government". However, Sir Humphrey is less than keen that Frank Weisel should share the Minister's office space but Hacker intervenes.
Away from Hacker's office, Sir Humphrey discusses his new Minister with his own superior, the Cabinet Secretary
, Sir Arnold Robinson. They are joined by Bernard, and Sir Humphrey feels that Hacker will become "house-trained in no time". The subject of the "Open Government" policy comes up, and Sir Humphrey remarks that they will have to steer the Minister away from it. Sir Arnold explains to Bernard the law of inverse relevance: "The less you intend to do about something, the more you have to keep talking about it." Bernard learns that just because his Minister asks him to do something, it may not be in the department's best interests to carry out his wishes. Meanwhile, Sir Humphrey arranges for Weisel to discover an invoice for a shipment of computer VDUs
that are to be imported from America
.
When Weisel finds the document, he immediately informs Hacker, who is incensed — particularly since such peripherals are manufactured in his own constituency. However, Sir Humphrey explains that it is impossible to cancel such a contract, so Hacker and Weisel hatch a plan to announce this scandal to the press.
Hacker then receives a minute from 10 Downing Street
, informing him that the Prime Minister is about to embark on a trip to the USA. He is intent on securing an Anglo-American trade agreement and it must not be jeopardised. Hacker is panicked. Since a copy of his speech was sent for clearance by the PM in the spirit of open government (at Sir Humphrey's insistence), he is now in trouble. He visits the Prime Minister's office, where he is chastised by the Chief Whip
, Vic Gould. It transpires that the speech had not yet been made public (as Sir Humphrey knew all along), and since this now contradicts Hacker's aspirations for more transparency, his commitment to the policy is quietly forgotten.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
, first broadcast 25 February 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.
Plot
The episode begins with a short pre-title sequence showing Jim HackerJames Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
being re-elected as MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for his constituency at the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. However, his party is now no longer in opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
and the next day he is at home with his wife, Annie, awaiting a phone call from the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. He eventually learns that, having previously been the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, he has been given the job of Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
for Administrative Affairs.
He and his political advisor, Frank Weisel, are driven to Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, where he meets the civil servants
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
responsible for helping him to 'run' the department: Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
(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...
), and Bernard Woolley
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
(his Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
).
Hacker is eager to make a big impression and immediately informs Sir Humphrey that he wishes to act on his party's manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
promise to streamline the department and "cut through the red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
". To that end, the department has already prepared a white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
entitled "Open Government". However, Sir Humphrey is less than keen that Frank Weisel should share the Minister's office space but Hacker intervenes.
Away from Hacker's office, Sir Humphrey discusses his new Minister with his own superior, the Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
, Sir Arnold Robinson. They are joined by Bernard, and Sir Humphrey feels that Hacker will become "house-trained in no time". The subject of the "Open Government" policy comes up, and Sir Humphrey remarks that they will have to steer the Minister away from it. Sir Arnold explains to Bernard the law of inverse relevance: "The less you intend to do about something, the more you have to keep talking about it." Bernard learns that just because his Minister asks him to do something, it may not be in the department's best interests to carry out his wishes. Meanwhile, Sir Humphrey arranges for Weisel to discover an invoice for a shipment of computer VDUs
Computer display
A monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...
that are to be imported from America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
When Weisel finds the document, he immediately informs Hacker, who is incensed — particularly since such peripherals are manufactured in his own constituency. However, Sir Humphrey explains that it is impossible to cancel such a contract, so Hacker and Weisel hatch a plan to announce this scandal to the press.
Hacker then receives a minute from 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
, informing him that the Prime Minister is about to embark on a trip to the USA. He is intent on securing an Anglo-American trade agreement and it must not be jeopardised. Hacker is panicked. Since a copy of his speech was sent for clearance by the PM in the spirit of open government (at Sir Humphrey's insistence), he is now in trouble. He visits the Prime Minister's office, where he is chastised by the Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
, Vic Gould. It transpires that the speech had not yet been made public (as Sir Humphrey knew all along), and since this now contradicts Hacker's aspirations for more transparency, his commitment to the policy is quietly forgotten.
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| John Nettleton John Nettleton (actor) John Nettleton is an English actor.One of his most notable roles was that of Sir Arnold Robinson, the Cabinet Secretary in Yes Minister and President of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in the follow-up Yes, Prime Minister... |
Sir Arnold Robinson |
| Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott is an English actress. She was born to Winifred Doris, née Dibble and Alan Hoddinott , who married in 1934 in Langport.... |
Annie Hacker |
| Neil Fitzwiliam Neil Fitzwiliam Neil Fitzwiliam is an English actor who has made several appearances in theatre, film and television productions.Credits include the first stage production of the musical, Cats, and a part as a dancer in the film, The Slipper and the Rose. His most notable role was as Frank Weisel in the BBC... |
Frank Weisel |
| Edward Jewesbury Edward Jewesbury Edward Jewesbury was a British actor, notable for his film, stage and television work and as a member of the Renaissance Theatre Company. In his later years he appeared in such television comedies as Yes Minister and Blackadder II.His son Ian was a senior civil servant at the UK Department of... |
Vic Gould |
| Norman Mitchell Norman Mitchell Norman Mitchell was an English television, stage and film actor.Born in Sheffield, his father was a mining engineer and his mother a concert singer. He attended Carterknowle Grammar School and the University of Sheffield, before appearing in repertory theatre and with the Royal Shakespeare Company... |
The Mayor |
| David Moran | Nigel Lloyd-Pritchard |
| Fraser Kerr | Radio Reporter |
Continuity
- As this was the pilot episodeTelevision pilotA "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
of Yes Minister, the title sequence and music are substantially different from those used for all other instalments.
Production
- The pilot was produced in 1979 but not transmitted until 1980 in fear that it could influence the results of the 1979 UK General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 1979The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
.