Penman: High Court ruling on Patel case sets an important precedent to protect civil servants
07 Dec HR

Penman: High Court ruling on Patel case sets an important precedent to protect civil servants

FDA's judicial review has made it clear the ministerial code is more than just a political document, but the case shows how much change is needed
by Dave Penman
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
06 Dec Policy
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
22 Nov Finance
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
19 Nov Finance
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
Five suggestions for removing barriers to disabled people in the civil service
03 Dec HR
Five suggestions for removing barriers to disabled people in the civil service
On International Day of People with Disabilities, parliamentarian and Paralympian Lord Holmes shares ways to improve the behaviours and culture of civil service organisations
Standards in public life? Sorry, we’re not familiar with that phrase
12 Nov HR
Standards in public life? Sorry, we’re not familiar with that phrase
Bullying, intimidation and an untimely attempt to overhaul the standards system – with political accountability seemingly a thing of the past, it’s no wonder that the irony meter has blown its fuse
Capability-based pay on its own will not solve the civil service’s churn problem
10 Nov HR
Capability-based pay on its own will not solve the civil service’s churn problem
Plans to link pay to capability are an important step to address government's retention and recruitment problems, says Alex Thomas, but they must be properly implemented - and funded
Sir Ian Diamond: Data is essential to saving our planet
08 Nov Energy & Environment
Sir Ian Diamond: Data is essential to saving our planet
We must ensure that data and statistical insights are at the heart of climate action, explains Professor Sir Ian Diamond. To do this, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is collaborating with partners across government to bring together key climate statistics on a new portal
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
03 Nov Economy
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
The Treasury will be pleased with how the Spending Review has been received in Whitehall. But longer term issues will still worry it
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
02 Nov Civil Service Reform
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
A Japanese teaching device has helped Colin Talbot think through some of government’s enduring problems. He explains how it can help you too
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
27 Oct HR
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
Increasing budgets and more leeway on pay gives ministers a chance to enact much-needed pay reform argues Garry Graham. Whether they do so will show how committed they are to building and supporting a skilled civil service
Spending reviews: a short history
27 Oct Economy
Spending reviews: a short history
As chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out his latest spending review, Colin Talbot digs into the history of this deceptively simple fiscal event
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
19 Oct Analysis
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
Civil society is a vital part of our lives, but we know relatively little about the health of the sector. Ed Humpherson makes the case for taking action now to ensure policymakers have the data they need to better support – and work with – civil society in the future
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
18 Oct Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
At a time of taxing politics – and politicising taxes – a government review of NHS management mustn’t get in the way of learning from the pandemic
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
14 Oct HR
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
Every day seems to bring new jibes at hard working civil servants over office returns. But eventually reality will catch up with
Garry Graham: If the PM wants a high wage economy, let’s see that reflected in the civil service
08 Oct Economy
Garry Graham: If the PM wants a high wage economy, let’s see that reflected in the civil service
Officials have suffered a decade of pay restraint. If the government is serious about boosting pay, it must show it in the coming pay round
Dave Penman: Oliver Dowden is pedalling falsehoods with his Peloton attack on civil servants
07 Oct HR
Dave Penman: Oliver Dowden is pedalling falsehoods with his Peloton attack on civil servants
Oliver Dowden knows his attack on officials working from home was untrue, but he is happy to undermine morale for cheap laughs at party conference
Opinion: How does Boris Johnson plan to reform government without Dominic Cummings?
04 Oct Civil Service Reform
Opinion: How does Boris Johnson plan to reform government without Dominic Cummings?
The government has set out some plans to change how the British state works, but has not yet developed a plan for delivering it. Colin Talbot looks at what is missing
‘Dear chief secretary…’: An ex-Treasury DG’s dos and don’ts for the Spending Review
28 Sep Finance
‘Dear chief secretary…’: An ex-Treasury DG’s dos and don’ts for the Spending Review
Following the government’s reshuffle, the Treasury has a new chief secretary in Simon Clarke. Andrew Hudson, a former Treasury director general, briefed new ministers following the 2010 general election, and he draws on this experience to write his own briefing for Clarke’s desk
Opinion: what makes a reform?
22 Sep Health & Social Care
Opinion: what makes a reform?
Social care changes announced by government are a big change in the sector. But whether they meet the prime ministers pledge to fix a plethora of problems remains to be seen
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
17 Sep Communications
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
While poor communications can damage public confidence and a government’s reputation, good communications cannot salvage one whose overall approach is inconsistent or dishonest, says IfG’s Alex Thomas
Andy Cowper: So, are social care and the NHS now sorted?
15 Sep Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: So, are social care and the NHS now sorted?
The government’s tax hike for health and social care will provide extra funding, but does it go far enough?
Opinion: As the government considers its approach to regulation, here’s how it could improve scrutiny
13 Sep Policy
Opinion: As the government considers its approach to regulation, here’s how it could improve scrutiny
Regulatory Policy Committee chair Stephen Gibson shares his thoughts as the government consults on reforming the Better Regulation Framework 
Take a few extra steps to prevent fraud and enhance the user experience Sponsored
13 Sep Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Take a few extra steps to prevent fraud and enhance the user experience
Barley Laing, the UK managing director at Melissa, explains how the tech behind acronyms like eIDV, MRZ, OCR, and AI can deliver valuable information to keep the public sector fraud-free
Colin Talbot: Remembering 9/11
10 Sep Foreign Affairs
Colin Talbot: Remembering 9/11
Twenty years on, the reverberations of the terrorist attack still shape the world. The extent of the threat is different from what preceded it that day, and must be analysed as such
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
07 Sep Communications
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
Kay Hender, head of communications at the FDA union, argues that Lee Cain has identified some of the challenges faced by the Government Communications Service, but his proposed solutions are contradictory and could make things worse
The pain of migraines: one civil servant shares their experience
03 Sep Health & Social Care
The pain of migraines: one civil servant shares their experience
The condition can be crippling, but what can be done to ease the symptoms? To mark Migraine Awareness Week, Paul Scullion shares his own experiences
I had amazing support at work when I miscarried. Civil servants deserve the same
25 Aug HR
I had amazing support at work when I miscarried. Civil servants deserve the same
Civil service policy on pregnancy loss is "paltry", Victoria Jones writes