From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?
31 Jul Civil Service Reform

From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?

In the end, the Spending Review did not put mission-based working front and centre, but look closely and it's clear that the five missions did still exert some influence on the chancellor's allocations
by Jess Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
04 Sep HR
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
02 Sep Leadership
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
01 Sep Civil Service Reform
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
The Politburo has spoken: unpicking 'plans' for 91,000 civil service job cuts
16 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
The Politburo has spoken: unpicking 'plans' for 91,000 civil service job cuts
Plans to cut one in five civil service jobs are beyond irrational – until you consider the real reason for the announcement
Covid and the war in Ukraine are tragically graphic illustrations of the need for trustworthy data
12 May 2022 Statistics
Covid and the war in Ukraine are tragically graphic illustrations of the need for trustworthy data
Back in the 90s, John Pullinger was involved in creating a set of principles for the best use of statistics. Thirty years on, he shares what the foundations he helped to lay continue to mean for the production of quality statistics around the world. 
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
10 May 2022 Coronavirus
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
Matt Hancock says the UK's performance was "similar to or better than most comparable countries", but let's not forget the fiascos
In Whitehall, the temptation is to glide past local elections. But that would miss vital changes
03 May 2022 Politics & Constitution
In Whitehall, the temptation is to glide past local elections. But that would miss vital changes
It’s easy for civil servants to grossly underestimate the importance of the political and personal in the working lives of senior local government officers
Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes
29 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes
The court judgement, and Hancock’s pugnacious response, show the battle at the Covid-19 inquiry between ministers and officials over who is ultimately to blame for failures and mistakes is likely to get brutal
While the chancellor deals in economic optimism, reality in the NHS is tough – and getting tougher
27 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
While the chancellor deals in economic optimism, reality in the NHS is tough – and getting tougher
Sunak's plan to cut £4.75bn in “efficiency savings” from the NHS budget is a classic of the “heroic optimism untethered to reality” genre
From the editor: Sorry isn't so hard to say
26 Apr 2022 HR
From the editor: Sorry isn't so hard to say
As the Grenfell Inquiry unfolds, politicians – and some senior officials – must acknowledge their role in systems which are failing
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
21 Apr 2022 HR
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
As Jacob Rees-Mogg tours offices likes a prefect taking register, he would be better advised to talk to staff about what they are doing to support the country and his government
Ministers' ideological obsession, not efficiency or effective government, is driving civil service reform
13 Apr 2022 HR
Ministers' ideological obsession, not efficiency or effective government, is driving civil service reform
Ministers still view officials with suspicion and resentment, and at worst views them as pawns to score a cheap headline
Quango unchained: Why government needs a new narrative on public bodies
08 Apr 2022 Civil Service Reform
Quango unchained: Why government needs a new narrative on public bodies
Despite plans for new bodies to support the energy transition and levelling up, government’s instinct is still to wage war on quangos. A change of rhetoric is needed
The shift to agile working may be fraught with complications – so how can public sector organisations get it right?
07 Apr 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
The shift to agile working may be fraught with complications – so how can public sector organisations get it right?
Embracing uncertainty; active listening; strong leadership – Antonio Weiss explores the foundations of good agile approaches
Eight rules for communicating public health risk in a crisis – from horsemeat to Covid
06 Apr 2022 Communications
Eight rules for communicating public health risk in a crisis – from horsemeat to Covid
How has the government's crisis communications in the pandemic compared with Labour’s handling of swine flu in 2009 or the Coalition’s response to the horsemeat scandal in 2013?
John Edwards: I want you to see an ICO that brings certainty in an uncertain world
04 Apr 2022 Civil Service Reform
John Edwards: I want you to see an ICO that brings certainty in an uncertain world
We want to move fast, fix things and preserve people’s rights. But to do that I need your thoughts
As energy costs and inflation shoot up, a 2% pay rise is cold comfort for civil servants
31 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
As energy costs and inflation shoot up, a 2% pay rise is cold comfort for civil servants
Many had hoped, after the lifting of the “pay pause”, that pay austerity was coming to an end. They were disappointed, says Garry Graham
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
23 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
Parliament should legislate for a new statute to strengthen the civil service’s accountability, identity and purpose
Ministerial hand-wringing over working from home is beyond a joke
22 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
Ministerial hand-wringing over working from home is beyond a joke
While Jacob Rees-Mogg fixates on the numbers of officials who are back at their desks – and hugely damages morale in the process – civil servants are getting on with the job of delivering public services
‘Learn to love complaints’, watchdog tells departments
22 Mar 2022 HR
‘Learn to love complaints’, watchdog tells departments
Ombudsman’s new standards target culture change in problem-handling as research shows public lacks confidence in current system
The NHS workforce plan: the Godot of public policy?
22 Mar 2022 Commercial
The NHS workforce plan: the Godot of public policy?
Workforce shortages and an end to free lateral flow testing are just some of the issues giving our health columnist a headache
'Get paid less, work more and have your reputation trashed' isn't a great sell for the senior civil service
18 Mar 2022 Civil Service Reform
'Get paid less, work more and have your reputation trashed' isn't a great sell for the senior civil service
Competency-based pay could represent some light at the end of the tunnel, but it needs proper funding or it will be just another train
Opportunities outweigh threats in new white paper on health and social care integration
18 Mar 2022 Health & Social Care
Opportunities outweigh threats in new white paper on health and social care integration
This is a framework which could enable real progress on integrating health and social care services
How will we know when the government has hit its levelling up goals?
15 Mar 2022 Economy
How will we know when the government has hit its levelling up goals?
The levelling up white paper has grand and worthy aims. But, with soaring inflation set to bite, how well off will levelled-up places really be?
Pro bono work isn't just for lawyers. Here's why civil servants should volunteer
04 Mar 2022 HR
Pro bono work isn't just for lawyers. Here's why civil servants should volunteer
As an economist in the Government Economic Service, volunteering was challenging and demanding – but, ultimately, incredibly rewarding
MPs' pay rise has exposed hypocrisy and wilful ignorance on civil service pay
04 Mar 2022 HR
MPs' pay rise has exposed hypocrisy and wilful ignorance on civil service pay
Wilful ignorance on how civil servants are treated and paid is salt in the wounds of those who feel abandoned by their political masters, argues Prospect’s Garry Graham
Government should get the best of both worlds on home working
03 Mar 2022 HR
Government should get the best of both worlds on home working
There are good reasons for civil servants to return to the office but a flexible approach is needed to support reform