The Politburo has spoken: unpicking 'plans' for 91,000 civil service job cuts
16 May 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
by Dave Penman
From the editor: You are not very good at judging risk. Sorry.
20 May Commercial
From the editor: You are not very good at judging risk. Sorry.
Job cuts may grab headlines, but ministers should be on notice: nothing is off the table
16 May HR
Job cuts may grab headlines, but ministers should be on notice: nothing is off the table
Covid and the war in Ukraine are tragically graphic illustrations of the need for trustworthy data
12 May Statistics
Covid and the war in Ukraine are tragically graphic illustrations of the need for trustworthy data
When civil servants are made into scapegoats for political problems, we must change the narrative
21 Feb HR
When civil servants are made into scapegoats for political problems, we must change the narrative
There is much that the civil service can learn from the private sector, but we should also be bolder in reminding the country of the best of the civil service
The Queen's portrait row at BEIS reminds us patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
18 Feb
The Queen's portrait row at BEIS reminds us patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
As Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to quash a fake news story, the PM's 18th century namesake has some useful lessons for members of the current cabinet
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
17 Feb Economy
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
Colin Talbot explores the pros and cons of different approaches to measuring the size of government
Net zero's hard yards are ahead
09 Feb Energy & Environment
Net zero's hard yards are ahead
As Cop26 fades into the distance, ministers still have a mountain to climb to deliver their climate ambitions
The public sector cannot reach its levelling up goals alone
08 Feb Finance
The public sector cannot reach its levelling up goals alone
Social impact investing will be a crucial tool for delivering the levelling up agenda, writes Stephen Muers
Treasury rules?
08 Feb Civil Service Reform
Treasury rules?
The backdrop to controversies about the Prime Minister's Office and the role of the Treasury are rooted in the history of Whitehall
A lurch towards 'clientelism': The implications of government threats to remove public funding from specific MPs’ constituencies
03 Feb Economics
A lurch towards 'clientelism': The implications of government threats to remove public funding from specific MPs’ constituencies
Ministers cannot usually intervene to determine the allocation of funds to particular towns or constituencies. Are we now starting to see what is tantamount to discretionary funding?
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
02 Feb Commercial
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
From industrial strategies and booster campaigns to levelling up, government announcements are full of "missions" at the moment. Theo Curtis, an economist at the business department, digs behind the buzz
Dave Penman: Sound ideas and worrying signs from the Sue Gray investigation
01 Feb HR
Dave Penman: Sound ideas and worrying signs from the Sue Gray investigation
Reviews of civil service code and its counterpart for special advisers suggest Boris Johnson thinks he has found a get-out-of-jail card on Partygate
Boris Johnson’s ‘Office of the Prime Minister’ won’t address Sue Gray’s criticisms
01 Feb HR
Boris Johnson’s ‘Office of the Prime Minister’ won’t address Sue Gray’s criticisms
A reorganisation of No.10 cannot solve the government’s problems, says Alex Thomas
Hapless or hypocritical? Civil servants have had enough of being attacked to save the Big Dog
24 Jan Civil Service Reform
Hapless or hypocritical? Civil servants have had enough of being attacked to save the Big Dog
A Friday-evening press release accompanied by anonymous briefings doesn't indicate strong leadership, but it does have the whiff of Red Meat sacrificed, along with civil service morale, to save a floundering prime minister
From the editor: the Siren song of power
20 Jan Coronavirus
From the editor: the Siren song of power
The belief that important work can only be done in an office doesn't bode well for civil service reform
Andy Cowper: The PM plays party games while the NHS strains under Covid pressures
19 Jan Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: The PM plays party games while the NHS strains under Covid pressures
The PM’s non-apology on the “BYOB” No.10 garden party won’t convince many. Meanwhile, NHS workforce and waiting list challenges remain
Dave Penman: time for No.10 to settle its tab on Partygate
18 Jan HR
Dave Penman: time for No.10 to settle its tab on Partygate
No-one can escape their personal accountability for following the letter and spirit of the law, and those in government should set an example
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
11 Jan Coronavirus
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
"If the purpose of the partygate inquiry is to reassure us, then we’re being asked to accept a string of foolish choices," a former civil servant writes
Why empowering communities is key to the levelling-up agenda
20 Dec 2021 Economy
Why empowering communities is key to the levelling-up agenda
Local areas need cash and a say in how it is spent to turn the prime minister’s pledges into reality, argue Vidhya Alakeson of Power to Change and Alex Smith of The Cares Family
Cometh the hour, cometh the expert: Is Bingham right about civil servants' 'groupthink and aversion to risk'?
17 Dec 2021 Civil Service Reform
Cometh the hour, cometh the expert: Is Bingham right about civil servants' 'groupthink and aversion to risk'?
The former Vaccine Task Force chief makes a powerful case for reform, but the key thing is to have the right skills for the right job
From the editor: As the future again looks tough, a simple message from our team to yours
15 Dec 2021
From the editor: As the future again looks tough, a simple message from our team to yours
CSW's editors reflect on the year that was and introduce the perm secs' roundup
Andy Cowper: When an omnishambles meets Omicron
14 Dec 2021 Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: When an omnishambles meets Omicron
Missionary zeal from Boris Johnson cannot distract us from the realities of the crunch facing the NHS and the creaking social-care system
Penman: High Court ruling on Patel case sets an important precedent to protect civil servants
07 Dec 2021 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
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
06 Dec 2021 Policy
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
Civil servants will need to get used to increased volatility in a world of unprecedented challenges. The resilience of the state has never been more vital, says Matthew Bell
Five suggestions for removing barriers to disabled people in the civil service
03 Dec 2021 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
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
22 Nov 2021 Finance
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
Martin Wheatley asks: how seriously should we take the Treasury’s renewed interest in what public spending achieves?
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
19 Nov 2021 Finance
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
Andy Cowper reviews the last month of health and social care news