George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
18 May HR

George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants

While the civil service is dominated by generalists when it comes to policy, junior civil servants may be the closest thing ministers have to experts
by James Sweetland
Silence is not golden: The civil service must enable a 'speak-up' environment
06 Apr HR
Silence is not golden: The civil service must enable a 'speak-up' environment
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
22 Mar HR
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
07 Mar Civil Service Reform
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
So, you've lost all your ministers...
13 Jul 2022 HR
So, you've lost all your ministers...
Do you need ministers to keep running public services? The short answer is it’s complicated
Simon McDonald: Why I had to call out Boris Johnson’s untruths about Christopher Pincher
12 Jul 2022 Politics & Constitution
Simon McDonald: Why I had to call out Boris Johnson’s untruths about Christopher Pincher
Former Foreign and Commonwealth Office permanent under-secretary explains the background to his decision to set the record straight, prompting events that led to the PM’s resignation
There is no one issue that led to Boris Johnson's downfall, but the predominant one is integrity
07 Jul 2022 HR
There is no one issue that led to Boris Johnson's downfall, but the predominant one is integrity
"The disconnect between what Johnson said and did was what ultimately did for him"
A critical enabler Partner Content
06 Jul 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
A critical enabler
As the civil service is committed to innovation, world-class digital services and customer service
improvements, BT’s technology is leading the way forward, supporting the changes ahead
From the editor: At a time of discontinuity, leadership is at a premium
29 Jun 2022 HR
From the editor: At a time of discontinuity, leadership is at a premium
As job cuts loom, civil service leaders have their work cut out. But it’s a challenge that they will be better equipped to meet than their political masters
A zero-tolerance position on inappropriate behaviours, sexual harassment and bullying alone is not enough
28 Jun 2022 HR
A zero-tolerance position on inappropriate behaviours, sexual harassment and bullying alone is not enough
Shocks and revelations might look like they galvanise action. But culture change takes time
Maude's making a comeback – but if Frankie said relax, I'm not sure I would
17 Jun 2022 Civil Service Reform
Maude's making a comeback – but if Frankie said relax, I'm not sure I would
The news that Francis Maude is reportedly conducting a review on civil service governance feels like a government running out of ideas, writes Dave Penman
Health Week Two: The Saj rides to the rescue
14 Jun 2022 Health & Social Care
Health Week Two: The Saj rides to the rescue
Health columnist Andy Cowper looks back on the return of Health Week, assesses the latest review of NHS leadership, and looks for information on the promised 40-new hospitals
Delivering data dividends: lessons from the pandemic Partner Content
08 Jun 2022 Analysis
Delivering data dividends: lessons from the pandemic
Data proved to be a pivotal weapon in the fight against Covid-19, but it is vital to draw important lessons from this period to help strengthen the response to future public health challenges. BAE Systems’ Andy Lethbridge chronicles his experiences navigating uncharted waters at the heart of the UK’s pandemic response
Illogical Fast Stream suspension will harm future talent and leadership of civil service
31 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
Illogical Fast Stream suspension will harm future talent and leadership of civil service
The FDA’s Lauren Crowley says the Fast Stream is vital for increasing diversity and specialist skills in government
From the editor: You are not very good at judging risk. Sorry.
20 May 2022 Commercial
From the editor: You are not very good at judging risk. Sorry.
There are many issues to consider when assessing decisions taken around procurement in the early days of Covid. That’s why a full inquiry is being held
Job cuts may grab headlines, but ministers should be on notice: nothing is off the table
16 May 2022 HR
Job cuts may grab headlines, but ministers should be on notice: nothing is off the table
It doesn’t take a genius to realise that a greater workload demands higher permanent staffing levels, writes Prospect's general secretary
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?