Whitehall can still face tricky decisions during an election and the purdah period can create problems – as demonstrated by the High Court battle over air quality guidelines

Governments across the world have been reducing the size of their civil service. What impact does this have on the employees who remain?

Faced with an unexpected election, political parties will be scrambling to write manifestos – and civil servants will be working to analyse them. Steve O’Neil sets out what to look for

Momentous life events remind us why the last thing we need is politicians playing fast and loose with our public services

New pay guidance for the civil service shows why the government must adopt a more sophisticated approach to pay and reward

Confirmation of a snap general election leaves major bills and policies in jeopardy

Insolvency Service investigator Claire Entwistle recounts the impressions and insights she picked up while shadowing Louise Haigh MP

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s report on the lessons from the EU referendum raises a number of important issues that deserve further attention.

Submissions to ministers are integral to how government works, but the system may not lead to the best decisions

 Attempts to boost officials’ understanding of history are laudable, but will they work?

There are many gains from big data that could be had by government. As much as it can help Whitehall spot new patterns and anomalies, it will also help improve day to management

Now that the government has begun the Article 50 process, the Brexit honeymoon period will be over for Theresa May. Securing a deal which pleases everyone – or indeed anyone – will be virtually impossible

The legal deadline for forming a new Northern Ireland Executive passed without agreement between the parties. This could have important political and legal consequences – and is uncomfortable for civil servants in the province

After six years at the helm of this tiny Whitehall team, John Whiting is standing down. Here he shares his experiences of trying to simplify Britain’s fiendish tax system – and what he’s learnt in the process

In making bids for more powers, many councils have moved outside their comfort zone to craft plans that improve local services. Can the same be said of central government?

Prospect union's deputy general secretary Garry Graham warns the UK will enter negotiations with "one hand tied behind its back" unless it addresses concerns over civil service capacity and workloads 

The Crown Marketplace will allow departments to buy a host of goods and services online, streamlining the way that purchases are made

The political parties in Northern Ireland have failed to reach an agreement to form a new power-sharing Executive following the elections this month. The consequences could include the re-introduction of direct rule from Westminster

Expanding a government policy that allows people to use the value of their home to pay for social care without having to sell the property could unlock money at a time of growing demand

Industrial tribunals are set to become more high profile this year, which could represent a reputational risk to departments, but there are a number of steps managers can take

Research by the Public Chairs’ Forum (PCF), Association of Chief Executives (ACE) and Institute for Government (IfG) is to review the impact of the Code of Good Practice for partnerships between departments and arm’s-length bodies (ALBs).

The latest round of efficiency savings demanded by the Treasury will set civil servants off on a merry dance. Given the official hours devoted to such reviews, is it time for rethink?

We shouldn't have to wait until the wheels fall off to find that cuts to services have gone way beyond any sustainable level, argues the former DWP permanent secretary

Departmental chiefs must work to create an environment that’s good for body and mind