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
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
From the editor: we need to talk about burnout
25 Feb 2022 HR
From the editor: we need to talk about burnout
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s recent pronouncements about civil servants are unhelpful, particularly against a backdrop of overwork and fatigue among dedicated officials
As Big Dog nears his final trip to the vet, briefings break out over the NHS Elective Recovery Plan
23 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
As Big Dog nears his final trip to the vet, briefings break out over the NHS Elective Recovery Plan
The plan forms a handy battleground for Conservative leadership ambitions but gives little detail on how aspirations to cut waiting lists will be met, Andy Cowper writes
When civil servants are made into scapegoats for political problems, we must change the narrative
21 Feb 2022 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 2022
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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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