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
Hapless or hypocritical? Civil servants have had enough of being attacked to save the Big Dog
24 Jan 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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
Standards in public life? Sorry, we’re not familiar with that phrase
12 Nov 2021 HR
Standards in public life? Sorry, we’re not familiar with that phrase
Bullying, intimidation and an untimely attempt to overhaul the standards system – with political accountability seemingly a thing of the past, it’s no wonder that the irony meter has blown its fuse
Capability-based pay on its own will not solve the civil service’s churn problem
10 Nov 2021 HR
Capability-based pay on its own will not solve the civil service’s churn problem
Plans to link pay to capability are an important step to address government's retention and recruitment problems, says Alex Thomas, but they must be properly implemented - and funded
Sir Ian Diamond: Data is essential to saving our planet
08 Nov 2021 Energy & Environment
Sir Ian Diamond: Data is essential to saving our planet
We must ensure that data and statistical insights are at the heart of climate action, explains Professor Sir Ian Diamond. To do this, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is collaborating with partners across government to bring together key climate statistics on a new portal
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
03 Nov 2021 Economy
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
The Treasury will be pleased with how the Spending Review has been received in Whitehall. But longer term issues will still worry it
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
02 Nov 2021 Civil Service Reform
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
A Japanese teaching device has helped Colin Talbot think through some of government’s enduring problems. He explains how it can help you too
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
27 Oct 2021 HR
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
Increasing budgets and more leeway on pay gives ministers a chance to enact much-needed pay reform argues Garry Graham. Whether they do so will show how committed they are to building and supporting a skilled civil service
Spending reviews: a short history
27 Oct 2021 Economy
Spending reviews: a short history
As chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out his latest spending review, Colin Talbot digs into the history of this deceptively simple fiscal event
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
19 Oct 2021 Analysis
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
Civil society is a vital part of our lives, but we know relatively little about the health of the sector. Ed Humpherson makes the case for taking action now to ensure policymakers have the data they need to better support – and work with – civil society in the future
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
18 Oct 2021 Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
At a time of taxing politics – and politicising taxes – a government review of NHS management mustn’t get in the way of learning from the pandemic
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
14 Oct 2021 HR
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
Every day seems to bring new jibes at hard working civil servants over office returns. But eventually reality will catch up with