Francis Maude’s review of Whitehall should lead to cross-party agreement on civil service reform
19 Oct Civil Service Reform

Francis Maude’s review of Whitehall should lead to cross-party agreement on civil service reform

Leaked proposals for a new settlement for ministers and civil servants are mostly to be welcomed
by Alex Thomas
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
15 Nov Civil Service Reform
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
07 Nov Commercial
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
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?
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