Ex-cab sec and politicians share ideas to reform the state as think tank rebrands
19 May Civil Service Reform

Ex-cab sec and politicians share ideas to reform the state as think tank rebrands

Re:State – previously Reform – publishes essay collection in which Mark Sedwill calls for "sustained political will, coherent leadership and a clear strategy"
by Tevye Markson
Joined-up data and multi-disciplinary teams: DfE sets out how it is driving cross-government work on opportunities mission
19 May Civil Service Reform
Joined-up data and multi-disciplinary teams: DfE sets out how it is driving cross-government work on opportunities mission
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
19 May Security & Defence
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
Departments ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
16 May Justice & Home Affairs
Departments ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
Greensill report a 'cynical attempt to distract from real issues', Jeremy Heywood's widow says
24 Jan 2022 Commercial
Greensill report a 'cynical attempt to distract from real issues', Jeremy Heywood's widow says
In a new chapter of the late cabinet secretary's biography, Suzanne Heywood details her attempts to give evidence to the Boardman review
Northern Ireland Office seeks new civil service commissioner
24 Jan 2022 HR
Northern Ireland Office seeks new civil service commissioner
Secretary of state Brandon Lewis specifies “expertise and fresh thinking” for next member of three-strong panel
Unions slam 'reckless' demands for civil servants to return to offices
24 Jan 2022 HR
Unions slam 'reckless' demands for civil servants to return to offices
The Cabinet Office is asking departments to ensure offices return quickly to full occupancy
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 24
24 Jan 2022 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 24
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Study on ‘Boris bridge’ to link Scotland and Northern Ireland cost £900k
21 Jan 2022 Finance
Study on ‘Boris bridge’ to link Scotland and Northern Ireland cost £900k
Report carried out at Boris Johnson's request showed the bill for a fixed link would be "impossible to justify"
DfT pledges ‘bonfire of the banalities’ for pointless train announcements
21 Jan 2022 Transport
DfT pledges ‘bonfire of the banalities’ for pointless train announcements
Crackdown comes despite reduction in passenger numbers and projected £20bn bill from coronavirus pandemic
PM's standards adviser to get bigger team after flat refurb row
21 Jan 2022 Civil Service Reform
PM's standards adviser to get bigger team after flat refurb row
Cabinet office perm sec Alex Chisholm confirms expansion following Geidt’s call for “greater authority and independence”
MPs slam DWP for ‘shameful shambles’ of £1bn pensions underpayments
21 Jan 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
MPs slam DWP for ‘shameful shambles’ of £1bn pensions underpayments
Department must understand opportunity cost of failing to keep IT systems up-to-date, report warns
Biggest civil service union sets out 10% pay demand
20 Jan 2022 HR
Biggest civil service union sets out 10% pay demand
PCS tells departments it also wants guarantee on “£5k minimum” London weighting
No.10 accused of seeking to ‘blackmail and intimidate’ MPs trying to topple PM
20 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
No.10 accused of seeking to ‘blackmail and intimidate’ MPs trying to topple PM
PACAC chair William Wragg says government had threatened to withdraw cash from constituencies of MPs suspected of plotting to remove Johnson over Partygate
DIT launches search for ‘next generation’ of trade negotiators
20 Jan 2022 Economy
DIT launches search for ‘next generation’ of trade negotiators
Post-Brexit programme offers up to £35k a year to latest wave of trainees
DHSC refuses plea to tackle health and social staff pay disparity
19 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC refuses plea to tackle health and social staff pay disparity
Perm sec says the government cannot accurately compare jobs in the two sectors
‘Taking more control of IT strategy’ – HMRC to close in-house tech firm
19 Jan 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
‘Taking more control of IT strategy’ – HMRC to close in-house tech firm
Staff will either become civil servants or move over to commercial providers
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
19 Jan 2022 Commercial
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
Significant progress made on cutting consultant numbers, but short-term roles and secondments deter officials from applying
Cabinet Office wins court appeal over contract awarded to Cummings-linked firm
19 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office wins court appeal over contract awarded to Cummings-linked firm
The Good Law Project, which brought the case, plans to appeal to the Supreme Court
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
18 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
Department revises down estimate of taxpayers’ money it could get back by March 2023
Treasury’s Darlington office could move to new site within three years
18 Jan 2022 Civil Service Reform
Treasury’s Darlington office could move to new site within three years
There are expected to be 1,500 new civil service staff in Darlington by 2025
Partygate scandal ‘damaging civil service's reputation’, warns union chief
18 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Partygate scandal ‘damaging civil service's reputation’, warns union chief
Warning comes amid latest revelations of a “prosecco and crisps” get-together at the Home Office
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 17
17 Jan 2022 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 17
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
17 Jan 2022 Communications
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
The head of news will set the Cabinet Office’s media relations strategy
MPs to forcibly publish report on benefits system after ‘repeated obstruction’ from DWP
17 Jan 2022 Operational Delivery
MPs to forcibly publish report on benefits system after ‘repeated obstruction’ from DWP
Work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey has repeatedly refused to publish the research
Former Covid task force head apologises for leaving drinks during lockdown
14 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Former Covid task force head apologises for leaving drinks during lockdown
Kate Josephs held office drinks when London was under Tier 3 restrictions
Perm secs push back at proposals for government chief risk officer
14 Jan 2022 Civil Service Reform
Perm secs push back at proposals for government chief risk officer
Cabinet Office chief Chisholm warns move could dilute accounting officer responsibility; DHSC boss Wormald says remit would be too big
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
14 Jan 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
ICO says “erasing, destroying or concealing” relevant information is a criminal offence