News

"We’re forever doing accountability ex-post," says the former cabinet secretary, as MPs kick off their new inquiry into the future of the civil service

Reaching an agreement on thorny issues like redundancy pay is never easy – but it’s always better than the alternative

The drive to achieve greater consistency in the relationships between departments and ALBs is welcome, says Chris Banks of the Public Chairs' Forum – but it's time to move away from the "parent-child" model

Making a success of Brexit does not mean UK should ditch its reputation as a "free, tolerant, outward facing society", says former Foreign Office permanent secretary

A new resource from the Centre for Public Impact rates the effectiveness of policy initiatives from around the world. Mark Smulian reports

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues on Dods People

Director general for defence and intelligence Sarah MacIntosh to take up posting next year

As well as leading the Ministry of Justice through a time of immense challenge and change, Richard Heaton is also busy trying to break down the barriers holding back black and minority ethnic civil servants. He tells Suzannah Brecknell why he’s optimistic about the future. Photos: Paul Heartfield

Constitutional expert and Whitehall historian Lord Hennessy says work must begin now for an official history of the UK’s exit from the European Union

BME officials "need to be part of the decision-making process", says Civil Service Race Forum chair Rob Neil, as he warns that meritocracy remains a "dream" for too many staff

Institute for Government says ruling on Parliamentary approval for Article 50 trigger will “greatly impact” Theresa May’s plans to enact leave mechanism by March 2017

Cabinet secretary seeks to take on claims that the civil service was biased in the EU referendum campaign and under-prepared in the aftermath of the vote

Iraq inquiry chair tells MPs that senior officials must "insist on their right to be heard and to record what their advice is" if they are to learn the lessons of the Iraq invasion

The UK in a Changing Europe​ says there will be "tensions if there is any further bifurcation of salaries in Whitehall" as a result of the drive to recruit specialists for Britain's EU exit. Meanwhile, Cabinet Office confirms Brexit-focused civil service-wide resource review is starting with the Senior civil Service

A recent Microsoft webinar examined how civil servants can realise the full benefits of mobile, flexible and modern workplaces with the Government Hubs programme

Exclusive: David Cameron’s policy guru and former Cabinet Office minister warns agains "jargon-ridden, non-sensical, useless, distracting management speak" and argues for better treatment of civil servants to compensate for pay restraints

New strategy unveiled by the chancellor to be broken up into three strands – "defence, deter and develop" 

New report by the Institute for Government flags skills gap, policy divide and officials' attitudes to digital as potential barrier to service transformation and big savings

With the new government focused on Brexit, Theresa May and Philip Hammond have not voiced their support for making government digital – but the potential for savings is huge

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues on Dods People

After a career in finance that included a stint in the former battlegrounds of South East Asia, UK Export Finance chief executive Louis Taylor faces challenges on a new front: supporting UK exporters in an era of Brexit uncertainty. Colin Marrs meets him

Civil Service World's regular guide to the very best in Whitehallese

 Exit of chief technology officer marks latest in a series of departures from Government Digital Service over the last three months

UKEF chief Louis Taylor tells CSW he has struck deal with Treasury to end "very inefficient use of money" through contractors