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
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
10 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
Reports claim chancellor was advised that payments of legacy benefits could only be increased once a year
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 9
09 May 2022 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 9
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
MoJ civil servant won six-figure sum over 20-year 'racial discrimination ordeal'
09 May 2022 HR
MoJ civil servant won six-figure sum over 20-year 'racial discrimination ordeal'
Olivea Ebanks said she would “never recommend that anybody works in the civil service” after her experience
'Naked cronyism' jab as two Tory donors appointed to public health roles
06 May 2022 Coronavirus
'Naked cronyism' jab as two Tory donors appointed to public health roles
DHSC and UKHSA say all government protocols were followed in making the appointments
Cabinet Office signs £400k deal for digital accessibility audits
06 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Cabinet Office signs £400k deal for digital accessibility audits
Central department stresses importance of ‘highest standards’, given its role in ensuring others’ compliance with regulation
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
06 May 2022 Finance
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
Sue Owen’s appointment as non-exec chair of advisory board marks return to DMO after 16 years
EXCL: DfE morale at 'all-time low' over hybrid working row as staff feel 'alienated by leadership' Exclusive
05 May 2022 Education
EXCL: DfE morale at 'all-time low' over hybrid working row as staff feel 'alienated by leadership'
Civil servants demand to know how leaders plan to rebuild trust after office-return guidance and failure to defend them from political attack
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
05 May 2022 Communications
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
Capita will also perform social media "recruitment checks" for would-be DVLA and DVSA staff
DfE staff ‘offered 80:20’ hybrid working as default
05 May 2022 Education
DfE staff ‘offered 80:20’ hybrid working as default
Pledge follows last month’s orders to return to pre-pandemic working patterns “immediately”
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
05 May 2022 Brexit
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
Former Australian high commissioner to the UK says Defra officials were most hostile to negotiations
HMRC accused of ignoring public health guidance in demand for Wales office return
04 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
HMRC accused of ignoring public health guidance in demand for Wales office return
Department's “move away” from Welsh Covid guidance is “deeply concerning”, PCS says
Government digital profession given licence to offer £45k a year extra for key senior roles
04 May 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Government digital profession given licence to offer £45k a year extra for key senior roles
Pilot scheme will allow DDaT posts to tap into ‘pivotal role allowance’
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
04 May 2022 Analysis
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
Government does not understand why local authority performances vary due to £10bn data gap, think tank says
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
04 May 2022 HR
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
Deputy director Darren Burke joined the civil service in August 2020
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
03 May 2022 Communications
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
RICU facility signs two-year contract
Vaccine Taskforce boss drafted in to deal with HRT crisis
03 May 2022 Health & Social Care
Vaccine Taskforce boss drafted in to deal with HRT crisis
Madelaine McTernan will focus on resolving supply-chain issues affecting some products
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
03 May 2022 Civil Service Reform
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
Lord Kerslake says huge challenges require “right-sized” workforce as former civil service chief exec Manzoni issues caution over skills gaps
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
29 Apr 2022 Commercial
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
Tom Scholar told the Treasury Committee officials put together loan schemes under "exceptional circumstances"
'Our teams are working flat out': Rycroft intervenes in work-from-home row
29 Apr 2022 HR
'Our teams are working flat out': Rycroft intervenes in work-from-home row
Passport Office head's work location has "zero bearing" on delays at the agency, perm sec says
People Survey: Pay satisfaction falls and engagement stalls
29 Apr 2022 HR
People Survey: Pay satisfaction falls and engagement stalls
But just-published results reveal highest-ever work-life balance score among civil servants
Cabinet Office finally kicks off clearing house review eight months after announcing it
29 Apr 2022 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office finally kicks off clearing house review eight months after announcing it
Plans for in-house investigation of FoI unit published the night before critical PACAC report is released
MPs renew call for answers on Office of the Prime Minister plans
29 Apr 2022 Civil Service Reform
MPs renew call for answers on Office of the Prime Minister plans
Cabinet Office perm sec is asked again for details, more than two months after original queries
‘Substandard’: MPs tell Cabinet Office to ‘drive cultural shift’ on freedom of information
29 Apr 2022 Civil Service Reform
‘Substandard’: MPs tell Cabinet Office to ‘drive cultural shift’ on freedom of information
Inquiry criticises “mere baseline compliance” with FoI Act and failure to provide basic information on secretive clearing house
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
28 Apr 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
Civil service union says Priti Patel has failed to set out legal basis for sending asylum seekers to east Africa for “processing”