Jim Dunton

Chisholm says Covid-19 will accelerate civil service’s shift away from Whitehall
30 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Chisholm says Covid-19 will accelerate civil service’s shift away from Whitehall
Cabinet Office perm sec tells MPs continued remote working will see more people based at the same office, but not there at the same time
FCDO admits ‘some roles may change’ because of merger
28 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
FCDO admits ‘some roles may change’ because of merger
MPs are told department will await the outcome of a wider review before deciding on new nationality requirements
Johnson dubs lockdown-inspired call for public services shake-up ‘exciting’
25 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Johnson dubs lockdown-inspired call for public services shake-up ‘exciting’
Danny Kruger’s community-empowerment manifesto eyes creation of £2bn “Levelling Up Fund” with cash from dormant funds
Turmoil as ministers fail to agree on new head for Northern Ireland Civil Service
25 Sep 2020 HR
Turmoil as ministers fail to agree on new head for Northern Ireland Civil Service
Union warns DUP and Sinn Féin not to put “partisan interests” ahead of leadership for public services
Sunak confirms furlough scheme will end but unveils new job support plans
24 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Sunak confirms furlough scheme will end but unveils new job support plans
Union anger as chancellor tells MPs the economy is facing a ‘more permanent adjustment’ because of coronavirus pandemic
Gus O’Donnell blasts ministers for ‘weak strategy and leadership’ in Covid-19 response
24 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Gus O’Donnell blasts ministers for ‘weak strategy and leadership’ in Covid-19 response
Ex-cab sec says placing rhetoric over substance is damaging public trust in government and scientific institutions
Civil service return-to-work target was ‘never based in reality’, says union chief
23 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Civil service return-to-work target was ‘never based in reality’, says union chief
FDA general secretary dubs U-turn a ‘shambles’ while PCS seeks assurances working from home will be the norm until next year
Perm sec defends MHCLG's handling of £3.6bn ‘struggling towns’ fund picks
23 Sep 2020 Economy
Perm sec defends MHCLG's handling of £3.6bn ‘struggling towns’ fund picks
MPs quiz Jeremy Pocklington on selection of 101 towns from more than 1,000 candidates in 2019 pump-priming drive
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
22 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
Cabinet Office minister says plan to see 80% of staff back at their workplaces by end of month has been ditched as second spike of coronavirus approaches
Top civil servant’s art collection set to go under the hammer
21 Sep 2020 Culture
Top civil servant’s art collection set to go under the hammer
Former National Economic Development Office director-general Sir Ronald McIntosh sought out up-and-coming talent
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
21 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
BEIS executive agency to bar appointment of directors until verification checks are performed
Home Office has ‘too much’ immigration enforcement information, but ‘not the right sort’
18 Sep 2020 Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office has ‘too much’ immigration enforcement information, but ‘not the right sort’
Damning PAC report accuses department of formulating policy on “anecdote, assumption and prejudice” and of showing “little concern” for the human impact of its failures
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
18 Sep 2020 Brexit
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
Civil servants told that go-ahead from new cabinet secretary is only assurance they need to work on controversial legislation
Union berates government for silence over 10% pay demand
18 Sep 2020 HR
Union berates government for silence over 10% pay demand
PCS says long-overdue response to official parliament petition shows ministers' "disregard" for staff
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
17 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
Prime minister tells watchdog MPs he is not “shy of reform” but insists changes won’t be made in a “spirit of disapproval”
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
Quarterly figures show staff numbers grew by 3,600 between March and June, with Department for Work and Pensions posting biggest rise
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
Report suggests Whitehall faces a “bum fight” for seats after chairs are sent to civil servants’ homes for lockdown
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
15 Sep 2020 HR
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
Home secretary refuses to endorse publication of Cabinet Office report into allegations about her treatment of staff
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
11 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
Inspector dubs return-to-work targets “ambitious and unrealistic” after finding social-distancing rules being breached
Cummings never forecast a 'hard rain' for Whitehall, Gove claims
11 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Cummings never forecast a 'hard rain' for Whitehall, Gove claims
Cabinet Office minister tells MPs No.10 chief adviser's weather warning was misheard
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
10 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
Union calls on perm sec Alex Chisholm to shelve 80% target amid “growing concern” over second wave of Covid-19
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
09 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
PCS says new department’s policy on fixed-term contracts is also unfair to underrepresented groups
MHCLG 'needs new regulator' to oversee council audit work
09 Sep 2020 Finance
MHCLG 'needs new regulator' to oversee council audit work
Call from independent Redmond Review comes after Audit Commission was scrapped by the coalition government
Hollywood beckons for nuclear power station’s sci-fi control desk, decommissioning agency says
08 Sep 2020 Commercial
Hollywood beckons for nuclear power station’s sci-fi control desk, decommissioning agency says
Decommissioning contractors sell Magnox hardware to Harry Potter film studio
Is your department growing or shrinking? Stats show changing shape of Whitehall
07 Sep 2020 HR
Is your department growing or shrinking? Stats show changing shape of Whitehall
The ranks of the civil service may have swelled by 10,000 over the past year, but not all ministries are expanding, a Civil Service World data crunch reveals
Civil service needs more 'robust' contingency planning, NAO Brexit review warns
04 Sep 2020 Brexit
Civil service needs more 'robust' contingency planning, NAO Brexit review warns
Watchdog flags lack of pace and stakeholder engagement in Brexit preparations as supply chains warn of “severe” disruption when transition period ends
Next ‘cyber crisis’ will probably be an accident, says outgoing NCSC chief
04 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Next ‘cyber crisis’ will probably be an accident, says outgoing NCSC chief
Ciaran Martin fears combination of departmental error and ransomware attacker “not really understanding what they’re doing”
Harassment of civil servants a 'bigger problem' in Scottish Government than rest of UK, union chief says
03 Sep 2020 HR
Harassment of civil servants a 'bigger problem' in Scottish Government than rest of UK, union chief says
Dave Penman tells MSPs dozens of staff in Scotland had complaints about ministers compared with "only a handful" in other nations
David Sterling stands down after ‘42 years, 199 days’ with NICS
01 Sep 2020 HR
David Sterling stands down after ‘42 years, 199 days’ with NICS
Former Cabinet Office ethics chief Sue Gray among candidates to succeed Sterling as head of Northern Ireland Civil Service
How well paid is your profession? Civil service salary rankings revealed
01 Sep 2020 HR
How well paid is your profession? Civil service salary rankings revealed
Cabinet Office data shows planning inspectors and lawyers drop down league table for median earnings
Civil service continues to grow London headcount
28 Aug 2020
Civil service continues to grow London headcount
Latest workforce statistics show capital-based staff on the rise as North East numbers decline
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
26 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
IfG says new National Institute for Health Protection faces same problems as predecessor with added disruption from reorganisation
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
25 Aug 2020 Education
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
Regulator says outgoing boss believes next stage of awarding process will be “better overseen by new leadership”
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
25 Aug 2020 HR
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
Scottish Government perm sec writes letter to MSPs after controversy surrounding harassment inquiry appearance
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
21 Aug 2020 Communications
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
PCS says centralisation drive could put thousands of staff at risk and give No.10 "unprecedented control"
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
21 Aug 2020 Project Delivery
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
Move comes as Crossrail bosses reveal line will cost an extra £450m and not open until 2022