Coronavirus restrictions: Labour calls for ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown as local leaders demand Treasury support
14 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Coronavirus restrictions: Labour calls for ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown as local leaders demand Treasury support
New three-tier restrictions coming into effect today amid calls for further tightening of rules
PM unveils three-tiered Covid lockdown system, with Liverpool under tightest restrictions
13 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
PM unveils three-tiered Covid lockdown system, with Liverpool under tightest restrictions
Boris Johnson says new system will “simplify and standardise” the rules after positive tests in the North of England continue to rise.
Ministers accused of 'ignoring own advisers' after rejecting SAGE call for 'circuit breaker' lockdown
13 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Ministers accused of 'ignoring own advisers' after rejecting SAGE call for 'circuit breaker' lockdown
Scientific advisers called for "immediate action" on 21 September, minutes show
Cabinet Office to pay £300k for mobile data tracking to 'prevent Covid transmission risk'
13 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office to pay £300k for mobile data tracking to 'prevent Covid transmission risk'
"Mobile-based location services and digital advertising experts" to monitor footfall and social distancing in shopping "hotspots"
Treasury boosts job support amid new Covid restrictions – but scheme less generous than furlough
11 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Treasury boosts job support amid new Covid restrictions – but scheme less generous than furlough
Sunak says expanded programme ‘will provide a safety net for businesses required to temporarily close their doors’
‘Civil service morale is high’ Chisholm tells MPs
09 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
‘Civil service morale is high’ Chisholm tells MPs
Chief operating officer says he expects 2020 People Survey to reflect ‘sense of pride and achievement’ felt by staff dealing with Covid-19 response and Brexit
Home Office and MHCLG detail £60m coronavirus policing package
08 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Home Office and MHCLG detail £60m coronavirus policing package
Law-enforcement funding targets boosted town-centre visibility and compliance checks
'Robust measures' implemented as test and trace glitch means contacts missed
05 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
'Robust measures' implemented as test and trace glitch means contacts missed
"We fully understand the concern this may cause," Public Health England head says after delay in recording nearly 16,000 coronavirus cases
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
02 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
British Academy project sets out ‘five principles to draw on "full breadth of knowledge" for policy
Levelling-up agenda at risk from Brexit and Covid-19 recovery work, IFS warns
02 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Levelling-up agenda at risk from Brexit and Covid-19 recovery work, IFS warns
Think tank says drive to fix regional inequalities will compete with “Build Back Better” coronavirus recovery and end of transition period
Civil service “infantilised” by use of consultants, Cabinet Office minister says
30 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Civil service “infantilised” by use of consultants, Cabinet Office minister says
Letter seen by the Guardian criticises official capacity to deliver Brexit
Chisholm says Covid-19 will accelerate civil service’s shift away from Whitehall
30 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
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
IFS calls for another one-year Spending Review as it warns of sharp choices ahead
29 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
IFS calls for another one-year Spending Review as it warns of sharp choices ahead
Think tank says previous government spending forecasts have been rendered ‘obsolete’ by coronavirus
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
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
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
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
22 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
Dual work as public-health head and Conservative peer ‘blurs the fundamental distinction that officials cannot act in a party political way’, Downing Street is warned
Rail franchising system scrapped
21 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Rail franchising system scrapped
New ‘recovery’ contracts given to rail firms ahead of new system coming into force
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
21 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
Auditor general says spending watchdog will produce ‘detailed piece of work’
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
17 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
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”
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
Civil service unions have serious concerns over the new health body
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