DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
01 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
The losses included £2.5bn spent on PPE that was not suitable for the NHS or in care settings
Johnson to set up new prime minister's department in response to Gray report
31 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Johnson to set up new prime minister's department in response to Gray report
New department will be led by a perm sec and will tackle “fragmented” leadership structures, PM pledges
Gray finds 'failures of leadership and judgement' as stripped-back Partygate report published
31 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Gray finds 'failures of leadership and judgement' as stripped-back Partygate report published
Gray says Met Police investigation meant she could not publish a "meaningful report"
Sue Gray investigation report to be published today
31 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Sue Gray investigation report to be published today
Cabinet Office says the former ethics chief has updated the PM on her investigations
Former senior aide to PM hits out at No.10's 'decision not to be honest' about Partygate
31 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Former senior aide to PM hits out at No.10's 'decision not to be honest' about Partygate
Nikki da Costa said government officials involved in making Covid rules should have been “as hard on themselves” as they were with the public
Met Police asks Sue Gray to make 'minimal reference' to parties under investigation
28 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Met Police asks Sue Gray to make 'minimal reference' to parties under investigation
The force has asked for details to be left out "to avoid prejudice to our investigation"
‘Not all former ministers are clear on standards of behaviour and rules’: Pickles sour as Brine falls short
26 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
‘Not all former ministers are clear on standards of behaviour and rules’: Pickles sour as Brine falls short
Acoba chair writes to Cabinet Office after ex-minister Steve Brine fails to seek advice before advising a pharmaceutical company
Met launches investigation into No.10 parties during Covid restrictions
25 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Met launches investigation into No.10 parties during Covid restrictions
Police commissioner Cressida Dick said a number of events in government buildings had breached the threshold for criminal investigation
PM's standards adviser to get bigger team after flat refurb row
21 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
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”
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
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
19 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
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
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
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
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
13 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
Health secretary signs off on £90m-a-month plans to put sector on standby to provide backup for NHS services
Boris Johnson admits going to 'BYOB' Downing Street garden party
12 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson admits going to 'BYOB' Downing Street garden party
PM accused of "deceit and deception" after claiming he thought May 2020 party "was a work event"
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
12 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
Some firms marked as high priority for contracts with "no objectively justifiable grounds for expediting the offer", court finds
Police 'in contact with Cabinet Office' over Downing Street garden party
11 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Police 'in contact with Cabinet Office' over Downing Street garden party
Leaked email shows Boris Johnson's PPS inviting more than 100 people to May 2020 get-together
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
07 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
Companies in the fast-track lane were 14 times more likely to win contracts than other suppliers, according to the NAO
Don’t ignore other areas of care when tackling Covid backlog, DHSC told
06 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Don’t ignore other areas of care when tackling Covid backlog, DHSC told
MPs also warn against a "targets culture" of focusing solely on reducing numbers
Whitty knighted in New Year's Honours celebrating government scientists and medics
04 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
Whitty knighted in New Year's Honours celebrating government scientists and medics
UKHSA and MHRA heads also recognised, along with new Scottish Government perm sec
DHSC buys £700k software to monitor death threats against ‘high-profile individuals’ in vaccine rollout
04 Jan 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC buys £700k software to monitor death threats against ‘high-profile individuals’ in vaccine rollout
The technology tools can also flag “foreign interference” conducted on social media by hostile foreign governments
Minister ‘needs to correct parliamentary record’ over cab sec’s party probe
22 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
Minister ‘needs to correct parliamentary record’ over cab sec’s party probe
Labour call follows Simon Case’s decision to step back from investigations into Downing Street events