EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market Exclusive
21 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market
Consultants brought in to assess paid-for LFT providers as Omicron and supply-chain delays led to shortage of free tests
Partygate: Ex-Covid Taskforce head still ‘on discretionary leave’ from new job
18 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Partygate: Ex-Covid Taskforce head still ‘on discretionary leave’ from new job
Sheffield City Council appoints acting chief executive as probe into former Cabinet Office official continues
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy Exclusive
17 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy
Agency to provide advice on media relations and a consultation on the public inquiry's terms of reference
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
15 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
Gregor Smith was accused of breaking the civil service code
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
14 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
Removing tests could make it harder to take precautions and could disproportionately impact vulnerable people, experts say
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
14 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
Department says it mistakenly left the company off a list of those referred to the high-priority lane in November
Government must do ‘much more’ to tackle Brexit border issues, MPs warn
09 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Government must do ‘much more’ to tackle Brexit border issues, MPs warn
Border disruption could get even worse as passenger numbers increase and stricter new EU checks are introduced
Randox lobbying scandal: Chisholm ‘disappointed’ in DHSC’s procurement process for £500m contracts
08 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Randox lobbying scandal: Chisholm ‘disappointed’ in DHSC’s procurement process for £500m contracts
Cabinet Office perm sec’s concerns revealed as Owen Paterson’s lobbying texts published
DHSC seeks deputy chief medic to replace Van-Tam
07 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC seeks deputy chief medic to replace Van-Tam
Department offers up to £149,000 a year for its next DCMO for health protection
Senior civil servant among top Boris Johnson aides quitting No.10
04 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Senior civil servant among top Boris Johnson aides quitting No.10
PPS Martin Reynolds, policy-unit chief Munira Mirza, chief of staff Dan Rosenfield and comms director Jack Doyle resign from Downing Street
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