Foreign Affairs

"There are always ways to make government better, always ways to make sure that the taxes of people are better spent," says chancellor, against gloomy global economic backdrop

Cabinet secretary will be questioned by the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday, after ministers in favour of leaving the EU question guidance on use of official resources

Cabinet secretary writes to perm secs to confirm that pro-Brexit ministers will not have access to civil service briefings on the referendum

After better-than-expected Spending Review settlement, Foreign Office perm sec says new review to make FCO "more flexible" will not be ignored

Former Border Force head Tony Smith sets out scale of the challenge Brexit would pose to management of Britain's borders

Prime minister still trying to thrash out solutions to other member states’ concerns about EU renegotiation

When good ideas emerge, the public sector should seize on them, give them money – and publicise the civil servants who have dreamed them up. 

Christian Turner reflects on his time as Kenya’s high commissioner, and what his experiences taught him about the art of diplomacy

David Cameron’s dilemma over the EU referendum bears striking similarities – and some notable differences – to that faced by Harold Wilson in 1975, says Robin Butler

Interim agreement would allow Britain to restrict in-work benefits to EU migrants for up to four years in the event of "excessive pressure on the proper functioning of its public services"

Downing Street hails move as "further sign of progress" as David Cameron pushes for renegotiation of Britain's place in the EU

Former diplomat named as successor to Charles Farr at Home Office section

With the path from Whitehall to Davos well-worn, Adrian Brown suggests how delegates at this week's event might turn pledges into reality 

Former cabinet secretary says civil servants will be informally working on preparations for British exit from the European Union in spite of official assurances

Prime minister says it would not be  "appropriate or permissible for the civil service or individual civil servants" to support ministers who diverge from the official government line on European Union membership

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Mark Lowcock, permanent secretary of the Department for International Development, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

Foreign Affairs Committee chair Crispin Blunt welcomes “better outcome than had been feared” for the FCO

Defence committee takes evidence on the Strategic Defence and Security Review – with decision to axe 30% of MoD's civilian staff coming under fire from academics

Private sector providers can play an important role in realising the government’s One HMG Overseas approach to conflict stabilisation

National Cyber Centre to open in Cheltenham, George Osborne announces, amid flurry of security spending announcements in the wake of the Paris terror attacks

Ombudsman’s report has harsh words for Home Office and lessons for all government departments about how to use complaints to improve services

Cross-government SDSR to be unveiled two days before the Spending Review

LSE Diplomacy Commission warns over lack of joined-up foreign policy strategy – and says Foreign Office must do more to promote "family-friendly" career paths

Chatham House urges protection of FCO – while officials reportedly say they are "confident" of a good outcome at the Spending Review