Leadership

There's an end-of-term feeling in Whitehall, writes Jane Dudman, as the civil service gears up for the election

MPs on the Public Accounts Committee warn commercial skills gap at Defence Equipment and Support will undermine MoD efforts to reduce costs if not addressed

With the defence budget becoming ever more contentious, the MoD’s permanent secretary Jon Thompson must continue to balance spending decisions with national security. It’s a tough job – but one he’s privileged to do, he tells Jess Bowie. Photos by Paul Heartfield

Downing Street spokesperson says David Cameron disagrees with unions' view that civil service code change will undermine transparency

Some Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) civil servants believe Whitehall prejudice is acting as a brake on career progression, exclusive survey reveals

Former Royal Mail managing director Mark Thomson to become director general of Passport Office for three-year term

Departments tell National Audit Office cross-government working would be bolstered by better 'support and challenge' at the centre of government

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude hails £26m-a-year facility-time savings, but Labour's Lucy Powell goes on the attack

Public Administration Select Committee urges greater role for Cabinet Office in planning for the future and ending departmental duplication

Whitehall should be prepared to take responsibility for delivering programmes, says Troubled Families chief Louise Casey

CSW asked Conservative MP and former children's minister Tim Loughton to appraise the UK civil service

MoD and NHS England handed fines over workers paid through service companies

Committee urges greater diversity in intelligence agencies

Attorney general's deputy legal secretary set to follow Michael Fuller in inspecting prosecutor's work

Former cabinet secretary warns too many politicians 'don't get' poverty

Colin Marrs talks to Peter Wilding, who moved from head of energy policy at HM Treasury to Treasury secondee in Cheshire West & Chester

Outgoing DCLG perm sec and former head of the civil service Sir Bob Kerslake chews the fat with Jess Bowie

To be a good leader, you need the confidence to drop the detail and be comfortable about your own identity

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Dianne Hayter thinks politicians should show more respect to civil servants who “work their socks off”. But, she tells Jess Bowie, there are still plenty of areas where Whitehall needs to up its game.

Nicholas Macpherson says Smith Commission recommendations may enhance accountability in Scotland and “make our job easier”

Sir David Bell calls for more trust in teachers and schools – and for an independent body to set education strategy

The head of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office will replace Sir Bob Kerslake at DCLG

Cabinet Office minister denies accusation of disillusionment in civil service

I’ve loved running the national forest company – but the civil service is a tough environment for small delivery agencies