Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
09 Apr 2021 Leadership
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
Chancellor ‘pushed officials to explore options’ messages reveal, but no support was agreed
Government hiring a £3,750-a-week consultant to ‘normalise testing as part of everyday life’
07 Apr 2021 Leadership
Government hiring a £3,750-a-week consultant to ‘normalise testing as part of everyday life’
Communications role to develop plan to support expansion of asymptomatic testing
Pressure mounts for probe into Greensill Capital lobbying of Whitehall
31 Mar 2021 Leadership
Pressure mounts for probe into Greensill Capital lobbying of Whitehall
Standards watchdog insists it “has no remit” to investigate but pledges to feed concerns into ongoing ethics review
Civil service ‘lacks core leadership and improvement skills’, NAO warns
30 Mar 2021 Leadership
Civil service ‘lacks core leadership and improvement skills’, NAO warns
Public-spending watchdog sets out 14 pitfalls hampering departments’ operational delivery
Goodbye single departmental plans, hello outcome delivery plans: new system to monitor Whitehall performance revealed
24 Mar 2021 Leadership
Goodbye single departmental plans, hello outcome delivery plans: new system to monitor Whitehall performance revealed
New system will require departments to “more thoroughly consider affordability, capability and risk”, say Cabinet Office and Treasury chiefs
Treasury plans fresh crackdown on civil service exit payments
22 Mar 2021 Leadership
Treasury plans fresh crackdown on civil service exit payments
Chief secretary to the Treasury says government is "committed" to payout cap
Home Office in Covid alert after policing minister tests positive
22 Mar 2021 Leadership
Home Office in Covid alert after policing minister tests positive
Deep cleaning initiated after minister receives positive test notification at his desk
Cummings says reform of 'disaster zone' civil service was a condition for entering No.10
18 Mar 2021 Leadership
Cummings says reform of 'disaster zone' civil service was a condition for entering No.10
PM's former top aide tells MPs Department of Health had to be bypassed for coronavirus Vaccine Taskforce
Prisons chief Jo Farrar promoted to MoJ second perm sec
17 Mar 2021 Leadership
Prisons chief Jo Farrar promoted to MoJ second perm sec
Newly-created role brings together responsibility for HM Prison and Probation Service and three other delivery agencies
Dido Harding appointment may expose regulatory gaps says First Civil Service Commissioner
17 Mar 2021 Leadership
Dido Harding appointment may expose regulatory gaps says First Civil Service Commissioner
Ian Watmore tells MPs there is a case for reviewing whether NHS Test and Trace role handed to Conservative peer demonstrates “cracks” in the system
Ministerial conduct probes shouldn’t need PM's go-ahead, Patel report author says
11 Mar 2021 Leadership
Ministerial conduct probes shouldn’t need PM's go-ahead, Patel report author says
Independent adviser who quit after finding home secretary bullied staff says new freedoms would help PM and cabinet secretary
Ministers accused of having ‘no plan’ for net zero, two years after setting target
08 Mar 2021 Leadership
Ministers accused of having ‘no plan’ for net zero, two years after setting target
MPs also warn government lacks clarity on its ambitions for November’s COP26 and question diplomatic resources for pre-conference negotiations
PM eyes charity for No.10 makeover to bypass ‘cheap’ civil service
03 Mar 2021 Leadership
PM eyes charity for No.10 makeover to bypass ‘cheap’ civil service
Reports suggest latest upgrade plans cost more than three times the official £30k spending limit
Ex-PM Cameron criticises May and Johnson for Whitehall ‘mistakes’
02 Mar 2021 Leadership
Ex-PM Cameron criticises May and Johnson for Whitehall ‘mistakes’
Coalition-era PM slams “very bad” error of combining cab sec and national security adviser roles plus merger of DfID and FCO
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
25 Feb 2021 Leadership
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
DHSC praises “crucial” role in rapid authorisation of Covid vaccines and formalises interim arrangements in place since 2019
Health secretary reveals package of NHS reforms
11 Feb 2021 Leadership
Health secretary reveals package of NHS reforms
White paper proposals will cut bureaucracy and drive integration between health and social care, says Hancock, but could also boost DHSC powers
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
03 Feb 2021 Leadership
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
Sue Owen also tells IfG event government's Covid and Brexit experience should boost profile of civil service's operational delivery specialists
Defra appoints new chief exec to marine science agency
02 Feb 2021 Leadership
Defra appoints new chief exec to marine science agency
Neil Hornby joins from within the department
‘Overwhelming majority’ of DVLA staff don’t feel safe at work, union says
01 Feb 2021 Leadership
‘Overwhelming majority’ of DVLA staff don’t feel safe at work, union says
Survey results follow 500-plus cases of coronavirus and death of staff member at agency’s Swansea base
Homes England chief Nick Walkley to leave after four years
26 Jan 2021 Leadership
Homes England chief Nick Walkley to leave after four years
Delivery agency names lead investment officer Gordon More as interim CEO
Cabinet secretary and civil service COO ‘need more power’, think tank says
22 Jan 2021 Leadership
Cabinet secretary and civil service COO ‘need more power’, think tank says
Institute for Government argues Whitehall also requires a strong new central delivery unit
Deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara to leave civil service
21 Jan 2021 Leadership
Deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara to leave civil service
MacNamara has been “instrumental in transforming the Cabinet Office”, cab sec says
Theresa May accuses Boris Johnson of ‘abandoning’ UK’s ‘moral leadership’
20 Jan 2021 Leadership
Theresa May accuses Boris Johnson of ‘abandoning’ UK’s ‘moral leadership’
Former prime minister says decision to row back on development aid commitments and threat to break international law in Internal Market Bill damaged UK’s credibility
HMRC names new director general for customer service
19 Jan 2021 Leadership
HMRC names new director general for customer service
Myrtle Lloyd to leave role as HM Passport Office chief operating officer to join tax collection agency