‘Totally and utterly stupid’: Cummings rejects idea of appointing Brexiteer cabinet secretary
01 Jul 2020 Leadership
‘Totally and utterly stupid’: Cummings rejects idea of appointing Brexiteer cabinet secretary
PM’s top aids sets out recommended reading for spads, including a book that concludes “only the paranoid survive”
Theresa May slams choice to name 'political appointee with no proven expertise' as national security adviser
01 Jul 2020 Leadership
Theresa May slams choice to name 'political appointee with no proven expertise' as national security adviser
Gove defends appointment of David Frost, "a distinguished diplomat in his own right"
Leicester lockdown: shops and schools to shut again as government re-imposes local curbs
30 Jun 2020 Leadership
Leicester lockdown: shops and schools to shut again as government re-imposes local curbs
City accounted for 10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week, says health secretary
O’Donnell: Frost's appointment as national security adviser ‘risks civil service politicisation’
29 Jun 2020 Leadership
O’Donnell: Frost's appointment as national security adviser ‘risks civil service politicisation’
PM says Frost will reinvigorate UK’s national security architecture but former top officials warn of "groupthink" risk
‘I am deeply proud’: Sedwill writes to civil servants after announcing departure plans Exclusive
29 Jun 2020 Leadership
‘I am deeply proud’: Sedwill writes to civil servants after announcing departure plans
“I know I can count on you as the government navigates its way through the great challenges that lie ahead,” cabinet secretary writes
Mark Sedwill to step down as cabinet secretary as Boris Johnson eyes major Whitehall shake-up
28 Jun 2020 Leadership
Mark Sedwill to step down as cabinet secretary as Boris Johnson eyes major Whitehall shake-up
Sedwill will be nominated for a life peerage “in recognition of his distinguished service to public life”, Cabinet Office confirms
Call for inquiry into Dominic Cummings’s centralisation of special advisers
25 Jun 2020 Leadership
Call for inquiry into Dominic Cummings’s centralisation of special advisers
Letter to PACAC comes as PM’s senior adviser hints at “hard rain coming” for civil service
Truss refuses to rule out DIT merger with new foreign and development department
25 Jun 2020 Leadership
Truss refuses to rule out DIT merger with new foreign and development department
"I’m not focused on the precise structure of Whitehall," Truss tells MPs
Jenkin backs call for coronavirus 'lessons learned' review ahead of second wave
25 Jun 2020 Leadership
Jenkin backs call for coronavirus 'lessons learned' review ahead of second wave
"It is essential that the UK is prepared for a second wave of coronavirus later this year,” Liaison Committee chair says
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer
24 Jun 2020 Leadership
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer

Home secretary pledges to ensure Home Office “fundamentally shifts its way of working” after report
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 19
22 Jun 2020 Leadership
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 19

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
How civil servants have learnt at pace during Covid-19
16 Jun 2020 Leadership
How civil servants have learnt at pace during Covid-19

Two former directors general – now leadership coaches – share their observations about civil servants seizing opportunities to innovate