Leadership

Foreign and Commonwealth Office to remove all avoidable single-use plastics from UK estate by end of year

Officials outlined changes to rail franchising and told MPs trade unions refused to engage over Govia Thameslink franchise

Former international trade permanent secretary Martin Donnelly to give speech undermining Brexit vision of Liam Fox 

Official watchdog investigation also revealed former universities minister Jo Johnson interfered in recruitment process 

Hundreds mourn the former Treasury solicitor described as “screamingly funny”, a pioneer and an inspirational leader

Nearly five million employees are work some hours for free, with almost 40% unpaid work done by public servants

Culture champion Arts Council England has fared better than some organisations dependent on public funds in recent years. But its chief executive is conscious of the need for the body to remain in tune with the nation as a whole, not just a metropolitan elite. Colin Marrs reports

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Emails reveal Sue Gray was unhappy with foreign secretary’s decision to waive £6,000 room charge for Institute for Free Trade

Theresa May will set out her confirmed Brexit strategy next week following talks between top ministers and senior officials 

Report suggests UK’s top negotiator is increasingly frustrated at being sidelined in Brexit talks

The centenary of women’s suffrage is a good opportunity to start making sure government is held to account to properly measure the impact of decisions on woman

Departmental perm sec reveals Brexit funding for 2018-19 has not yet been agreed with the Treasury

Northern Ireland secretary responds to calls from DUP leader Arlene Foster to intervene in absence of devolved government 

Sacked first secretary of state calls for publication of Brexit analysis as more MPs accuse the Treasury of blocking leave plans

To build an organisation that makes good strategic decisions, leaders should learn from the way emergency services respond to critical incidents

Committee has concluded that Baroness Stowell was “unable to withstand scrutiny” in pre-appointment hearing

Appointment means government’s biggest professional grouping will be one of only two headed up by a departmental perm sec

As he leaves the civil service after 40 years, Sir Robert Devereux, outgoing permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, reflects on complicated projects, how to lead large organisations and facing select committees

Former chief scientific adviser to government has warned tough post-Brexit migration rules could hamper scientific research

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Challenging gender discrimination must be part of a wider drive to build a culture that supports all types of diversity

Whitehall & Industry Group hands out accolade it says captures ‘the incredible impact’ of alumni of its leadership programmes

Cabinet secretaries hold the fort in times of crisis and have seen splits over Europe come and go. Here’s why one of them thinks Brexit will be a civil service renaissance