MPs demand closer cross-departmental working on drugs
31 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
MPs demand closer cross-departmental working on drugs
Policy should be made jointly between DHSC and Home Office, report argues
Shapps replaces Wallace as defence secretary in mini-reshuffle
31 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Shapps replaces Wallace as defence secretary in mini-reshuffle
Claire Coutinho becomes secretary of state for energy security and net zero following Shapps’ move
Labour plans Sue Gray-led Whitehall shakeup
22 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Labour plans Sue Gray-led Whitehall shakeup
Former Cabinet Office and DLUHC No.2 is set to start work as Kier Starmer’s chief of staff next month
Pulling out of hub deals cost GPA £1.3m, annual accounts reveal
21 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Pulling out of hub deals cost GPA £1.3m, annual accounts reveal
Birmingham and Newcastle will still get further office developments, government insists
Civil Service Commission seeks four new commissioners
03 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Civil Service Commission seeks four new commissioners
Recruitment watchdog is particularly keen to hear from candidates with expertise in Wales and local government
Rishi Sunak backs probe into Scottish Government’s independence spending
01 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Rishi Sunak backs probe into Scottish Government’s independence spending
Prime minister says 'it's right' for cabinet secretary to look into the role of officials supporting independence minister as new guidance expected within weeks
Perm secs could face duty to plan office moves better
01 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Perm secs could face duty to plan office moves better
MPs call for guidance requiring departmental leaders to properly explore all options before signing off on major schemes
UK ‘faces ban’ on diverting ODA towards domestic asylum-seeker costs
31 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
UK ‘faces ban’ on diverting ODA towards domestic asylum-seeker costs
OECD says government’s new Illegal Migration Act could undermine controversial practice, according to reports
MPs demand cross-departmental review of ‘incoherent’ approach to food policy
28 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
MPs demand cross-departmental review of ‘incoherent’ approach to food policy
Report calls on Cabinet Office to take action amid supply fears, cost-of-living concerns and obesity crisis
‘Wholly unconvincing’: PACAC chair slams ministers' decision to block release of outcome delivery plans
26 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
‘Wholly unconvincing’: PACAC chair slams ministers' decision to block release of outcome delivery plans
William Wragg says “disappointing” choice will reduce ability of parliament and public to scrutinise departments’ plans
Cabinet Office to change guidance used to block experts critical of government from speaking to civil servants
25 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Cabinet Office to change guidance used to block experts critical of government from speaking to civil servants
Ministers should get "serious" and ask independent body to review impartiality advice, academic argues
Tom Scholar sacking cost Treasury almost £500k, annual accounts reveal
21 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Tom Scholar sacking cost Treasury almost £500k, annual accounts reveal
Document contains tributes to perm sec axed by Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
20 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
Jeremy Quin says system can't be about rewarding officials for having more qualifications
Ministers must disclose job-offer chats to their perm sec, ethics chief tells MPs
20 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Ministers must disclose job-offer chats to their perm sec, ethics chief tells MPs
But Laurie Magnus is coy about using his investigatory powers to probe misuse of statistics, even when UKSA sounds the alarm
Unions suspend CQC strikes after cost-of-living payment deal
20 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Unions suspend CQC strikes after cost-of-living payment deal
Healthcare regulator confirms staff will receive £1,500 one-off boost
Sunak urged to give civil service vote of confidence
19 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Sunak urged to give civil service vote of confidence
Constitutional reforms are needed to rebuild trust in the political system and restore relations between ministers and civil servants, researchers say
Strikes looming over public sector pay in Northern Ireland
18 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Strikes looming over public sector pay in Northern Ireland
Civil servants are disadvantaged compared to the rest of the UK, unions claim
High Court backs unions challenging ‘strike-breaking’ legislation
14 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
High Court backs unions challenging ‘strike-breaking’ legislation
Judge rules business department did not consult properly on Kwarteng-led changes to aid the use of agency workers
Rules over public bodies should be re-written, IFG says
13 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Rules over public bodies should be re-written, IFG says
Think tank calls for arm’s-length bodies to be seen as a viable option rather than a last resort
NAO report spotlights ‘pitfalls’ for cross-department working
07 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
NAO report spotlights ‘pitfalls’ for cross-department working
Research finds 63% of civil servants see data-sharing issues as a barrier to collaboration
Chris Pincher: Civil servant traumatised by MP’s groping
06 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Chris Pincher: Civil servant traumatised by MP’s groping
Former Conservative Party deputy chief whip faces recall ballot after “unwanted, upsetting and deeply inappropriate” behaviour at Carlton Club
Public appointments delays are ‘intolerable’, commissioner says
05 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Public appointments delays are ‘intolerable’, commissioner says
William Shawcross tells MPs that government is losing “a lot of good candidates” because of backlogs
Minister quits government over Sunak's 'uninterest' in the environment
30 Jun 2023 Politics & Constitution
Minister quits government over Sunak's 'uninterest' in the environment
Zac Goldsmith said Sunak's approach to the environment "has trickled down through Whitehall and caused a kind of paralysis"
Johnson breached ethics rules over Daily Mail column job
28 Jun 2023 Politics & Constitution
Johnson breached ethics rules over Daily Mail column job
Committee chair Eric Pickles says breach is “further illustration of how out of date the government’s business rules are”