Civil service being marginalised and over-politicised, former cab secs warn
29 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Civil service being marginalised and over-politicised, former cab secs warn
Political staff in No.10 "have almost completely taken over", former top civil servants say
Cabinet Office seeks new PPS for Starmer, weeks after Pandit 'appointment'
15 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Cabinet Office seeks new PPS for Starmer, weeks after Pandit 'appointment'
Recruitment campaign offers up to £149k a year for permanent successor to Elizabeth Perelman
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
13 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
Francis Maude's "extended ministerial offices" should also be revived, Reform report says
Ministerial code update stresses need for 'partnership working' with civil servants
07 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Ministerial code update stresses need for 'partnership working' with civil servants
Boosted powers for PM's standards adviser and scrapping cap on spad numbers also feature in latest rejig
Starmer makes public accountability pledge on five missions
28 Oct 2024 Politics & Constitution
Starmer makes public accountability pledge on five missions
PM says he will publish "clear" five-year ambitions for the missions and publicly track progress against them
Employment rights bill will have net social benefit, DBT analysis finds
22 Oct 2024 Politics & Constitution
Employment rights bill will have net social benefit, DBT analysis finds
Document says impact of the bill on growth will be "small"
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
15 Oct 2024 Politics & Constitution
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
"Larger and better equipped" unit now straddles No.10, the Department of Business and Trade and the Treasury
Gray resigns as Starmer shakes up team
07 Oct 2024 Politics & Constitution
Gray resigns as Starmer shakes up team
Sue Gray says "intense commentary" around her position "risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change"
Unions hit back after Badenoch says 5-10% of civil servants 'should be in prison'
02 Oct 2024 Politics & Constitution
Unions hit back after Badenoch says 5-10% of civil servants 'should be in prison'
Conservative leadership hopeful cites leaks and "undermining ministers" as reasons
Covid Inquiry: Whitty says UK's 'very low' ICU capacity was 'political choice'
27 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Covid Inquiry: Whitty says UK's 'very low' ICU capacity was 'political choice'
Chief medical officer admits he still worries about whether the threat posed by Covid was "overpitched" to the public
Gove gets Acoba go-ahead to become Spectator editor
26 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Gove gets Acoba go-ahead to become Spectator editor
Watchdog says there's “low” risk former secretary of state could be seen to have been offered the role as a reward for decisions made, or actions taken in office
New 'duty of candour' for officials will include criminal sanctions, Starmer says
25 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
New 'duty of candour' for officials will include criminal sanctions, Starmer says
PM says Hillsborough Law will serve as "law for Liverpool" and for the victims of the disaster, and for victims of all scandals
Chancellor pledges real-terms increase to government spending
23 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Chancellor pledges real-terms increase to government spending
But Reeves does not rule out cuts to individual departments' budgets over the course of this parliament
Sue Gray pay row: Starmer urged to 'impose authority' on rival factions
20 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Sue Gray pay row: Starmer urged to 'impose authority' on rival factions
PM insists he's "completely in control" but refuses to discuss chief of staff's salary arrangements
'Inquiry into inquiries' calls for strengthened Cabinet Office unit
13 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
'Inquiry into inquiries' calls for strengthened Cabinet Office unit
Cabinet Office Inquiries Unit is under-resourced, little-known and has failed to engage with non-governmental experts, Lords report finds
John Glen and Bernard Jenkin miss out as PAC and PACAC chairs elected
13 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
John Glen and Bernard Jenkin miss out as PAC and PACAC chairs elected
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown takes helm of Public Accounts Committee and Simon Hoare becomes Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee chair
Lord Evans: Starmer will need 'considerable courage' to deliver standards pledge
12 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Lord Evans: Starmer will need 'considerable courage' to deliver standards pledge
Former ethics watchdog chair says Starmer will need to embed “clear structures” for handling standards issues and ensure they are "insulated from political problems”
Hillier to chair Treasury committee
11 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Hillier to chair Treasury committee
Former PAC chair is among eight new select committee chairs who have been elected this week
Spads join civil service union and raise pay concerns
10 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Spads join civil service union and raise pay concerns
Special advisers in new Labour government reportedly unhappy with pay levels
Scotland's first minister sets out pared-back programme for government
05 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Scotland's first minister sets out pared-back programme for government
John Swinney criticises Westminster for failing to increase devolved budget in line with inflation
Police probe allegations senior civil servant lied under oath in Salmond parliament inquiry
02 Sep 2024 Politics & Constitution
Police probe allegations senior civil servant lied under oath in Salmond parliament inquiry
Ex-first minister is taking legal action against the Scottish Government, alleging “misfeasance” by civil servants
Civil Service Commission launches 'rapid review' of appointments by exception
30 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
Civil Service Commission launches 'rapid review' of appointments by exception
Watchdog asks departmental HR directors to detail all delegted-grade hirings made without competition since beginning of July
Reeves tells departments to find billions of pounds in savings ahead of Budget
29 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
Reeves tells departments to find billions of pounds in savings ahead of Budget
Health and Education departments among those asked to make big savings ahead of October budget, according to reports
DBT recruiting for six non-execs after five depart
29 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
DBT recruiting for six non-execs after five depart
Departing NEDs since Labour's return to power include two former Tory ministers