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
Government appointments row an ‘unforced error’ – IfG director
23 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
Government appointments row an ‘unforced error’ – IfG director
Hannah White says Labour's approach to political hires "poses risks to impartiality of civil service”
Cabinet Office hire prompts more questions over civil service appointments
21 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
Cabinet Office hire prompts more questions over civil service appointments
Appointment of former Labour Together staffer to Cabinet Office constitution group attracts more criticism in ongoing cronyism row
PM 'should sack' staff responsible for critical Sue Gray briefings
20 Aug 2024 Politics & Constitution
PM 'should sack' staff responsible for critical Sue Gray briefings
Veteran Whitehall watcher flags historical precedent behind current stories and "dangerous" implications for Labour
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
29 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
Chancellor announces next spending review date and fiscal-planning reforms
McFadden announces resilience review following Covid Inquiry report
24 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
McFadden announces resilience review following Covid Inquiry report
Cabinet Office minister says he will chair a cabinet committee on resilience to oversee the review
Pickles urges three immediate reforms to post-government jobs regulation
19 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Pickles urges three immediate reforms to post-government jobs regulation
Acoba chair says watchdog must be able to "meaningfully sanction" those who breach business appointment rules
Post Office scandal: McFadden calls for new body to probe 'rogue' ALBs
19 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Post Office scandal: McFadden calls for new body to probe 'rogue' ALBs
Cabinet Office minister says business department was "dependent" on company telling the truth
New powers and function transfers: Four reforms you may have missed in the King’s Speech
19 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
New powers and function transfers: Four reforms you may have missed in the King’s Speech
ICO to get more powers as IfATE set to lose some functions – and other reforms in the King's Speech
Truss demands further answers on King’s Speech document
18 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Truss demands further answers on King’s Speech document
Simon Case ordered removal of sentences describing Truss's mini-budget as "disastrous" following complaint from the former PM
Starmer sets up child poverty unit in the Cabinet Office
18 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Starmer sets up child poverty unit in the Cabinet Office
PM also appoints education and work and pensions secretaries to lead a child poverty ministerial taskforce
King's Speech: Government will introduce duty of candour for public servants
17 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
King's Speech: Government will introduce duty of candour for public servants
Plan confirmed in King's Speech as one of several "steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect"
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
16 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
Former New Labour defence secretary George Robertson will lead exercise, which will report in "first half of 2025"
Cut senior civil service by 40%, boost pay and hire more spads, think tank says
15 Jul 2024 Politics & Constitution
Cut senior civil service by 40%, boost pay and hire more spads, think tank says
Policy Exchange report calls for radical changes, saying power has "leached away from ministers" as civil service has grown