Articles

Ex-first civil service commissioner Sir David Normington calls for new guidance on the relationship between civil servants, ministers and special advisers, as he urges the prime minister and cabinet secretary to make a public statement on the need for impartial officials

Exclusive: Cabinet secretary says reform agenda remains "strongly supported by ministers" after several key Francis Maude-era initiatives are scrapped, but stresses focus on "embedding leadership at a departmental level"

Exclusive: Cabinet secretary tells CSW that Theresa May feels "very strongly that she and other ministers were elected on a Conservative Party manifesto that must still stand", as he stands by the decision to set up two new Brexit-focused departments

Five years into his job as the UK's top official, Sir Jeremy Heywood faces his greatest challenge yet – ensuring the civil service he leads is ready for the mammoth task of leaving the European Union. Jess Bowie and Matt Foster sit down with the cabinet secretary to talk Brexit, Theresa May, public sector pay – and the future of Whitehall's reform agenda

Neither civil service chief exec nor cabinet secretary saw hikes this year, while outgoing HS2 chief Simon Kirby tops earnings list

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top officials to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Sir Jeremy Heywood, cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, takes part in our annual perm secs round-up...

"The usual process for leaks is being followed," says Number 10

"Anyone found to have leaked sensitive information will be dismissed even where there is no compromise of national security," Heywood tells departmental chiefs

From "trusted adviser" to "shock absorber", the cabinet secretary has a job description like no other. Matt Foster listened in as Sir Jeremy Heywood and his five predecessors reflected on 100 years of the post – and asked what it takes to serve as Britain's top official. Main image credit: Institute for Government

2016 People Survey shows overall year-on-year rise in staff engagement, but claims of bullying, harassment and discrimination at highest recorded levels

Cabinet secretary seeks to take on claims that the civil service was biased in the EU referendum campaign and under-prepared in the aftermath of the vote

Civil service-wide staff survey "will directly influence real and observable change", vows cabinet secretary

Cabinet secretary says call from senior officials to let top civil servants go public with concerns would introduce a "degree of antagonism between the cabinet secretary and the prime minister"

Cabinet secretary says row over lack of Whitehall planning for a Leave vote is an "odd debate" – and confirms that "thinking" on Brexit took place in the final 28-day push of the campaign

Britain's former top civil servant argues that we must “push back” deadline for achieving budget surplus in light of post-referendum economic uncertainty

Shadow cabinet office minister Louise Haigh writes to the cabinet secretary over concerns Fiona Hill did not inform officials about a job with lobbying firm Lexington Communications

Cabinet secretary gives nod to existing Brexit unit as he calls on civil service "to ensure everyday business of government and providing public services goes on"

Former head of the civil service says he has never accepted that Blair "lied to the British people" over Iraq – but hits out at former prime minister's "disregard for the machinery of government"

Cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood tells civil servants to ensure "business continues as usual", as CSW gathers key reaction to what Britain's historic vote to leave the European Union will mean for the civil service

Cabinet secretary and head of the civil service Sir Jeremy Heywood responds after critics point to lack of female leaders at the very top of Whitehall

Former cabinet secretary says it is “highly unlikely” that a withdrawal from the European Union would follow the timetable set out in the rules governing the bloc

Committee chair Bernard Jenkin warns cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood that guidance on support for pro-Brexit ministers could leave officials exposed during legal proceedings — but Heywood says withdrawing them "would simply create uncertainty and confusion"

Cabinet secretary tells the public administration and constitutional affairs select committee that "nobody's having any difficulty with my guidance on the ground", as eurosceptics hit out at curbs on civil service support for ministers in favour of Britain leaving the European Union

It now seems as though civil servants are being told to block information to ministers in favour of leaving the European Union, despite the fact that the same ministers are constitutionally accountable to parliament for the conduct of their departments. Today's hearing with the cabinet secretary must provide answers