Articles tagged with: Gus O'Donnell
'Doing politics', handling the tough conversations, and how Alastair Campbell helped him out: Lunch with... Gus O'Donnell
15 Jul 2025 Civil Service Reform
'Doing politics', handling the tough conversations, and how Alastair Campbell helped him out: Lunch with... Gus O'Donnell
It’s been 14 years since Gus O’Donnell stepped down as cabinet secretary. Over lunch with Suzannah Brecknell he looks back on his career highlights, the series of failures that led him to become the nation’s top civil servant, and the crisis that made him wish he could return
One year on: the perm sec state of play
04 Jul 2025 HR
One year on: the perm sec state of play
How has the leadership at the top of the civil service changed since Labour came to power and how does this compare to previous changes following an election?
Why the latest global ranking of civil services is a 'golden opportunity' for learning
11 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Why the latest global ranking of civil services is a 'golden opportunity' for learning
Kathy Hall says the Blavatnik School of Government's index offers a crucial pathway to service-improvement
UK civil service ranks sixth in new global index
04 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
UK civil service ranks sixth in new global index
The Blavatnik Index replaces the International Civil Service Effectiveness Index, which last reported in 2019
Why we should be excited by plans to improve collaboration between civil servants and charities
25 Oct 2024 Civil Service Reform
Why we should be excited by plans to improve collaboration between civil servants and charities
Gus O’Donnell welcomes Keir Starmer’s plan to strengthen the connection between civil society and government – and how you can get involved
'I haven’t always got jobs that I applied for. Looking back, I’m glad.' Lunch with... Dame Sue Owen
22 Oct 2024 Civil Service Reform
'I haven’t always got jobs that I applied for. Looking back, I’m glad.' Lunch with... Dame Sue Owen
The former DCMS perm sec breaks bread with Suzannah Brecknell
No.10 lacks policy experience, ex-cab sec warns
10 Oct 2024 HR
No.10 lacks policy experience, ex-cab sec warns
"There is a need for No.10 to have a lot more policy heavyweights" Gus O'Donnell says
Gus O'Donnell: Cabinet secretary role is 'massively underpaid'
07 Oct 2024 HR
Gus O'Donnell: Cabinet secretary role is 'massively underpaid'
"It's a huge job and it's massively underpaid in my view," says former cab sec
'Great news': Former cab sec welcomes increased Fast Stream interest
04 Oct 2024 HR
'Great news': Former cab sec welcomes increased Fast Stream interest
But union warns government not to get complacent on pay
Cutting public spending would 'damage foundations of the economy', Reeves warned
16 Sep 2024 Economics
Cutting public spending would 'damage foundations of the economy', Reeves warned
Former cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell among economists who have urged the chancellor to update fiscal rules instead
Plaque unveiled in memory of Bob Kerslake
03 Jul 2024 Leadership
Plaque unveiled in memory of Bob Kerslake
The former head of the civil service is remembered in Sheffield ceremony
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
25 Jun 2024 HR
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
Gus O’Donnell on some key issues likely to face civil servants before and after 4 July
Brown, Major and O'Donnell: Cabinet Office and No.10 are too big and inefficient
12 Mar 2024 Civil Service Reform
Brown, Major and O'Donnell: Cabinet Office and No.10 are too big and inefficient
The former prime ministers and cab sec warn of "massive rise in the number of bureaucrats" at the centre of government
'Very worrying': Interest in the Civil Service Fast Stream plummets Exclusive
12 Mar 2024 HR
'Very worrying': Interest in the Civil Service Fast Stream plummets
As Civil Service Fast Stream applications fall dramatically for a second year, experts weigh in on the "worrying" trend
‘Rubbish’ pay, the training ‘taboo’ and waning diversity: Insights from a civil service reform talk with ex-cab sec Gus O’Donnell
01 Nov 2023 HR
‘Rubbish’ pay, the training ‘taboo’ and waning diversity: Insights from a civil service reform talk with ex-cab sec Gus O’Donnell
Highlights from a civil reform chat with O'Donnell, Civil Unrest report author Amy Gandon, and Reform director Charlotte Pickles
Covid Inquiry: Ex-cab sec questioned over ‘at war’ No.10
10 Oct 2023 Coronavirus
Covid Inquiry: Ex-cab sec questioned over ‘at war’ No.10
Gus O’Donnell says he had “relatively easy time” compared with successors
Lunch with....Ofcom chief exec and former communities perm sec Melanie Dawes
10 Jul 2023 Communications
Lunch with....Ofcom chief exec and former communities perm sec Melanie Dawes
The chief executive of Ofcom breaks bread with Jess Bowie
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
24 May 2023 Communications
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
The home secretary missed a trick by skipping her speed-awareness course, while Gus O’Donnell fears a crony takeover of Whitehall
SCS pay ‘not enough to live on in London’, ex-cabinet secretary warns
23 May 2023 HR
SCS pay ‘not enough to live on in London’, ex-cabinet secretary warns
Gus O’Donnell says a pay hike is needed to fix churn and boost diversity in the civil service
'They say you should never meet your heroes. I am glad I got to know mine'': Former officials pay tribute to the Queen
16 Sep 2022
'They say you should never meet your heroes. I am glad I got to know mine'': Former officials pay tribute to the Queen
Writing for CSW, former senior officials and others pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, reflect on her relationship with the civil service and share their memories of personal encounters with the monarch
Tom Scholar sacking ‘start of perm sec purge’
12 Sep 2022 HR
Tom Scholar sacking ‘start of perm sec purge’
'Makes no sense': Unions and former permanent secretaries slam decision
‘The ultimate public servant’: Civil service heavyweights pay tribute to the Queen
09 Sep 2022 HR
‘The ultimate public servant’: Civil service heavyweights pay tribute to the Queen
Former cabinet secretaries, perm secs and unions mark passing of nation’s longest-serving monarch
Tory attacks on civil service ‘pathetic’, George Osborne says
06 Sep 2022 Civil Service Reform
Tory attacks on civil service ‘pathetic’, George Osborne says
Former chancellor and ex cabinet secretary call for Liz Truss to end "war” on Whitehall
Kerslake and O’Donnell call for Article 50 extension
11 Feb 2019 Brexit
Kerslake and O’Donnell call for Article 50 extension

Former head of the home civil service and ex-cabinet secretary say nation is simply not ready for 29 March Brexit