New rules on officials speaking in public will have 'chilling effect' – IfG
26 Jun Communications

New rules on officials speaking in public will have 'chilling effect' – IfG

Think tank says internal government guidance banning senior officials from speaking at certain events will lead to worse policy and decision making
by Tevye Markson
‘Unworkable’: Former senior civil servants question new public speaking rules
27 Jun Communications
‘Unworkable’: Former senior civil servants question new public speaking rules
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
20 May Communications
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
03 Apr Communications
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
The positive effects of FoI risk being undermined by private communication channels
Reaching beyond the bubble: Government comms chief Simon Baugh looks ahead to 2025’s big challenges
19 Dec 2024 Communications
Reaching beyond the bubble: Government comms chief Simon Baugh looks ahead to 2025’s big challenges
Plus, Baugh picks out a worthy contender for the worst Christmas present
Sue Gray’s departure is not a quick fix for the centre of government
09 Oct 2024 Communications
Sue Gray’s departure is not a quick fix for the centre of government
Keir Starmer has wielded the axe, sacking chief of staff Sue Gray and replacing her with his former head of political strategy Morgan McSweeney. But it will take more than changes of personnel to fix the centre of government
Civil servants 'should reflect on use of Whitehall-ese', Case tells Covid Inquiry
23 May 2024 Communications
Civil servants 'should reflect on use of Whitehall-ese', Case tells Covid Inquiry
Inquiry chair Heather Hallett challenges Case on whether jargon "obscures communication"
Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
21 May 2024 Communications
Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
Call for senior civil servants to face new statutory duties over advice to perm secs and ministers
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
14 May 2024 Communications
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
The civil service has been battling against verbose official-speak for decades. But clarity of language reflects clarity of purpose
MPs: WhatsApp should be banned on government devices unless 'appropriate' transparency levels are introduced
03 May 2024 Communications
MPs: WhatsApp should be banned on government devices unless 'appropriate' transparency levels are introduced
PACAC report says lobbying of perm secs and ministers by WhatsApp should be subject to the same transparency as face-to-face meetings
FoI transparency plummets and complaints hit all-time high
02 May 2024 Communications
FoI transparency plummets and complaints hit all-time high
The proportion of FoI requests that resulted in all information sought being provided dropped to a new low of 34% last year
Government Communication Service works up innovation strategy
24 Apr 2024 Communications
Government Communication Service works up innovation strategy
Comms service wants departments to use up to 10% of their campaign budgets testing new techniques
GOV.UK still failing to meet users needs, MPs warn
12 Apr 2024 Communications
GOV.UK still failing to meet users needs, MPs warn
Culture, Media and Sport Committee sets out recommendations for improved government communications
Cabinet Office signs up fake news-detection firm to track disinformation
03 Apr 2024 Communications
Cabinet Office signs up fake news-detection firm to track disinformation
International comms unit will use the tool to “track and identity disinformation trends and false actors”
Book review: Ros Atkins' guide to communication is honest, readable and practical, but don’t hope for shortcuts
25 Mar 2024 Communications
Book review: Ros Atkins' guide to communication is honest, readable and practical, but don’t hope for shortcuts
Engagingly written and packed with useful information, this book will ensure you never start an email with 'I hope you are well' again
Don’t start with a solution in mind: What I learnt as a government strategist
22 Feb 2024 Communications
Don’t start with a solution in mind: What I learnt as a government strategist
A former strategist explains why research, relationships and a knack for knowing what people really want are key to a successful communications career
Comms guru Alex Aiken set to leave civil service
09 Feb 2024 Communications
Comms guru Alex Aiken set to leave civil service
Executive director of communication will take up UAE government role
Perm secs should take more responsibility for transparency, IfG report argues
02 Feb 2024 Communications
Perm secs should take more responsibility for transparency, IfG report argues
Think tank says government has focused too much on the burdens of transparency and not enough on the benefits
Who's to blame for the Horizon scandal? It’s more Oliver Cromwell than Tony Benn
29 Jan 2024 Communications
Who's to blame for the Horizon scandal? It’s more Oliver Cromwell than Tony Benn
As the Post Office scandal continues to unfold, Prof Colin Talbot dives into the murky world of internal "policing" in posts and telecoms
Labour slams 'misleading' Treasury comms on tax changes
08 Jan 2024 Communications
Labour slams 'misleading' Treasury comms on tax changes
Shadow minister urges perm sec to remove social-media posts he says are politically problematic for civil servants
Sunak being 'transparent' about asylum backlog numbers, No.10 insists
03 Jan 2024 Communications
Sunak being 'transparent' about asylum backlog numbers, No.10 insists
No.10 defends PM's claim despite accusations it was "misleading", with thousands of decisions remaining
Decisions made via WhatsApp must go on official record, Cabinet Office says
03 Jan 2024 Communications
Decisions made via WhatsApp must go on official record, Cabinet Office says
Fresh guidance instructs ministerial private offices and perm sec offices to transfer decisions from non-corporate communications channels onto the record
Covid Inquiry: 2020 back-to-office drive ‘made absolutely no sense’
02 Nov 2023 Communications
Covid Inquiry: 2020 back-to-office drive ‘made absolutely no sense’
Government ditched science and followed media and Conservative MPs, former No.10 comms chief Lee Cain says
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
31 Oct 2023 Communications
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
Former No.10 comms director tells inquiry the Covid pandemic was the "wrong crisis" for Boris Johnson’s "skill set"
GDS helping departments remove 'offending content' after 'racist language' audit
19 Oct 2023 Communications
GDS helping departments remove 'offending content' after 'racist language' audit
GDS search of GOV.UK publications was ordered after old DWP guidance was found to contain racist slur
'Am I being unreasonable?': Cummings messages throw light on No.10 Covid tensions
11 Oct 2023 Communications
'Am I being unreasonable?': Cummings messages throw light on No.10 Covid tensions
Former political adviser described Cabinet Office as “terrifyingly shit, no plans, totally behind pace"
BCC emails remain public sector data-protection blind spot, ICO warns
11 Oct 2023 Communications
BCC emails remain public sector data-protection blind spot, ICO warns
Regulator targets ‘avoidable’ mistake as part of ongoing drive to improve standards