PM warned over ninth misleading unemployment claim
17 May Communications

PM warned over ninth misleading unemployment claim

Stats watchdog criticises Boris Johnson as he continues to incorrectly state there are more people in employment than before the pandemic
by Tevye Markson
DHSC admits record keeping fell short during pandemic as MPs probe sleaze row
22 Jun Communications
DHSC admits record keeping fell short during pandemic as MPs probe sleaze row
DWP's repeated failures to publish research could undermine trust, MPs warn
20 Jun Communications
DWP's repeated failures to publish research could undermine trust, MPs warn
New cost-of-living tsar called Boris Johnson a 'lame duck PM'
15 Jun Communications
New cost-of-living tsar called Boris Johnson a 'lame duck PM'
MPs seek assurances FoI clearing house review will be independent
27 May Communications
MPs seek assurances FoI clearing house review will be independent
PACAC also asks for information commissioner's take on terms of references for the review
Perm sec admits 'room for improvement' over Scottish Government correspondence delays
26 May Communications
Perm sec admits 'room for improvement' over Scottish Government correspondence delays
A quarter of ministerial correspondence replies missed their deadline, as did one in six FoI responses
Comms staff strategy shifts focus to 'sustainable' headcount reductions and regional rebalancing
18 May Communications
Comms staff strategy shifts focus to 'sustainable' headcount reductions and regional rebalancing
Government Communication Service pledges central team at Cabinet Office will shrink as part of three-year vision
Dark arts for dark times: a brief history of government propaganda
11 May Communications
Dark arts for dark times: a brief history of government propaganda
Russia is taking every opportunity to misdirect over Ukraine – but British governments have themselves struggled to maintain balance in previous propaganda campaigns
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
05 May Communications
DfT to screen job applicants' social media accounts
Capita will also perform social media "recruitment checks" for would-be DVLA and DVSA staff
Lingo bingo: decoding the language of the boardroom
04 May Communications
Lingo bingo: decoding the language of the boardroom
The universal language of the boardroom pays dividends to those who can decode it, so here's a crash course
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
03 May Communications
Home Office’s secretive anti-extremism comms unit signs £1m media monitoring deal
RICU facility signs two-year contract
‘Wholesale undermining of transparency’: What do we know about the Cabinet Office clearing house?
28 Apr Communications
‘Wholesale undermining of transparency’: What do we know about the Cabinet Office clearing house?
Ahead of the release of a PACAC report into the secretive unit, CSW speaks to three FoI experts to find out their concerns about the clearing house
Eight rules for communicating public health risk in a crisis – from horsemeat to Covid
06 Apr Communications
Eight rules for communicating public health risk in a crisis – from horsemeat to Covid
How has the government's crisis communications in the pandemic compared with Labour’s handling of swine flu in 2009 or the Coalition’s response to the horsemeat scandal in 2013?
Cabinet Office anti-misinformation unit buys £75k ‘social listening tool’
04 Mar Communications
Cabinet Office anti-misinformation unit buys £75k ‘social listening tool’
Rapid Response Unit's deal with software firm gives officials access to "unlimited searches"
DWP offers £120k a year for next comms chief
03 Mar Communications
DWP offers £120k a year for next comms chief
Recruitment campaign follows Lisa Hunter’s move to the Government Communication Service
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
22 Feb Communications
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
Department remains tight-lipped on its fake-news-battling operations, in the face of intervention from the Information Commissioner's Office
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy Exclusive
17 Feb Communications
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy
Agency to provide advice on media relations and a consultation on the public inquiry's terms of reference
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
15 Feb Communications
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
Gregor Smith was accused of breaking the civil service code
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
31 Jan Communications
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
Barton says he has "no recollection of having seen emails" suggesting staff believed the PM authorised the evacuation of animals
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
28 Jan Communications
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
NHS England chief rapped for failure to publish ministerial direction letter on time
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
17 Jan Communications
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
The head of news will set the Cabinet Office’s media relations strategy
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
05 Jan Communications
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
HMRC offers up to £130k a year for next top dog but Home Office sets £120k limit
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
17 Dec 2021 Communications
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
Unions condemn "mixed messages" after an email sent to officials said there would be cuts and voluntary redundancy schemes
Allegra Stratton resigns after No.10 Christmas party video leak
08 Dec 2021 Communications
Allegra Stratton resigns after No.10 Christmas party video leak
The PM's former spokesperson said she will regret joking about a party during lockdown last year "for the rest of my days"
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
09 Nov 2021 Communications
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
Updated guidance recommends copying private messages to corporate email addresses or exporting material regularly
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
20 Oct 2021 Communications
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
Source cites "lessened demand for science advice" for reduction in meetings
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
29 Sep 2021 Communications
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
Campaign group hopes evidence will support its call for judicial review into "WhatsApp government"
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
17 Sep 2021 Communications
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
While poor communications can damage public confidence and a government’s reputation, good communications cannot salvage one whose overall approach is inconsistent or dishonest, says IfG’s Alex Thomas