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"
by Tevye Markson
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
17 Jan Communications
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
05 Jan Communications
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
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
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
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
15 Sep 2021 Communications
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
Simon Baugh pledges reform “will deliver more joined-up communications, and provide value for taxpayers”
Truss appoints comms guru as LGBT business champion
10 Sep 2021 Communications
Truss appoints comms guru as LGBT business champion
Cicero/AMO founder Iain Anderson tasked with driving efforts to reduce workplace discrimination
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
07 Sep 2021 Communications
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
Kay Hender, head of communications at the FDA union, argues that Lee Cain has identified some of the challenges faced by the Government Communications Service, but his proposed solutions are contradictory and could make things worse
'An analogue system in a digital age': Government comms is failing, ex-No.10 adviser Lee Cain says
06 Sep 2021 Communications
'An analogue system in a digital age': Government comms is failing, ex-No.10 adviser Lee Cain says
“The day-to-day news management has been surrendered to special advisers," former director of communications writes
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
20 Aug 2021 Communications
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
Contract to fill “prominent and politically sensitive role” awarded without competitive tender
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
30 Jul 2021 Communications
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
Contract worth £1.4m signed at the start of the year
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
27 Apr 2021 Communications
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
O’Donnell and Sedwill says ministers should not communicate with businesses and press without an official record
Civil servants warned of spying link to social media contacts
20 Apr 2021 Communications
Civil servants warned of spying link to social media contacts
MI5 says more than 10,000 incidents have been recorded as campaign flags threat from fake business profiles
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
12 Apr 2021 Communications
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
Government will not make public announcements or issue press releases unless they are necessary for public safety
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
07 Apr 2021 Communications
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
Market-research companies will poll public and businesses on EU exit, coronavirus and other No.10 priorities
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
18 Mar 2021 Communications
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
Union says it has been warned a voluntary redundancy scheme is part of ministers' plans for centralised media service
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
01 Feb 2021 Communications
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
Fact-checking charity calls for inquiry and says civil service analysts should brief the press on complex issues
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
11 Jan 2021 Communications
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
November stats show another increase in call-waiting times and new struggles with answering online and postal queries
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
08 Jan 2021 Communications
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
Transparency around how SAGE works has improved, but lessons have been applied "inconsistently"
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
23 Dec 2020 Communications
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
17 Dec 2020 Communications
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
£120,000 on offer for the successor to James Slack, who was promoted to comms director
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
30 Nov 2020 Communications
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
Union says project team briefing suggests any staff changes will be in the second half of 2021
Outsourced contract is ‘double slap in face’ for comms staff, says union
16 Nov 2020 Communications
Outsourced contract is ‘double slap in face’ for comms staff, says union
PCS calls £670k spent on PR for Vaccine Taskforce “outrageous” as departmental comms professionals face uncertain future
PM’s comms chief praises 'unsung' civil servants as he quits amid No.10 infighting
12 Nov 2020 Communications
PM’s comms chief praises "unsung" civil servants as he quits amid No.10 infighting
Shock resignation comes amid reports Dominic Cummings also threatened to resign
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
21 Oct 2020 Communications
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
Sedwill says spad's trip to Durham was a "mistake"