'An analogue system in a digital age': Government comms is failing, ex-No.10 adviser Lee Cain says
06 Sep 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
by Beckie Smith
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
15 Sep Communications
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
27 Apr Communications
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
12 Apr Communications
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
07 Apr 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
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
11 Jan 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
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
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"
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
21 Sep 2020 Communications
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
Appointing Dido Harding to head up the National Institute for Health Protection is a breach of the civil service code, Labour peers claim
Rycroft reveals revised Twitter guidelines after Home Office’s ‘activist lawyers’ post
11 Sep 2020 Communications
Rycroft reveals revised Twitter guidelines after Home Office’s ‘activist lawyers’ post
Perm sec says additional layers of assurance have been introduced following the tweet, which he previously said ‘should not have been used on an official government channel’
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
21 Aug 2020 Communications
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
PCS says centralisation drive could put thousands of staff at risk and give No.10 "unprecedented control"
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
14 Aug 2020 Communications
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
Comms director will “have a key role in leading [their] team through the changes to the Government Communication Service’s operating model”, job ad says
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
31 Jul 2020 Communications
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
Matt Hancock says data from the test and trace system shows case number increase is a result of households meeting each other
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
24 Jul 2020 Communications
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
Check, Change, Go campaign launched with lessons from Get Ready for Brexit review, says Cabinet Office perm sec
Garry Graham on government comms overhaul: 'The independence of the civil service is under threat'
23 Jul 2020 Communications
Garry Graham on government comms overhaul: 'The independence of the civil service is under threat'
If planned comms changes go through, the PM will find they have made the government machine work much less effectively when the next crisis bites
Dave Penman: What we can read into the latest bout of anonymous briefing
09 Jul 2020 Communications
Dave Penman: What we can read into the latest bout of anonymous briefing
New leaks to the press about reforms to the Government Communication Service are yet more proof that this government sees control from No.10 as critical to its operation and success
Government confirms comms reform drive
06 Jul 2020 Communications
Government confirms comms reform drive
PM’s official spokesperson says work will begin this week to move to a single employer for government communication service
Government plans televised media briefings in major civil service comms shake-up
03 Jul 2020 Communications
Government plans televised media briefings in major civil service comms shake-up
Reports say No.10 wants to slim down departmental communications and centralise PR
Government turns to Instagram to seek policy guidance from teenagers
03 Jul 2020 Communications
Government turns to Instagram to seek policy guidance from teenagers
New initiative will seek to gain views of people aged 13 to 25
Coronavirus: Treasury deletes ‘raise a glass’ tweet promoting pub reopenings after backlash
02 Jul 2020 Communications
Coronavirus: Treasury deletes ‘raise a glass’ tweet promoting pub reopenings after backlash
Tweet said people should ‘raise a glass’ on Saturday
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules
24 Jun 2020 Communications
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules

“We’ll continue to hold press conferences to coincide with significant announcements," says No.10
Brexit messaging likely to be 'crowded out' by Covid-19 campaign, MPs warn
03 Jun 2020 Communications
Brexit messaging likely to be 'crowded out' by Covid-19 campaign, MPs warn

PAC says Get Ready for Brexit campaign did not inspire confidence, and UK now faces "two incredible, unprecedented political and economic upheavals"
Cummings row: Cabinet Office investigates after civil service “truth twisters” tweet
26 May 2020 Communications
Cummings row: Cabinet Office investigates after civil service “truth twisters” tweet

Cabinet Office investigating 'unauthorised' tweet sent in heat of Cummings lockdown row
#Hereforyou campaign launches to showcase civil service Covid-19 response
14 May 2020 Communications
#Hereforyou campaign launches to showcase civil service Covid-19 response

Social media channels from across government will highlight work of individual officials in coronavirus response
Hancock denies new coronavirus message is confusing and says comms concerns are ‘second order’
12 May 2020 Communications
Hancock denies new coronavirus message is confusing and says comms concerns are ‘second order’

Health secretary dismisses concerns over new "Stay Alert" message and "lack of details" in guidance
Government’s 100,000 a day test target a ‘red herring’ to distract from coronavirus strategy shortcomings, say hospitals
30 Apr 2020 Communications
Government’s 100,000 a day test target a ‘red herring’ to distract from coronavirus strategy shortcomings, say hospitals

NHS Providers says UK has "struggled" to demonstrate a "clear, effective and well-communicated strategy”