Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
07 Sep 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
by Kay Hender
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
09 Nov Communications
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
20 Oct Communications
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
29 Sep Communications
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
17 Sep 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 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 Communications
Truss appoints comms guru as LGBT business champion
Cicero/AMO founder Iain Anderson tasked with driving efforts to reduce workplace discrimination
'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
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
20 Aug 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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"
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’
GDS contractor recruited through Cummings blog fired after ‘revulsion’ over Black Lives Matter tweet
04 Sep 2020 Communications
GDS contractor recruited through Cummings blog fired after ‘revulsion’ over Black Lives Matter tweet
Data specialist suggested online that police could use ‘live rounds’ on protesters
Home Office perm sec bans controversial department video that referred to ‘activist lawyers’
28 Aug 2020 Communications
Home Office perm sec bans controversial department video that referred to ‘activist lawyers’
Matthew Rycroft bans official Twitter clip dismissing people providing legal representation for asylum seekers as “activist lawyers”