Economics

Mark Thurston leads ranking for second year running as John Manzoni and Mark Sedwill well down list

Appointment will replace Robert Chote, who has led fiscal watchdog since 2010

National Audit Office says department and delivery firm underestimated the task of delivering new rail network

Watchdog says keenness to proceed with Liverpool project led to deal being struck before construction failings were known

National Audit Office flags lack of measurable objectives and impact evaluation in department’s £2.4bn-a-year portfolio of help

'Tough decisions' needed to support Budget, prime minister tells ministers

Robin Butler suggested impressionist could trick chancellor into revealing budget details amid wave of spoof calls, former Channel 4 boss recalls

Morse’s recommendation to cut ten years from controversial claw-back window accepted by the Treasury

Ben Wallace warns military top brass that procurement reform is on the way and blasts ‘almost criminal’ New Labour deals

Shadow chancellor also confirms plan to hold February budget “to end austerity in social security and public services”

Biggest civil service union targets Marsham Street after £3m DWP payout

Figures in Labour and Conservative manifestos could give an "unclear impression" of future spending on schools, UKSA says

Parties “seem all too willing to bend or even break their own fiscal rules before they’ve even got started”, report finds

Contraflow scheme was activated amid preparation for a possible no-deal exit from the EU, just as government requested a Brexit extension

Party manifesto promises "the days of Whitehall knows best are over" as it pledges white paper on English devolution

Manifesto pledges include resurrecting department for climate change and creating a chief secretary for sustainability role in HM Treasury

Tax agency offers tips to avoid scams ahead of 31 January deadline

Report warns plan to hire 20,000 extra police will ramp up sentencing, prisons and probation work

Transport for London and department need up to £650m more to complete late-running project

Independent assessment will look at department’s quality management approach after longstanding double-counting issue

Cabinet Office says pre-election guidance applies to all civil servants and NDPB staff

Shadow chancellor announces resurrection of government regional offices and a Treasury unit to oversee new Social Transformation Fund to be based outside the capital

Treasury to publish report in 2020 setting out how costs of net-zero carbon emissions target should be distributed

Letter to Senior Salaries Review Body also confirms impact of tax on pension contributions by top officials is under review