Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
17 Jul Finance

Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking

Jeremy Hunt also speaks about the advice he gave to Wes Streeting and why he's not a fan of "mission-driven" government
by Tevye Markson
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
04 Aug Finance
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
In conversation with… former Treasury perm sec Lord Terry Burns
30 Jul Finance
In conversation with… former Treasury perm sec Lord Terry Burns
Home Office wrote off £48.5m after scrapping plan to use RAF base for asylum seekers
29 Jul Finance
Home Office wrote off £48.5m after scrapping plan to use RAF base for asylum seekers
Reeves tells departments to find billions of pounds in savings ahead of Budget
29 Aug 2024 Finance
Reeves tells departments to find billions of pounds in savings ahead of Budget
Health and Education departments among those asked to make big savings ahead of October budget, according to reports
Autumn Budget will be 'painful', Starmer warns
28 Aug 2024 Finance
Autumn Budget will be 'painful', Starmer warns
"I won't shy away from making unpopular decisions," PM says
Public sector pay rises 'putting significant pressure' on Scottish budget
28 Aug 2024 Finance
Public sector pay rises 'putting significant pressure' on Scottish budget
Scottish Fiscal Commission suggests lower pay rises than in England would reduce pressure on Scottish Government's budget
ONS data shows 'unprecedented' pressure on departmental budgets
22 Aug 2024 Finance
ONS data shows 'unprecedented' pressure on departmental budgets
Think tank warns £4.7bn overspend in first four months of financial year signals "particularly difficult" 2025-26 Spending Review
Scrap £4bn jail-building scheme, former prisons inspector tells ministers
15 Aug 2024 Finance
Scrap £4bn jail-building scheme, former prisons inspector tells ministers
Expansion of prison places not a "good way to spend money", Nick Hardwick says
Scottish finance secretary orders emergency spending controls
14 Aug 2024 Finance
Scottish finance secretary orders emergency spending controls
New spending will only be permitted if it is “truly essential or unavoidable”, Shona Robison says
Treasury fines Home Office £500,000 over salary rule breach
14 Aug 2024 Finance
Treasury fines Home Office £500,000 over salary rule breach
Department failed to seek ministerial approval for senior civil servant's pay package of more than £150,000
Treasury formally launches Spending Review process
13 Aug 2024 Finance
Treasury formally launches Spending Review process
Darren Jones tells secretaries of state their departments will need to find cash-saving efficiencies
Minister sets timeline for clearing council audit backlog
02 Aug 2024 Finance
Minister sets timeline for clearing council audit backlog
Jim McMahon admits 'uncomfortable' aspects of plan, with some authorities set to lack complete audits for years
Hunt says £22bn black hole claims 'risk bringing civil service into disrepute'
30 Jul 2024 Finance
Hunt says £22bn black hole claims 'risk bringing civil service into disrepute'
Ex-chancellor asks cabinet secretary whether perm secs who signed off on main estimates will be sanctioned if figures are wrong
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
Reeves orders immediate halt to “non-essential” spending on consultants and government comms amid savings push
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
Chancellor announces next spending review date and fiscal-planning reforms
Reeves to announce efficiencies drive and consultancy spend squeeze in major speech
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Reeves to announce efficiencies drive and consultancy spend squeeze in major speech
Chancellor will set out reforms to "put an end to wasteful spending in government" and address £20bn black hole
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
26 Jul 2024 Finance
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
Report says Cabinet Office headcount cap has hampered work of Crown Commercial Service
Recruitment begins for Covid corruption tsar
23 Jul 2024 Finance
Recruitment begins for Covid corruption tsar
Commissioner will work with HMRC, NCA and SFO to recover billions lost to Covid fraud
Book review: Neil Lee’s Innovation for the Masses is an ideal book for policymakers
22 Jul 2024 Finance
Book review: Neil Lee’s Innovation for the Masses is an ideal book for policymakers
Can we drive innovation and also build greater equality? This solution-focused guide suggests so
Anti-corruption groups call for more investment in government agencies
16 Jul 2024 Finance
Anti-corruption groups call for more investment in government agencies
UK Anti-Corruption Coalition also urges appointment of anti-corruption champion, a position that has been vacant for 759 days
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
16 Jul 2024 Finance
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
Former New Labour defence secretary George Robertson will lead exercise, which will report in "first half of 2025"
National Wealth Fund to bring together existing bodies
09 Jul 2024 Finance
National Wealth Fund to bring together existing bodies
UK Infrastructure Bank and the British Business Bank to be 'aligned' under investment plan
Home secretary orders audit of Rwanda spending
08 Jul 2024 Finance
Home secretary orders audit of Rwanda spending
Yvette Cooper also launches Border Security Command, a key cog in Labour's plan to tackle illegal crossings
Anger over timing of £300m Northern Ireland mini-budget
02 Jul 2024 Finance
Anger over timing of £300m Northern Ireland mini-budget
NICS head Jayne Brady is asked to explain decision to proceed with announcement days ahead of general election
Scottish civil servants need 'enhanced training' on writing bills, committee says
28 Jun 2024 Finance
Scottish civil servants need 'enhanced training' on writing bills, committee says
Finance and Public Administration Committee criticises government for failing to include full costs of potential laws
IFS: Civil service pay has been ‘held down unbelievably’
25 Jun 2024 Finance
IFS: Civil service pay has been ‘held down unbelievably’
Paul Johnson says pay for officials is just one example of why public service cuts will be so difficult to achieve for next government
Next government 'must examine drivers of disability benefit spending, not rush to restrict'
21 Jun 2024 Finance
Next government 'must examine drivers of disability benefit spending, not rush to restrict'
Resolution Foundation calls for "serious strategy" involving the NHS and employers as well as DWP and the Treasury