Unions slam Reform UK plans to oust perm secs and cut 68,500 jobs
15 Dec 2025 Finance

Unions slam Reform UK plans to oust perm secs and cut 68,500 jobs

Party announces more details of civil service reform policies including weakening pensions in favour of higher bonuses, increasing office working and big cuts to policy profession
by Tevye Markson
NAO review of audits finds common issues across government
26 Jan Finance
NAO review of audits finds common issues across government
Treasury launches new crackdown on ‘public service inefficiencies and waste’
20 Jan Finance
Treasury launches new crackdown on ‘public service inefficiencies and waste’
Military chief sounds alarm over £28bn MoD ‘black hole’
09 Jan Finance
Military chief sounds alarm over £28bn MoD ‘black hole’
Stormont leaders offered £2.5bn package in bid to restore power sharing
12 Dec 2023 Finance
Stormont leaders offered £2.5bn package in bid to restore power sharing
Settlement would include lump sum for public sector pay rises and extend the repayment deadline for overspends
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
05 Dec 2023 Finance
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
All departments have now met 2021 Spending Review evaluation conditions, after some were given extended deadlines
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
28 Nov 2023 Finance
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
Watchdog “doesn’t know” whether the government’s spending plans are plausible or not
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov 2023 Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
From humble beginnings as a prisoners' monies clerk to senior posts in the Treasury, Kevin Ross shares his journey through the civil service
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
23 Nov 2023 Finance
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
Think-tank says shrinking capital spending will be problematic for public-sector productivity drive
HMRC gets £163m ‘capacity boost’ in Autumn Statement
23 Nov 2023 Finance
HMRC gets £163m ‘capacity boost’ in Autumn Statement
Treasury says funding will be focused on debt-management capability
OBR: Autumn Statement measures will cause £19bn fall in public spending power
22 Nov 2023 Finance
OBR: Autumn Statement measures will cause £19bn fall in public spending power
Fiscal watchdog warns of growing risk that public spending plans will not be met
Autumn Statement warns of crackdown on external diversity spending
22 Nov 2023 Finance
Autumn Statement warns of crackdown on external diversity spending
"Presumption against external EDI spending" is being considered alongside extra ministerial scrutiny
DLUHC urged to do more to help councils with levelling-up funding delays
20 Nov 2023 Finance
DLUHC urged to do more to help councils with levelling-up funding delays
Less than 10% of £10.6bn in announced funding had been spent as of March, NAO report says
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
15 Nov 2023 Finance
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
ONS data chief flags up importance of building support for initiatives into funding bids
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
14 Nov 2023 Finance
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
Perm sec-level officials should lead push to streamline and strengthen digital, HR, commercial and other functions, review finds
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
10 Nov 2023 Finance
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
'Fair' public sector pay awards set to add £590m to overspend, Department of Finance perm sec says