China ‘targeting current and former civil servants’, ministers admit
18 Sep Policy

China ‘targeting current and former civil servants’, ministers admit

Report accepts more resources are needed to combat Beijing’s “prolific” intelligence collection
by Jim Dunton
Labour looks to ex-civil servants to boost ranks as general election looms
25 Sep Policy
Labour looks to ex-civil servants to boost ranks as general election looms
All the changes Rishi Sunak is making to net-zero pledges
21 Sep Policy
All the changes Rishi Sunak is making to net-zero pledges
Anger as Sunak pushes back net-zero milestones
21 Sep Policy
Anger as Sunak pushes back net-zero milestones
NI perm secs told to begin consultation on cash-raising measures
21 Sep Policy
NI perm secs told to begin consultation on cash-raising measures
Move follows secretary of state’s imposition of £14.2bn budget amid Stormont power vacuum
Five things you don’t want to miss at this year’s Policy Festival
07 Sep Policy
Five things you don’t want to miss at this year’s Policy Festival
From artificial intelligence to devolution, this year’s Policy Festival offers a bit of everything
DBT told to detail cost of recovering Covid-loan fraud losses
06 Sep Policy
DBT told to detail cost of recovering Covid-loan fraud losses
MPs say just 1.9% of £1.1bn wrongly lent to small business has been recovered
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
31 Aug Policy
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
Every minister wants to have the ear of the prime minister – but getting close to "the centre" is no simple feat
Civil servant raises £5k for charity in walk across the UK
14 Aug Policy
Civil servant raises £5k for charity in walk across the UK
DSIT official says the voyage has helped him to better understand the impact central decision making has outside of Whitehall
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
20 Jul Policy
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
Jeremy Quin says system can't be about rewarding officials for having more qualifications
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
18 Jul Policy
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
More and more departments are appointing second permanent secretaries. Beckie Smith speaks to civil service leaders and outside experts to find out more
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Here’s a recipe for cross-government success
12 Jul Policy
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Here’s a recipe for cross-government success
Complex challenges increasingly require officials to work across departmental boundaries, but it's not always easy to deliver on these shared projects. Sian Jones offers advice from the latest National Audit Office guide which aims to help civil servants get better together
NAO report spotlights ‘pitfalls’ for cross-department working
07 Jul Policy
NAO report spotlights ‘pitfalls’ for cross-department working
Research finds 63% of civil servants see data-sharing issues as a barrier to collaboration
Clear vision is needed from government to fix the labour market puzzle
29 Jun Policy
Clear vision is needed from government to fix the labour market puzzle
The shocks of Brexit and the pandemic have led to big changes in the UK’s labour market and immigration system. Tom Sasse asks if the government’s policies add up
Covid Inquiry: Austerity hit public-health services hard, UKHSA chief says
27 Jun Policy
Covid Inquiry: Austerity hit public-health services hard, UKHSA chief says
Community infection prevention and control became a “declining resource” with local authorities under “significant” pressure, Jenny Harries says
MPs launch probe into cross-Whitehall strategic thinking
22 Jun Policy
MPs launch probe into cross-Whitehall strategic thinking
Liaison Committee will examine how well government identifies opportunities, as well as risks and threats
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
19 Jun Policy
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
Urgency to address regional disparities is clear and urgent shouldn’t mean we invest in untested, ideas, policies or businesses without evidence or strategy
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
19 Jun Policy
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
The government’s latest plans for building economic prosperity across the country include investment zones and Levelling Up Partnerships, with “trailblazer deals” and additional regeneration cash thrown in for good measure. We help you navigate the details
Departments ‘not taking siloed approach’ to net zero, perm sec insists
16 Jun Policy
Departments ‘not taking siloed approach’ to net zero, perm sec insists
However DESNZ boss Jeremy Pocklington tells MPs seven key sectors targeted for innovation would benefit from “a clearer lead”
'It didn’t seem to grasp the rationale': Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job?
13 Jun Policy
'It didn’t seem to grasp the rationale': Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job?
CSW asked a cross-section of officials to play around with ChatGPT and establish how good it is at some of the everyday tasks they perform in their jobs. Here, Greg from the Department for Business and Trade asks for help designing net-zero policy
Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job? CSW's panel put it to the test
13 Jun Policy
Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job? CSW's panel put it to the test
We asked a cross-section of officials to play around with ChatGPT and establish how good it is at some of the everyday tasks they perform in their jobs. See how well it did...
Cabinet Office sets out plans for ‘policy campus’ in Sheffield
09 Jun Policy
Cabinet Office sets out plans for ‘policy campus’ in Sheffield
City will also pilot regional Fast Stream programme starting with 2024 intake
Revolution by retweet: The growing influence of social media on education policy
05 Jun Policy
Revolution by retweet: The growing influence of social media on education policy
Richard Willis analyses the impact of changing technology on education policymaking
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
31 May Policy
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
PCS official says industrial solution could be sought to "look after welfare" of civil servants if Rwanda deal litigation fails
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
25 May Policy
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
ICAI details recruitment and spending challenges following FCO-DfID merger
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
24 May Policy
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
The home secretary missed a trick by skipping her speed-awareness course, while Gus O’Donnell fears a crony takeover of Whitehall
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
19 May Policy
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
Officials have been "discombobulated" by non-stop change in policy and ministers, COO says
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
18 May Policy
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
While the civil service is dominated by generalists when it comes to policy, junior civil servants may be the closest thing ministers have to experts