Truss ‘pushes back’ on FCDO job cut demands
09 Jun Policy

Truss ‘pushes back’ on FCDO job cut demands

Foreign secretary rejects 5% headcount-reduction and seeks extra staff
by Jim Dunton
Rather than 'fixing' the NHS, we need to radically rethink our approach to health
23 Sep Policy
Rather than 'fixing' the NHS, we need to radically rethink our approach to health
Heywood Foundation looks to channel 'unheard' youth in policy prize's second year
20 Sep Policy
Heywood Foundation looks to channel 'unheard' youth in policy prize's second year
Civil servants ‘have much to learn’ from Queen Elizabeth II
16 Sep Policy
Civil servants ‘have much to learn’ from Queen Elizabeth II
Ministers can’t continue treating equalities brief as a ‘side hustle’, MPs warn
24 Sep 2021 Policy
Ministers can’t continue treating equalities brief as a ‘side hustle’, MPs warn
Committee chair says it is “obvious” the latest cabinet line-up has no space to properly address inequalities
Gove urged to clarify ‘confused’ levelling-up rhetoric
24 Sep 2021 Policy
Gove urged to clarify ‘confused’ levelling-up rhetoric
Institute for Government warns flagship drive cannot be all things to all people and places
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
17 Sep 2021 Policy
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
Lansley laments loss of policy skills in civil service
20 Aug 2021 Policy
Lansley laments loss of policy skills in civil service
But former health secretary says officials are more interested in control than improving outcomes for service users
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
17 Aug 2021 Policy
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
Scope of resettlement to be considered ‘based on capacity for support’, the department says
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
30 Jul 2021 Policy
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
Peers warn prioritisation of competition over collaboration in public service commissioning risks compromising expertise and innovation
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
29 Jul 2021 Policy
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
Defence secretary says MoD taskforce will ensure project 'comes in on time and on budget'
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
14 Jul 2021 Policy
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
NAO highlights areas where efficiencies have fallen short, including shared services, automation and outsourcing
Hancock affair underscores need for ministerial code overhaul, report says
05 Jul 2021 Policy
Hancock affair underscores need for ministerial code overhaul, report says
Institute for Government also calls for ban on ministers using personal phones for official business
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
23 Jun 2021 Policy
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
National Audit Office warns department-level information deficit could impact Cabinet Office’s ability to drive efficiency and reform
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
21 Jun 2021 Policy
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
Education secretary picks Jo Saxton as preferred candidate to be chief regulator at exams watchdog
15-strong levelling up task force to drive flagship policy
13 May 2021 Policy
15-strong levelling up task force to drive flagship policy
Officials will be recruited from across government for new unit
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
22 Apr 2021 Policy
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
Blair-style team will be headed up by coronavirus vaccination lead Emily Lawson
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
16 Apr 2021 Policy
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
Think tank argues policymaking processes should be improved before rules on High Court challenges are changed
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
12 Apr 2021 Policy
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
Panel also calls for departmental boards to get greater powers to scrutinise top officials’ performance
Departments ‘don’t have resources to design effective net-zero policies’
01 Apr 2021 Policy
Departments ‘don’t have resources to design effective net-zero policies’
Institute for Government says ministers must learn lessons from the debacle over the Green Homes Grant cancellation
MPs vote to extend Covid powers as Hancock admits they may roll over into 2022
26 Mar 2021 Policy
MPs vote to extend Covid powers as Hancock admits they may roll over into 2022
Health secretary says he "cannot answer" if the Coronavirus Act will be retired in September
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
23 Mar 2021 Policy
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
As the NHS performs the difficult balancing act of carrying out a nationwide vaccine rollout while trying to mitigate the spread of new Covid variants, Geoffrey Lyons peers beyond British borders to review five innovative and relatively inexpensive responses to Covid from foreign governments
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
19 Mar 2021 Policy
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
Simon McDonald tells committee departments each have claim to lead on UK approach to world’s second-largest economy
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
16 Mar 2021 Policy
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
Integrated review of security and defence eyes “tilt to the Indo-Pacific” and new tech hubs
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region Sponsored
05 Feb 2021 Policy
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region
The annual State of the State report has revealed regional differences in attitudes towards the Levelling Up agenda. Government must work with local areas to get the best results, writes Ed Roddis, director of Public Sector Research at Deloitte.
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
03 Feb 2021 Policy
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
Sue Owen also tells IfG event government's Covid and Brexit experience should boost profile of civil service's operational delivery specialists
Amber Rudd joins public-policy institute
29 Jan 2021 Policy
Amber Rudd joins public-policy institute
Former energy secretary will lead on work around decarbonisation and COP26
Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
25 Jan 2021 Policy
Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
Last year saw public protests about the use of predictive analytics in decision making. As the technology becomes more widely used in many public services, Sam Trendall asks experts about the implications for government, the law – and the citizens affected