Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’
08 May Policy

Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’

Antonia Romeo tells MPs multi-million-pound asylum-accommodation failings exposed need for “incentivised culture-change”
by CSW staff
Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?
09 May Policy
Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
08 May Policy
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
British Steel: Ministerial direction issued to allow for speedy intervention
30 Apr Policy
British Steel: Ministerial direction issued to allow for speedy intervention
DBT offers £130k for DG to lead on industrial strategy
12 Aug 2024 Policy
DBT offers £130k for DG to lead on industrial strategy
Successful candidate will need "exceptional personal credibility" to work with businesses, academics and civil servants
Be curious, focus on what you know and stress test: A guide to policy development
12 Aug 2024 Policy
Be curious, focus on what you know and stress test: A guide to policy development
The early stages of the policy-development cycle can be overwhelming. Here's a framework to help
Can Labour’s plans for a ‘mission-driven government’ succeed? A veteran's view
07 Aug 2024 Policy
Can Labour’s plans for a ‘mission-driven government’ succeed? A veteran's view
Labour has promised a mission-based approach to government. Owen Pritchard, a military – and political – veteran, explains why the new administration needs to back up the rhetoric with the right mindset.
Involving the public in policymaking can help restore trust in our political institutions. Here's how to do it
05 Aug 2024 Policy
Involving the public in policymaking can help restore trust in our political institutions. Here's how to do it
From setting up a central hub of participatory policymaking expertise to introducing a Duty to Consider Participation, here are some of Demos and Involve's recommendations for embedding public participation in national policymaking
Defra launches rapid review of Environmental Improvement Plan
01 Aug 2024 Policy
Defra launches rapid review of Environmental Improvement Plan
Work on new strategy begins as watchdog says government is "off track" to meet the plan's goals to protect nature and public health
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
29 Jul 2024 Policy
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
Chancellor announces next spending review date and fiscal-planning reforms
Book review: Neil Lee’s Innovation for the Masses is an ideal book for policymakers
22 Jul 2024 Policy
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
Covid Inquiry calls for 'fundamental reform' to civil emergency planning
18 Jul 2024 Policy
Covid Inquiry calls for 'fundamental reform' to civil emergency planning
Inquiry's module 1 report calls for "radical simplification" of processes and structures and a new statutory body
Climate advisers urge ministers to undo Sunak ‘damage’
18 Jul 2024 Policy
Climate advisers urge ministers to undo Sunak ‘damage’
Climate Change Committee also says climate adaptation “must become fundamental aspect of policymaking across all departments”
King's Speech: Government will introduce duty of candour for public servants
17 Jul 2024 Policy
King's Speech: Government will introduce duty of candour for public servants
Plan confirmed in King's Speech as one of several "steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect"
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
16 Jul 2024 Policy
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"
'No more beating up the civil service': McFadden promises officials a 'richer, more rewarding experience'
11 Jul 2024 Policy
'No more beating up the civil service': McFadden promises officials a 'richer, more rewarding experience'
Labour intends to create a culture of innovation and “learning as you go” for civil servants, CDL says
Don't get new ministers' briefs in a twist
02 Jul 2024 Policy
Don't get new ministers' briefs in a twist
Planning for new ministers is important, including studying all the manifestos. Just make sure those plans are flexible, as you never know what they will ask when they’re actually in office
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
25 Jun 2024 Policy
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
Gus O’Donnell on some key issues likely to face civil servants before and after 4 July
Next government 'must examine drivers of disability benefit spending, not rush to restrict'
21 Jun 2024 Policy
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
IfG rejects claims a Labour 'supermajority' would be dangerous
20 Jun 2024 Policy
IfG rejects claims a Labour 'supermajority' would be dangerous
Think tank argues that any government's attitude to scrutiny is more important than majority size
Civil service reform: How do the manifestos stack up?
19 Jun 2024 Policy
Civil service reform: How do the manifestos stack up?
While the proposals were not front and centre, both the Labour and Conservative manifestos addressed the "how" of government
Progress on levelling up 'glacial', think tank says
19 Jun 2024 Policy
Progress on levelling up 'glacial', think tank says
Next government must be "decisive" if it wants to meet aims of levelling up white paper by 2030, IFS warns
Farage floats plans to slash £50bn from departments and cut taxes
18 Jun 2024 Policy
Farage floats plans to slash £50bn from departments and cut taxes
IFS says Reform proposals – which also include eradicating NHS waiting lists – "don't add up"
How to read a general election manifesto
18 Jun 2024 Policy
How to read a general election manifesto
A former civil servant who helped write a party manifesto explains how civil servants should analyse the all-important publications
Think tank makes argument for delivery units across government
18 Jun 2024 Policy
Think tank makes argument for delivery units across government
Reform paper makes series of recommendations to tackle barriers to effective delivery
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
11 Jun 2024 Policy
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
Party chairman flaunts letter from cabinet secretary as union seeks end to "opposition costings"
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
06 Jun 2024 Policy
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
Top-down targets simply don’t release the creativity and compassion in our public servants that all of us are going to depend on, writes a former perm sec
High Court hears civil service union's Rwanda scheme concerns
06 Jun 2024 Policy
High Court hears civil service union's Rwanda scheme concerns
Judicial review set to determine whether officials will be breaking the civil service code if they ignore ECHR requests to stop deportation flights