Experts voice fears as Ethics and Integrity Commission goes live
14 Oct Policy

Experts voice fears as Ethics and Integrity Commission goes live

Successor body to Committee on Standards in Public Life “needs full independence and statutory footing”, anti-corruption organisations warn
by Jim Dunton
DSIT says AI tool could free up 75,000 civil servant days a year
16 Oct Policy
DSIT says AI tool could free up 75,000 civil servant days a year
Weak oversight and overly complex design: DESNZ criticised for insulation failings
15 Oct Policy
Weak oversight and overly complex design: DESNZ criticised for insulation failings
Five reasons to include Policy Festival in your learning calendar this year
10 Sep Policy
Five reasons to include Policy Festival in your learning calendar this year
Alarm over plans to make civil servants ignore ECHR Rwanda rulings
17 Jan 2024 Policy
Alarm over plans to make civil servants ignore ECHR Rwanda rulings
Mooted plans to change civil service code described by unions as "madness" and "desperate"
Departments’ funding woes could hamper £229m data-sharing platform
16 Jan 2024 Policy
Departments’ funding woes could hamper £229m data-sharing platform
National statistician Ian Diamond updates MPs as Integrated Data Service moves towards full rollout
'We're here to make a difference': DWP perm sec Peter Schofield on team working, moments of change and the importance of values
15 Jan 2024 Policy
'We're here to make a difference': DWP perm sec Peter Schofield on team working, moments of change and the importance of values
The Department for Work and Pensions perm sec tells CSW about his civil service career, his connection to DWP’s mission, and a profound turning point in his personal life
Cameron grilled over ODA cut and merger that created FCDO
10 Jan 2024 Policy
Cameron grilled over ODA cut and merger that created FCDO
Foreign secretary says new leadership structures are making the department “work better than it was”
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
02 Jan 2024 Policy
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
Labour leader wants DGs to stay in post longer, Cummings claims Sunak offered him new No.10 role, and IfG calls for Spring Budget to be scrapped
Home Office drops modern slavery support measures over 'viability and funding'
11 Dec 2023 Policy
Home Office drops modern slavery support measures over 'viability and funding'
Charities accuse government being “no longer committed to protecting victims of modern slavery”
Johnson ‘perplexed’ top scientists weren’t consulted over Eat Out to Help Out
07 Dec 2023 Policy
Johnson ‘perplexed’ top scientists weren’t consulted over Eat Out to Help Out
Former PM tells Covid Inquiry his repeated “let it rip” comments were just a challenge to consensus among experts
Why digital deliverability is vital for 2024 election policy pledges
06 Dec 2023 Policy
Why digital deliverability is vital for 2024 election policy pledges
Former Cabinet Office deputy director for digital delivery Clayton Smith flags five common pitfalls that lead to failure
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
23 Nov 2023 Policy
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
Whitty: No.10 should have consulted scientists on Eat Out To Help Out
22 Nov 2023 Policy
Whitty: No.10 should have consulted scientists on Eat Out To Help Out
Chief medical officer says he "firmly" told Downing Street it should have informed him and Patrick Vallance about the Covid policy
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
10 Nov 2023 Policy
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
Departments may struggle to retain key officials amid demand for skills, experts warn
How expanding the UK’s behavioural research capacity will benefit policymaking
09 Nov 2023 Policy
How expanding the UK’s behavioural research capacity will benefit policymaking
Behavioural research is fragmented in the UK, but a leadership hub hopes to change this
Johnson and Sunak ‘blindsided’ Covid Taskforce with Eat Out to Help Out scheme
08 Nov 2023 Policy
Johnson and Sunak ‘blindsided’ Covid Taskforce with Eat Out to Help Out scheme
Officials at the heart of government’s pandemic response were kept in the dark about bid to boost footfall at restaurants and cafés, inquiry hears
DLUHC clashes with local council over four-day working week trial
06 Nov 2023 Policy
DLUHC clashes with local council over four-day working week trial
South Cambridgeshire District Council issued with Best Value Notice signalling ministers' concern over reduced-hours pilot
MacNamara: Whitehall processes 'bent out of shape' by Brexit work ahead of pandemic
02 Nov 2023 Policy
MacNamara: Whitehall processes 'bent out of shape' by Brexit work ahead of pandemic
Former official says Brexit preparations led to the centre holding too much power, with departments "disempowered"
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
31 Oct 2023 Policy
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
Former No.10 comms director tells inquiry the Covid pandemic was the "wrong crisis" for Boris Johnson’s "skill set"
Johnson 'weak', cab sec's 'scapegoat' fears, more leaving drinks: Covid Inquiry evidence shows turmoil behind the scenes
31 Oct 2023 Policy
Johnson 'weak', cab sec's 'scapegoat' fears, more leaving drinks: Covid Inquiry evidence shows turmoil behind the scenes
Patrick Vallance says advisers tried to "strong arm" him into post-Cummings scandal press briefing and Simon Case says he is "pissed off" over Partygate event
Lunch with... psychologist and 'nudge' guru David Halpern
25 Oct 2023 Policy
Lunch with... psychologist and 'nudge' guru David Halpern
Jess Bowie meets the founding director of the Behavioural Insights Team
'Warring Whitehall fiefdoms' and 'snootiness': Report uncovers barriers to fixing regional inequality
24 Oct 2023 Policy
'Warring Whitehall fiefdoms' and 'snootiness': Report uncovers barriers to fixing regional inequality
Nearly 100 former top officials and politicians weigh in on why driving regional growth has proved so difficult
Whitehall ‘in reverse’ over devolution, ex-perm sec warns
23 Oct 2023 Policy
Whitehall ‘in reverse’ over devolution, ex-perm sec warns
Government’s capacity to manage devolution has diminished, with relations with devolved nations at a low ebb, MPs told
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
18 Oct 2023 Policy
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
As climate change begins to intensify, the government has a lot to do to make our society more resilient to its consequences. We find out what government is getting right and where it needs to improve.
‘I cannot cope with this’: Covid Inquiry messages show cab sec’s despair at policy flip-flops
13 Oct 2023 Policy
‘I cannot cope with this’: Covid Inquiry messages show cab sec’s despair at policy flip-flops
Simon Case WhatsApps say government “looks like a terrible, tragic joke” and PM’s partner “is real person in charge”
Covid Inquiry: Requests for science advice 'chaotic and poorly formulated'
13 Oct 2023 Policy
Covid Inquiry: Requests for science advice 'chaotic and poorly formulated'
"The formulation of science commissioning from the centre got quite chaotic for quite some time," former GO-Science chief says
Trust is fragile. An ambitious ombudsman reform agenda can help rebuild it
12 Oct 2023 Policy
Trust is fragile. An ambitious ombudsman reform agenda can help rebuild it
Ombudsman policy should not be kept in a glass box marked “break only in case of emergency”, Richard Blakeway says on Ombuds Day