9 h. ago Alternative plans to save millions in Cardiff proposed review of controversial recycling scheme

Conservative councillors put forward an alternative budget which included plans to divert money away from cycle lanes and the Lib Dems wanted a fresh look at recycling

Politics

10 h. ago Minister says Labour ‘won’t take a chainsaw to the civil service’ amid cuts backlash

The man described as ‘Keir Starmer’s unofficial deputy prime minister’ insists he has not set targets in slashing the number of civil servants as he unveils reforms

Politics

10 h. ago Civil servants told to deliver or leave as Labour overhauls Whitehall

Highest-paid mandarins at top of organisation will face stricter performance monitoring

Events

11 h. ago Could Labour's reform proposals see more civil servants based in Scotland?

The UK Government is to set out proposals to reform the civil service.

Politics

14 h. ago Underperforming civil servants could be incentivised to leave roles under new reforms

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has said that ‘the state is not match-fit to rise to the moment our country faces’.

Politics

18 h. ago John Swinney’s officials met fossil fuel firms and lobbyists more than 100 times in first six months as FM

Civil servants held 112 meetings with oil and gas operators in John Swinney's first six months as First Minister

Politics

22 h. ago Civil servants 'will be paid to quit' under plans to save costs as Keir Starmer wages war on The Blob

The Prime Minister is set to unveil proposals to sack under-performing mandarins as well as link the pay of some top officials to specific work targets.

Events

58 h. ago Witness in Alex Salmond trial appointed top civil servant in Scottish Government

Joe Griffin has been announced as the next Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government.

Politics

60 h. ago Trump is concentrating power. A key faction of judges supports the idea | Jan

The ‘unitary executive’ theory – backed by some conservative lawyers – is largely bogus. But it could wreak havoc on democracyWhile Democrats are dithering and debating with consultants about which anti-Trumpian strategy to adopt, courts are confronted with an unprecedented power grab by the president. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are simply not spending money appropriated by Congress, which in turn is unwilling to play its constitutional role and assert the power of the purse. Entire agencies are de facto dismantled – which is also unconstitutional – and civil servants protected from removal by a president keep getting pink slips.The illegality of it all seems so obvious that one would think defenders of democracy could relax and trust judges to do the right thing. But it’s not just that some judges seem to be in the president’s pocket – as evidenced by Trump, after his address to Congress, patting the supreme court’s chief justice on the back and thanking him for a favor he won’t fo...

Politics

4 d. ago Scotland's top civil servant blames SNP Government's financial woes on 'economic shocks'

The outgoing permanent secretary of the Scottish Government has blamed a lack of financial sustainability on economic “shocks” he branded “unprecedented”.

Economics

4 d. ago Sky brings back 'lowest ever price' as £120 is cut from TV, Netflix and broadband bills

Sky has reduced the cost of its Essential TV, Netflix and broadband bundle to its cheapest ever price, with shoppers able to save £120 across the life of the plan

Economics

5 d. ago Exclusive HMRC helpline for MPs and royals answers in minutes while public waits hours

The ultra-exclusive Public Department 1 (PD1) helpline allows ministers, top civil servants, and members of the Royal Family to have their tax queries dealt with quickly

Politics

5 d. ago Civil servants should be sacked in major crackdown on the £250billion annual cost of crime, report urges

A study by the think tank Policy Exchange, backed by former home secretary Sir Sajid Javid , proposed dismissing all senior managers in the Ministry of Justice and HM Prisons and Probation Service.

Economics

6 d. ago BP dropping its green ambitions is a travesty. But that’s exactly how capitalism works

Companies will never solve the climate emergency alone. The impetus for change needs to come from government It would be very easy to be sharply critical of BP, given its sudden volte-face on its environmental commitments. Under pressure from a shareholder, Elliott Management, it has abandoned the green ambitions it announced in 2020 and pivoted squarely back to an overwhelming focus on oil and gas.While easy, it would arguably be unhelpful, and perhaps even misguided. Because viewed in the round, this isn’t really about BP: it’s about capitalism at large, and its inability to respond to the climate crisis in the manner we need.Brett Christophers is a professor in the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University and author of The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won’t Save the PlanetDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters se...

Politics

6 d. ago BP dropping its green ambitions is a travesty. But that’s exactly how capitalism works | Brett Christophers

Companies will never solve the climate emergency alone. The impetus for change needs to come from government It would be very easy to be sharply critical of BP, given its sudden volte-face on its environmental commitments. Under pressure from a shareholder, Elliott Management, it has abandoned the green ambitions it announced in 2020 and pivoted squarely back to an overwhelming focus on oil and gas.While easy, it would arguably be unhelpful, and perhaps even misguided. Because viewed in the round, this isn’t really about BP: it’s about capitalism at large, and its inability to respond to the climate crisis in the manner we need.Brett Christophers is a professor in the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University and author of The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won’t Save the PlanetDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters se...

Politics

6 d. ago Hundreds of Scottish civil servants avoid paying higher income tax by living elsewhere

Conservative MSP Jamie Greene said the figures should be ‘a source of embarrassment’

Economics

7 d. ago Hundreds of Scottish Government civil servants dodge SNP's 'harsh' tax regime

The Scottish Government has confirmed 241 of its employees do not pay the Scottish rate of income tax because their main residence is not in Scotland.

Politics

8 d. ago Scientists reveal how many doner kebabs we must stop eating a week to save the planet

Scientists from the government's Climate Change Committee have recommended for Brits to significantly curb their meat consumption to help the nation meet its net zero targets.

Science

1 week ago Travel expert urges people to never wear one type of clothing on a plane

A travel expert has shared a video on TikTok claiming that there is one thing you should never wear on a plane - and it could save your life in the event of an emergency

Politics

1 week ago Hundreds of workers in Angela Rayner's housing department could strike over working just THREE days a week in the office

Angela Rayner is facing embarrassment as civil servants in her department consider going on strike.

Events