35 m. ago How the spirit of Dad's Army's Corporal Jones is coming to SNP government's rescue

Scotland’s civil servants may be facing one of their greatest challenges, but it’s wrong to say that ‘everything is broken’

Events

35 m. ago SNP's top civil servant insists 'not everything is broken' amid pressure on services to make cuts

SNP ministers have pledged to cut £1.5bn from Scotland’s public sector.

Events

6 h. ago Civil servants too often used as 'scapegoats for political failure', top minister warns

In a speech setting out his vision for Whitehall, the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary Darren Jones will say officials are just as frustrated at as ministers by the 'pace of change'

Events

34 h. ago Ministry of Defence pocketed £57million in bonuses despite 'black hole' warnings

The windfall for civil servants dished out by the Government to mostly desk-bound staff is £25 million more than the £32 million they received in 2019, as financial woes press on

Events

36 h. ago UK to create new ‘school of government’ to train senior civil servants

Establishment will give training in AI and other skills, more than a decade after David Cameron axed previous schoolMinisters will bring in a new “school of government” for senior civil servants to train them in AI and other skills – more than a decade after David Cameron axed the previous college for Whitehall.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, will announce the new body in a speech on Tuesday setting out the government’s plans to “rewire” the civil service for modern times. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Sir Idris Elba says he almost missed out on his Knighthood after letter from the King got lost 'in a pile of post'

The actor, 53 was recognised in the New Year Honours list 'for services to young people' following his campaign against knife crime in the UK, but wasn't aware of it.

Politics

3 d. ago Sir Idris Elba almost missed out on knighthood in 'embarrassing' blunder

The Luther star was recognised in the New Year Honours list

Politics

4 d. ago ‘Grey area between ages of 10 and 14’ in terms of criminal responsibility

MLAs questioned senior police officers at the Stormont Justice Committee on Thursday as it considered the Justice Bill.

Events

6 d. ago Starmer's rivals jostle for power with row over the blob: Wes Streeting defends Whitehall civil servants as Andy Burnham says 'unelected state' is hindering growth

Wes Streeting mounted a furious defence of civil servants against Labour critics - including the PM - before Andy Burnham said the 'unelected state' was hindering growth.

Events

6 d. ago Welsh civil servants and academics spend more than a day trying to translate eight English words

A four-part initiative was carried out to come up with Welsh equivalents for eight descriptions of 'soundscapes', or noise affecting planning applications.

Politics

9 d. ago Labour MP says Starmer 'should be ashamed with himself' over bid to scrap jury trials

Karl Turner, a former barrister, said removing the right to a jury trial in some cases is 'not something the Labour Party believes in',

Politics

9 d. ago Trump may be the beginning of the end for ‘enshittification’ – this is our chance to make tech good again | Cory Doctorow

The US president is weaponising tech, but his tariffs and Brexit provide a surprising opportunity to gain back digital control of our livesIt’s been 25 years since I started working for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an American nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting human rights on the internet. I’ve found myself in dozens of countries working with activists, politicians and civil servants to untangle the complex technical questions raised by the internet, and every one of our discussions ended in the same place. “OK,” they’d say, “you’ve definitely laid out the best way to regulate tech, but we can’t do it.”Why not? Because – inevitably – the US trade rep had beaten me to every one of those countries and made it eye-wateringly clear that if they regulated tech in a way that favoured their own people, industries and national interests, the US would bury them in tariffs.Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of dozens of bo...

Politics

1 week ago The Traitors viewers think another contestant just revealed a surprise connection

Viewers picked up on a comment by civil servant Maz about a previous job, which would potentially have brought him into contact with another contestant

Politics

1 week ago Traitors viewers think they’ve unearthed another surprise connection

Viewers picked up on a comment by civil servant Maz about a previous job, which would potentially have brought him into contact with another contestant

Politics

1 week ago Pregnant Ellie Goulding says she's 'extremely proud' to receive the 'great honour' of an MBE for services to biodiversity and the climate

The singer, 39, is a global environmental ambassador for the UN and was recognised in the New Years Honours list.

Politics

1 week ago Pregnant Ellie Goulding says she's 'extremely proud' to receive the 'great honour' of an MBE for services to biodiversity and the climate

The singer, 39, is a global environmental ambassador for the UN and was recognised in the New Years Honours list.

Politics

1 week ago ‘Catastrophic’ MoJ leasing of jail with toxic gas set to cost more than £100m

MPs criticise 10-year deal struck in ‘blind panic’ to rent Dartmoor prison, where high levels of radon had been detectedA “catastrophic” decision by the Ministry of Justice to sign a 10-year lease on a prison where high levels of a poisonous gas had been detected is expected to cost the UK taxpayer more than £100m, parliament’s spending watchdog has concluded.The public accounts committee said the 2022 deal to rent HMP Dartmoor from the Duchy of Cornwall was signed “in a blind panic” by senior civil servants looking to guarantee prison places. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago 'Weird' priorities of civil servants behind UK's support for Egyptian 'extremist' at centre of citizenship row, says Keir Starmer's former aide

Paul Ovenden, who quit as the Prime Minister's director of strategy in September, said Mr Abd El-Fattah's case was a 'running joke' among Downing Streetstaff.

Politics

2 w. ago West Lothian woman recognised with BEM in New Year’s Honours List

Ann Pike has been awarded a BEM (Medallists of the Order of the British Empire) for her service to the community and Third Sector in West Lothian.

Politics

2 w. ago Livingston MP extends congratulations to residents recognised in New Year Honours List

The honours celebrate individuals whose dedication and service have made a significant impact on their communities across West Lothian and beyond.

Politics