Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
21 May 2024 Communications

Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin

Call for senior civil servants to face new statutory duties over advice to perm secs and ministers
by Jim Dunton
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
20 May Communications
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
03 Apr Communications
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
22 Feb 2022 Communications
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
Department remains tight-lipped on its fake-news-battling operations, in the face of intervention from the Information Commissioner's Office
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy Exclusive
17 Feb 2022 Communications
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy
Agency to provide advice on media relations and a consultation on the public inquiry's terms of reference
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
15 Feb 2022 Communications
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
Gregor Smith was accused of breaking the civil service code
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
31 Jan 2022 Communications
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
Barton says he has "no recollection of having seen emails" suggesting staff believed the PM authorised the evacuation of animals
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
28 Jan 2022 Communications
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
NHS England chief rapped for failure to publish ministerial direction letter on time
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
17 Jan 2022 Communications
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
The head of news will set the Cabinet Office’s media relations strategy
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
05 Jan 2022 Communications
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
HMRC offers up to £130k a year for next top dog but Home Office sets £120k limit
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
17 Dec 2021 Communications
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
Unions condemn "mixed messages" after an email sent to officials said there would be cuts and voluntary redundancy schemes
Allegra Stratton resigns after No.10 Christmas party video leak
08 Dec 2021 Communications
Allegra Stratton resigns after No.10 Christmas party video leak
The PM's former spokesperson said she will regret joking about a party during lockdown last year "for the rest of my days"
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
09 Nov 2021 Communications
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
Updated guidance recommends copying private messages to corporate email addresses or exporting material regularly
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
20 Oct 2021 Communications
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
Source cites "lessened demand for science advice" for reduction in meetings
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
29 Sep 2021 Communications
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
Campaign group hopes evidence will support its call for judicial review into "WhatsApp government"
Opinion: Improving government communication won’t save muddled policy decisions
17 Sep 2021 Communications
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
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
15 Sep 2021 Communications
Home Office comms director becomes first GCS chief exec
Simon Baugh pledges reform “will deliver more joined-up communications, and provide value for taxpayers”
Truss appoints comms guru as LGBT business champion
10 Sep 2021 Communications
Truss appoints comms guru as LGBT business champion
Cicero/AMO founder Iain Anderson tasked with driving efforts to reduce workplace discrimination
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
07 Sep 2021 Communications
Mixed messaging: Lee Cain's proposals to reform government communications need more clarity
Kay Hender, head of communications at the FDA union, argues that Lee Cain has identified some of the challenges faced by the Government Communications Service, but his proposed solutions are contradictory and could make things worse
'An analogue system in a digital age': Government comms is failing, ex-No.10 adviser Lee Cain says
06 Sep 2021 Communications
'An analogue system in a digital age': Government comms is failing, ex-No.10 adviser Lee Cain says
“The day-to-day news management has been surrendered to special advisers," former director of communications writes
Officials will reply to unread emails about trapped Afghans 'in days', Raab pledges
01 Sep 2021 Communications
Officials will reply to unread emails about trapped Afghans 'in days', Raab pledges
Foreign secretary says there are "a lot of cases that need to be sifted" after whistleblower reveals 5,000 email backlog
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
20 Aug 2021 Communications
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
Contract to fill “prominent and politically sensitive role” awarded without competitive tender
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
30 Jul 2021 Communications
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
Contract worth £1.4m signed at the start of the year
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
27 Apr 2021 Communications
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
O’Donnell and Sedwill says ministers should not communicate with businesses and press without an official record
PM wanted to ask cab sec to stop leak inquiry that implicated fiancée's friend, Cummings alleges
26 Apr 2021 Communications
PM wanted to ask cab sec to stop leak inquiry that implicated fiancée's friend, Cummings alleges
Ex-spad denies leaking text messages between Johnson and James Dyson amid lobbying row
Civil servants warned of spying link to social media contacts
20 Apr 2021 Communications
Civil servants warned of spying link to social media contacts
MI5 says more than 10,000 incidents have been recorded as campaign flags threat from fake business profiles
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
12 Apr 2021 Communications
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
Government will not make public announcements or issue press releases unless they are necessary for public safety