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?
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
09 Apr 2021 Communications
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
Chancellor ‘pushed officials to explore options’ messages reveal, but no support was agreed
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
07 Apr 2021 Communications
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
Market-research companies will poll public and businesses on EU exit, coronavirus and other No.10 priorities
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
18 Mar 2021 Communications
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
Union says it has been warned a voluntary redundancy scheme is part of ministers' plans for centralised media service
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
01 Feb 2021 Communications
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
Fact-checking charity calls for inquiry and says civil service analysts should brief the press on complex issues
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
11 Jan 2021 Communications
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
November stats show another increase in call-waiting times and new struggles with answering online and postal queries
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
08 Jan 2021 Communications
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
Transparency around how SAGE works has improved, but lessons have been applied "inconsistently"
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
23 Dec 2020 Communications
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
17 Dec 2020 Communications
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
£120,000 on offer for the successor to James Slack, who was promoted to comms director
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
30 Nov 2020 Communications
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
Union says project team briefing suggests any staff changes will be in the second half of 2021
Outsourced contract is ‘double slap in face’ for comms staff, says union
16 Nov 2020 Communications
Outsourced contract is ‘double slap in face’ for comms staff, says union
PCS calls £670k spent on PR for Vaccine Taskforce “outrageous” as departmental comms professionals face uncertain future
PM’s comms chief praises 'unsung' civil servants as he quits amid No.10 infighting
12 Nov 2020 Communications
PM’s comms chief praises "unsung" civil servants as he quits amid No.10 infighting
Shock resignation comes amid reports Dominic Cummings also threatened to resign
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
21 Oct 2020 Communications
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
Sedwill says spad's trip to Durham was a "mistake"
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
21 Sep 2020 Communications
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
Appointing Dido Harding to head up the National Institute for Health Protection is a breach of the civil service code, Labour peers claim
Rycroft reveals revised Twitter guidelines after Home Office’s ‘activist lawyers’ post
11 Sep 2020 Communications
Rycroft reveals revised Twitter guidelines after Home Office’s ‘activist lawyers’ post
Perm sec says additional layers of assurance have been introduced following the tweet, which he previously said ‘should not have been used on an official government channel’
GDS contractor recruited through Cummings blog fired after ‘revulsion’ over Black Lives Matter tweet
04 Sep 2020 Communications
GDS contractor recruited through Cummings blog fired after ‘revulsion’ over Black Lives Matter tweet
Data specialist suggested online that police could use ‘live rounds’ on protesters
Home Office perm sec bans controversial department video that referred to ‘activist lawyers’
28 Aug 2020 Communications
Home Office perm sec bans controversial department video that referred to ‘activist lawyers’
Matthew Rycroft bans official Twitter clip dismissing people providing legal representation for asylum seekers as “activist lawyers”
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
21 Aug 2020 Communications
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
PCS says centralisation drive could put thousands of staff at risk and give No.10 "unprecedented control"
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
14 Aug 2020 Communications
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
Comms director will “have a key role in leading [their] team through the changes to the Government Communication Service’s operating model”, job ad says
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
31 Jul 2020 Communications
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
Matt Hancock says data from the test and trace system shows case number increase is a result of households meeting each other
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
24 Jul 2020 Communications
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
Check, Change, Go campaign launched with lessons from Get Ready for Brexit review, says Cabinet Office perm sec
Garry Graham on government comms overhaul: 'The independence of the civil service is under threat'
23 Jul 2020 Communications
Garry Graham on government comms overhaul: 'The independence of the civil service is under threat'
If planned comms changes go through, the PM will find they have made the government machine work much less effectively when the next crisis bites
Dave Penman: What we can read into the latest bout of anonymous briefing
09 Jul 2020 Communications
Dave Penman: What we can read into the latest bout of anonymous briefing
New leaks to the press about reforms to the Government Communication Service are yet more proof that this government sees control from No.10 as critical to its operation and success
Government confirms comms reform drive
06 Jul 2020 Communications
Government confirms comms reform drive
PM’s official spokesperson says work will begin this week to move to a single employer for government communication service
Government plans televised media briefings in major civil service comms shake-up
03 Jul 2020 Communications
Government plans televised media briefings in major civil service comms shake-up
Reports say No.10 wants to slim down departmental communications and centralise PR