Matt Honeycombe-Foster

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”
Hancock: How well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
27 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock: How well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
Health secretary says he has “absolutely no idea" how many officials are back at DHSC's Whitehall HQ
Home Office immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
24 Aug 2020 Health & Social Care
Home Office immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
Worst-hit trust has paid out £2m in fees to employ foreign workers since 2017, FoI response shows
Tory grandee Francis Maude gets second run at civil service reform
21 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Tory grandee Francis Maude gets second run at civil service reform
Ex-Cabinet Office minister and Conservative peer brought in to lead Cabinet Office review
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
19 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
“That is a massive logistical operation," Hancock says, defending former TalkTalk boss's experience
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
14 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
New fines to be introduced for hosting gatherings of more than 30 people, as bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos reopen
Hard times are here says Sunak as UK plunged into record recession
12 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hard times are here says Sunak as UK plunged into record recession
‘Hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their jobs, and sadly in the coming months many more will,’ says chancellor
Bank of England predicts UK unemployment will soar after furlough scheme ends
06 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Bank of England predicts UK unemployment will soar after furlough scheme ends
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme “very significantly mitigated“ joblessness, Bank says
MHCLG publishes proposals to ‘cut red tape’ with major planning shake-up
06 Aug 2020 Planning
MHCLG publishes proposals to ‘cut red tape’ with major planning shake-up
House-building reform will see three new categories of land earmarked in a bid to speed up the creation of new homes – and local affordable housing rules scrapped
Universal Credit ‘punishes the poorest’ and five-week wait should be scrapped, Lords committee says
31 Jul 2020 Operational Delivery
Universal Credit ‘punishes the poorest’ and five-week wait should be scrapped, Lords committee says
DWP criticised for using the scheme to recover debts accrued from its tax credit scheme
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
Boost free school meals to avert ‘slow-motion disaster’ of hunger and malnutrition, ministers urged
29 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boost free school meals to avert ‘slow-motion disaster’ of hunger and malnutrition, ministers urged
Coronavirus pandemic likely to leave a “miserable” legacy of rising unemployment, poverty and hunger, National Food Strategy says
Government threw care homes ‘to the wolves’ amid coronavirus pandemic, MPs say
29 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Government threw care homes ‘to the wolves’ amid coronavirus pandemic, MPs say
DHSC “does not know" how many of the 25,000 patients discharged to care homes between 17 March and 15 April had Covid-19
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
22 Jul 2020
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
Boris Johnson launches UK bid for first zero-emissions long-haul passenger flight amid efforts to aid post-coronavirus economic recovery
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
20 Jul 2020 Government Tax Profession
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
HMRC does not “systematically” measure whether tax reliefs change behaviour in the way they are intended, PAC says
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
14 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
Ministers will consider how to enforce the new measures in the coming days, Johnson says
'Let’s get going': government launches major Brexit comms campaign as end of transition period nears
13 Jul 2020 Brexit
'Let’s get going': government launches major Brexit comms campaign as end of transition period nears
“There are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we hit the ground running”, says Michael Gove
PM green lights £250,000 payment to outgoing cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill
09 Jul 2020 HR
PM green lights £250,000 payment to outgoing cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill
Civil service head says exit is “entirely amicable” but hostile briefings against officials are "regrettable"
Boris Johnson says extending coronavirus furlough would leave people in ‘suspended animation’
03 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson says extending coronavirus furlough would leave people in ‘suspended animation’
Comments come amid calls for scheme to be extended, including to reflect local lockdowns
Government plans televised media briefings in major civil service comms shake-up
03 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
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
Government urged to revive public service ombudsman reform to avoid MPs being ‘inundated’ with complaints about departments
02 Jul 2020
Government urged to revive public service ombudsman reform to avoid MPs being ‘inundated’ with complaints about departments
Rob Behrens, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, says coronavirus pandemic ‘emphasises the need for more effective redress than we currently have’
Leicester lockdown: shops and schools to shut again as government re-imposes local curbs
30 Jun 2020 Health & Social Care
Leicester lockdown: shops and schools to shut again as government re-imposes local curbs
City accounted for 10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week, says health secretary
Mark Sedwill to step down as cabinet secretary as Boris Johnson eyes major Whitehall shake-up
28 Jun 2020 Civil Service Reform
Mark Sedwill to step down as cabinet secretary as Boris Johnson eyes major Whitehall shake-up
Sedwill will be nominated for a life peerage “in recognition of his distinguished service to public life”, Cabinet Office confirms
Disadvantaged workers being ‘failed’ by apprenticeships system, government advisers warn
24 Jun 2020 Education
Disadvantaged workers being ‘failed’ by apprenticeships system, government advisers warn
“This is an easy win for the government in its attempts at levelling up – if it can get this right," SMC chair says
Coronavirus: DWP ‘must not ignore’ people claiming legacy benefits after Universal Credit boost
22 Jun 2020 Civil Service Reform
Coronavirus: DWP ‘must not ignore’ people claiming legacy benefits after Universal Credit boost

Recipients of benefits including jobseekers’ allowance and employment support allowance have “slipped down the list of priorities”, says committee chair
Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app ‘not a priority’ and may not be ready until winter, minister says
18 Jun 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app ‘not a priority’ and may not be ready until winter, minister says

Health minister says there is a of "alienating or freaking out people" using test, track and trace system
More than 600,000 workers have lost jobs amid coronavirus lockdown, new figures suggest
16 Jun 2020 Economy
More than 600,000 workers have lost jobs amid coronavirus lockdown, new figures suggest

Experimental ONS and HMRC data reveals indicative employment impact of Covid-19
Government launches fresh review into racial inequality in wake of Black Lives Matters protests
15 Jun 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Government launches fresh review into racial inequality in wake of Black Lives Matters protests

Inquiry comes after Race Disparity Audit, which was published in 2017 when Theresa May was prime minister
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen hold talks in bid to break Brexit deadlock
15 Jun 2020 Brexit
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen hold talks in bid to break Brexit deadlock

The PM will be joined on the call by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and UK’s chief negotiator David Frost.
Equalities watchdog to probe Home Office ‘hostile environment’ policy in wake of Windrush scandal
15 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Equalities watchdog to probe Home Office ‘hostile environment’ policy in wake of Windrush scandal

EHRC legal action will review whether immigration measures complied with equality law
Coronavirus: 25,000 people discharged from hospitals to care homes without tests at height of pandemic, NAO confirms
12 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus: 25,000 people discharged from hospitals to care homes without tests at height of pandemic, NAO confirms

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt says report reveals 'no one appeared to consider the clinical risk to care homes'
Britain suffers record 20% hit to GDP as coronavirus economic crisis takes hold
12 Jun 2020 Economy
Britain suffers record 20% hit to GDP as coronavirus economic crisis takes hold

Figures reveal the largest monthly fall since records began in 1997
UK ‘ditches plan’ for full post-Brexit border checks on EU goods
12 Jun 2020 Brexit
UK ‘ditches plan’ for full post-Brexit border checks on EU goods

Government reveals prime minister will hold talks with the leaders of EU institutions on the UK's future relationship with the bloc later this month
Coronavirus: No.10 vows ‘strong and swift’ economic recovery as OECD warns Britain will be worst-hit
11 Jun 2020 Economics
Coronavirus: No.10 vows ‘strong and swift’ economic recovery as OECD warns Britain will be worst-hit

OECD predicts UK unemployment rate could rise as high as 14.8% post pandemic
Boris Johnson orders shake-up of Downing Street coronavirus response
03 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Boris Johnson orders shake-up of Downing Street coronavirus response

Reorganisation comes after Simon Case returns to civil service as No.10 perm sec
Johnson hints at review of no recourse to public funds policy after ‘jaw-dropping’ committee grilling
28 May 2020 Legal
Johnson hints at review of no recourse to public funds policy after ‘jaw-dropping’ committee grilling

Work and pension committee chair to follow up with No.10 after PM ‘clearly surprised to hear that people in this situation can’t claim Universal Credit or other benefits’