Author Profile

As seven years of public sector pay restraint come slowly – and unevenly – to an end, Suzannah Brecknell meets the Office for Manpower Economics, the team helping pay review bodies and departments navigate new terrain

The sacking of Nick Hardwick as chair of the Parole Board has raised questions about the future of the body – including how ministers will be able to find a successor, says Suzannah Brecknell

A project aimed at measuring the legitimacy of government revealed some lessons for politicians and civil servants alike. Suzannah Brecknell considers how to improve the connection between the governing and governed

Stephen Lovegrove plans to ‘adjust operating model’ of the MoD as he sets out need to make tough decisions and ensure UK’s broad and strong military capability

Officials should seek formal directions when politicians set unrealistic timelines for commissioning, says boss of outsourcing giant

As he leaves the civil service after 40 years, Sir Robert Devereux, outgoing permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, reflects on complicated projects, how to lead large organisations and facing select committees

The former press secretary to Harold Wilson and Ted Heath, breaks bread with Suzannah Brecknell

Mark Bryson-Richardson, director of the Stabilisation Unit, tells Suzannah Brecknell how his team helps government respond to international emergencies

Cabinet secretary describes speech by former minister as an "inaccurate portrayal" of civil service, while chief executive says Whitehall is "deepening and accelerating" reforms

Baron Lansley reflects on life in government versus life as a civil servant, over a pot of Earl Grey with Suzannah Brecknell

As the Civil Service Commission highlights “negligible” progress on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic diversity in its annual report – and cautions that appointment panels often face “insufficient choice” of good candidates – first civil service commissioner Ian Watmore talks to CSW about his priorities for the coming parliament

Rupert McNeil said professions will play a key role in ensuring the civil service can offer pay packages that attract and retain talented people

As the new apprenticeships system gets into full swing, Suzannah Brecknell meets Peter Lauener, the man charged with setting up the institute which will put employers front and centre

After starting her career in law Carol Tullo has now worked in the civil service for 20 years. She talks to Suzannah Brecknell about two decades worth of change, Whitehall milestones and the digital future

FDA union calls for more investment in the civil service, as survey shows that 91% of senior managers regularly work more than their contracted hours

Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service replaces National Offenders Management Service as Ministry of Justice takes over the commissioning and monitoring of prison and probation services

PACAC chair tells CSW it is a promising moment for civil service reform, but ministers must play their part too

PACAC slams the “absence of safeguards” to ensure prime ministers do not bypass proper cabinet procedures,  and urges government to publish the lessons it has learned from Chilcot Inquiry

Simon Case and Katrina Williams join the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union, as government prepares to issue Article 50 notification

Institute for Government report highlights “persistent weaknesses” that cause costly policy churn, prescribing a stronger role for MPs and the centre of government to stop unnecessary changes and secure institutional memory

With staff numbers and responsibilities growing, DCMS is undergoing something of a renaissance. Permanent secretary Sue Owen tells Suzannah Brecknell about the importance of leadership, the value of culture, and the power of music

Union calls for independent review of pay as it warns that maintaining a 1% cap on pay rises is “unsustainable”

Continuing pay cap would mean up to 20% drop in average civil service earnings by 2020, union analysis reveals

 Statements and press releases gave misleading picture of reduction in homelessness, the UK Statistics Authority finds, because press and policy teams failed to consult with statisticians before publication

Public Accounts Committee says department still does not fully understand impact of benefit sanctions, and warns their use could have knock-on effects for other areas of government

QC who spoke at 7/7 inquest will take up post as terror laws watchdog in March

Government rejects think tank's calculations which suggest the UK missed target to spend 2% of GDP on defence thanks to unexpectedly strong economic growth

Peter Riddell calls for stronger diversity monitoring rules, as government plans a “stock take” of gender balance across public boards

Just before he stepped down as permanent secretary of the Welsh Government, Sir Derek Jones told CSW's Suzannah Brecknell why, despite the challenges ahead, civil servants should be confident – and why creativity is as important as penning an elegant memo

Newly-released interviews by the Institute for Government offer a fascinating insight into politicians’ views of the Whitehall machine. They ain’t all that flattering, finds Suzannah Brecknell...

Some staff are still uncertain about joining the GCO, Institute for Government researchers find, though the reforms to improve commercial capability are already making an impact

The UK’s former ambassador to the EU warns MPs of a “diminution of Whitehall attention” on ongoing EU policy matters as the pressures of planning for Brexit rise

Single Source Regulations Office seeks greater oversight of contracts for non-competitive military goods

The Institute for Government warns that Brexit could lead to departments slipping on transparency goals — which have already seen a steep decline since David Cameron’s 2010 open government claims

Civil service leaders have long tried to cut sickness absence rates among their staff. But, asks Suzannah Brecknell, are they looking at the full picture?

The chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service has told the Public Accounts Committee that he would rather “take time to build a model that endures” than rush to increase the volume of services bought through and by his centralised procurement team