Culture

After a rocky start, the government’s ambitious plan to integrate health and social care is ready for launch. But is the challenge simply too big? Mark Rowe asks the experts

The London mayor’s adoring paean to Churchill sometimes reads as an effort to reflect some glory back onto its author, writes John Ashmore

Some Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) civil servants believe Whitehall prejudice is acting as a brake on career progression, exclusive survey reveals

Advance sight of a Cabinet Office review into the civil service's LGBT record, another SNP-Whitehall fracas, and feverish Budget speculation make our regular round-up of Whitehall in the headlines

Committee urges greater diversity in intelligence agencies

Prime minister David Cameron set to unveil new measures to crack down on child sexual exploitation

International Women’s Day is an opportunity for everyone, regardless of gender, says Mary Aiston

Health secretary apologises on behalf of  government and health service for failure to deal with Savile abuse

Cabinet Office releases social media guidance to get more officials online

As Britain’s first anti-slavery commissioner, Kevin Hyland is on a mission to set people free – with the help of some friends in very high places. Sarah Aston spoke to him.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is neither thrilling nor particularly funny, says Tom Batchelor​

Paul Flynn MP reviews Inside the Commons

A monthly interview with people who’ve crossed organisational and sectoral boundaries to join a new working world. Michael Anderson moved from the Cabinet Office to the philanthropic organisation the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation 

A police detective discusses the funding cuts and staff shortages that have hampered specialist departments in the force. 

In a new column examining ideas from governments around the world, Joshua Chambers looks at how India is including its citizens in public service delivery

Once an anonymous Whitehall lawyer, Shami Chakrabarti is now the very public face of Britain’s civil liberties movement – and a woman who inspires admiration and outrage in equal measure. Jess Bowie meets her

Public trust in civil servants is at an all-time high, says new survey

The Theory of Everything is a moving and sensitive love story with a difference, says Sarah Aston

DCLG’s Troubled Families Unit won the Policy Award

MI5 makes charity’s list of top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual people

The Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF) for disabled people was ruled lawful by the High Court, on Monday 8 December. 

The DWP now assesses 95% of new child maintenance cases accurately, the NAO has found

Staff shortages in the UK Border Force (UKBF) are putting increasing pressure on staff and causing concern that they’re no longer able to effectively protect the UK borders, a survey revealed on the 4 December. 

The government will continue to restrain public sector pay in the next Parliament, George Osborne announced in his Autumn Statement today.