Foreign Affairs

New report from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact says DfID staff working in fragile and conflict-afflicted states are sometimes confused about how to manage risk

There’s more to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office than diplomacy and policy, with the government department harbouring one of the most overtly commercial operations in the civil service. Danny Payne, chief executive of FCO Services, tells CSW’s Jonathan Owen how the trading fund set up less than a decade ago has come of age

Institute for Government says Department for International Trade's remit is at odds with comments from new prime minister Theresa May

Vicky Pryce, former joint head of the Government Economic Service, tells Sam Macrory why, despite the tumultuous times ahead, she would welcome a return to Whitehall…and not only to increase the number of senior women by one

A lack of planning, a breakdown of cabinet government, the sidelining of civil service advice – the parallels between the Iraq debacle and the aftermath of the Brexit vote are striking, argues Sue Cameron

Britain's new prime minister Theresa May has vowed to "make a success" of Britain's historic decision to quit the European Union. But as Sir Nigel Sheinwald – the UK's former permanent representative to the European Union – tells Sam Macrory, that will no easy task

Theresa May arrives at Number 10 with years of experience on the government's key decision-making body on security. Dr Joe Devanny of the International Centre for Security Analysis takes a look at what the new government will mean for the way departments support prime ministers on national security issues

In the first of his occasional opinion pieces on issues that matter to officials, former permanent secretary Sir Leigh Lewis takes aim at the  civil service grading system 

Brexit secretary David Davis says "the most brilliant people in Whitehall" are looking to work for his new department

Negotiating fresh trade deals in the wake of Britain's departure from the European Union will be a mammoth task – and the civil service must step up its efforts to assemble the right team of experts for the job, says headhunter David Archer

Ex-Cabinet Office minister defends lack of contingency planning – but acknowledges dearth of trade deal expertise

Sir Andrew Cahn says seismic shifts in departmental structures risk significantly delaying crucial post-EU referendum policy work.

Cabinet secretary gives nod to existing Brexit unit as he calls on civil service "to ensure everyday business of government and providing public services goes on"

Foreign secretary tells MPs that government wanted to avoid making "an unwarranted intervention in the course of the campaign" over Britain's place in the European Union

Former civil servant's report into 2003 Iraq war finds that key departments involved in planning for the aftermath of the US-led invasion failed to share vital advice – with cabinet frequently sidelined

Oliver Letwin tells Foreign Affairs committee that the Brexit unit has no budgetary constraints so far, though it currently only exists in “virtual” form

Former civil servant's report into 2003 Iraq war to make the case for "really careful challenge, analysis and assessment"

Former Navy chief launches scathing attack on the government, accusing it of being unprepared for Britain electing to leave the EU, amid calls for a new Strategic Defence and Security Review 

 Law firm Mishcon de Reya says it would be unlawful for a prime minister to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without a full debate and vote in parliament.

Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee says response to Britain's vote to quit the EU is "a very important moment for the civil service" — and says he wants to defeat critics waiting for Whitehall to fudge its handling of Brexit

“This is the time for civil servants to show what they can do," Vicky Pryce tells CSW

Christopher Jary remembers the civil servants who volunteered to fight for their country in the Great War as recalled in Jill Knight’s book, The Civil Service Rifles in the Great War: ‘All Bloody Gentlemen’

Communities and Local Government permanent secretary tells CSW departments must not “hunker down” as new team seeks brightest and best civil servants to lead work on UK’s exit from the European Union

No international court is going to insist that the UK government must submit the UK to a process laid down in a treaty our voters have just rejected, says the chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs select committee