Leadership

Jon Thompson has brought openness to change and challenges to the post of HMRC chief executive. The one-time apprentice tells Richard Johnstone how he’s still learning as the head of one of government’s biggest departments

The Treasury solicitor from 2006 to 2014 died on Monday 26 February. His successor at the Government Legal Department and the former cabinet secretary pay tribute to this exemplary civil servant and friend

A flagship industrial policy has made government think afresh about how it should support the economy. But will the plan have the staying power to influence decisions in the years to come?

Spring Statement reaction highlights most civil servants not covered by public sector pay review bodes face pay uncertainty despite possible deal for NHS staff

Data from 2013 to 2016 shows a decrease in applicants from private schools, yet an increase in successful private school applicants

Inquiry finds relationship between senior officials and ministers has been further fractured by Brexit debate

Possible change criticised by former Treasury perm sec Nick Macpherson as “trashing history”

United Nations accepts proposal for ONS-led team to build evidence on shared challenges related to ageing

Officials continue to serve the public interest despite DExEU’s Mr Lover Lover and a dodgy double act in the Commons

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Devolved administration perm sec reveals talks as Cabinet Office outlines powers set to be initially retained in Whitehall after Brexit

Government “must not be naïve enough to assume that a verbal agreement to maintain the status quo constitutes a watertight guarantee” says select committee

Julie Taylor is committed to the civil service’s apprenticeship strategy and tells us more about its ambition and success

Weather service’s deputy Nick Jobling to take over until a permanent chief executive is appointed

Civil service unions urge politicians to give workers same rights to fair pay that they enjoy

Public Accounts Committee calls for a framework tracking number of contracts companies hold across government

Government refutes Public Accounts Committee suggestion it is being reckless on potential for hard exit from EU

Former DIT permanent secretary calls for the Brexit debate to focus on the evidence, following personal criticism from international trade secretary Liam Fox

Jeremy Richardson explains how the British policy-making style has been steadily shifting away from governance and towards government, and why Brexit should usher in a return to the former

Foreign and Commonwealth Office to remove all avoidable single-use plastics from UK estate by end of year

Officials outlined changes to rail franchising and told MPs trade unions refused to engage over Govia Thameslink franchise

Former international trade permanent secretary Martin Donnelly to give speech undermining Brexit vision of Liam Fox 

Official watchdog investigation also revealed former universities minister Jo Johnson interfered in recruitment process 

Hundreds mourn the former Treasury solicitor described as “screamingly funny”, a pioneer and an inspirational leader