Podcasts about Civil service

Preview for Later Today: Bob Zimmerman updates the status of the SaxaVord Spaceport launch window for the German rocket RFA One. Despite the announcement, he questions if the UK's permanent civil service will actually permit this sovereign orbital attempt.

The Deputy Governor says the Civil Service is looking to innovate as it serves a growing population; if you're flying between July 16th and 21st, heads up...you  may be affected by the planned SpaceX Starship Flight Test 13; and 55 employees at the Department of Environmental Health's Solid Waste Facility weigh in at the first on-site Health, Safety and Environment Culture Survey.

Coming up in the news: A confirmed case of Legionnaires' disease has triggered water system testing and remediation efforts at the hospital. A not guilty verdict for Neville Antonio Faulkner brings to an end a case stemming from emails sent after his property was condemned by the Department of Planning.Deputy Governor Gloria McField Nixon says technology and organisational reform will help the Civil Service keep pace with Cayman's growing population. That and more in your evening news

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In this special edition of the CSCEN podcast, Paula Daina interviews Toby Park, Director of Climate, Energy & Sustainability at BIT.The discussion covers behavioural science insights such as the EAST (Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely) framework and individual VS system-level behaviour change.  Guest BioToby leads the energy, environment and sustainability work at BIT, covering topics as diverse as energy, water, mobility, food systems, and circular economy. His expertise lies in the psychology of environmental action at the individual and societal level. Most recently he has been advising the UK government on the public engagement and behavioural dimensions of its Net Zero Strategy.  Connect With UsJoin the conversation: environment.network@energysecurity.gov.ukCSCEN website: Civil Service Climate + Environment Network | CSCEN OnlineDisclaimerThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent those of the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network or the Civil Service. The material and information presented here are for general information purposes only.

SCOTUS has sent down some seriously important decisions. Today we discuss Trump v Barbara, the Birthright Citizenship case, including its errors and how it can be handled.Next we tackle Trump v Slaughter, the case that will allow Trump to actually Drain the Swamp by firing resisters. Paired with that is Trump v Cook, where the Court demonstrates cognitive dissonance with the Fed.Finally, our remaining time covers three gun cases, Hemani, Wolford, and Viramontes. The first was a surprising total victory for the Second Amendment. Wolford told Hawaii that the spirit of aloha wasn't a legal principle, with another solid 2A victory. And the in the third, the Court decided to hear a gun ban case, which should yield us a big win next year.

Coming up in the news:A new Auditor General report shows public service pay hit $3.1 billion over five years. Two Grand Court jury trials began to wrap as juries are set to begin deliberations as early as tomorrow. Plus, the Portfolio of the Civil Service gets a new Chief Officer. And, the government wants your opinion on cannabis legislation reform. That and more in your evening news.

The PCS union is calling for Capita to lose its contract to administer the Civil Service Pensions scheme six months after it took over. It follows problems which have seen thousands of retired civil servants waiting months for pension payments. The Union says it would like the contract to be managed by the government instead. Capita says it is making progress on getting things 'back to normal levels' and that it's got extra trained staff working on the backlog.Why is the take-up of child benefit, which is worth at least £1,400 per year, at its lowest level for more than twenty years? HMRC says it works with 'many partners' to promote take-up and provide information to new parents in hospitals across the UK. But what else can be done?A debt advice provider calls for a new social energy tariff to give cheaper gas and electricity to those on lower incomes, ahead of price rises in July.And, the new rare bank note to celebrate Scotland qualifying for the World Cup for first time in more than 25 years.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Hannah Mullane and Jo Krasner Researcher: Catherine Lund Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 30th May 2026)

In CI News this week: Parents and church leaders in England and Wales could be criminalised under a planned ‘conversion practices' Bill, a parliamentary committee in Ireland backs liberalising the country's drug laws, and Northern Ireland's Civil Service has called a halt to official participation in LGBT Pride. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Govt publishes controversial draft ‘conversion practices' Bill Oireachtas committee pushes to decriminalise heroin and cocaine for personal use NI Civil Service imposes staff ‘Pride' parade ban

Nolan talks to Scott Cuthbertson, Rainbow Project CEO and DUP MLA Peter Martin

The Madison Metropolitan School District adopts a plan to address teacher salary compression, Group Health Cooperative members vote on a board of directors through June 25th as its workers continue to organize to join SEIU Wisconsin, a CWA local president responds to the indictments and arrest raids of 15 anti-ICE activists in Minnesota, UAW at its convention votes to divest itself of Israel bonds, Black Resilience: Celebrating Our History and Presence is the theme of this year's Juneteenth, it's the 121st birthday of Wisconsin's civil service system and a state worker explains its importance, UAW members ratify a new contract by 80% after a 10-day strike at Dauch (the former American Axle), and a Trump executive order strips civil protections from a tier of federal employees.

Senate Democrats are urging a federal appeals court to reverse a decision upholding the firings of two immigration judges at the Department of Justice. The lawmakers warn that the previous ruling from the Merit Systems Protection Board could give the president much broader firing powers over many civil servants. The Democrats' new amicus brief follows a previous request in the same court case for a full-bench appeals court hearing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How does a Chief Scientific Adviser envision the future of climate action?  In this special episode, CSCEN's Cate Bone caught up with Professor Patricia Thornley after her panel: The CSA Perspective at the 2026 CSCEN Conference.  We discussed how Professor Thornley sees her role as Department for Transport's Chief Scientific Adviser, how her academic work shapes her approach, and what she wants the public to know about the role transport plays in tackling the climate crisis.  Professor Patricia Thornley is a research leader in sustainable fuels. She has led the national research programme in bioenergy (UKRI Supergen Bioenergy Hub) for 14 years. Previous work includes leading on fuel scale up in the Clean Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and environmental assessment in the NewJet aviation project. Patricia continues to lead an EPSRC & BBSRC funded centre for doctoral training on negative emission technologies to remove greenhouse gases from atmosphere across Aston, Nottingham, Warwick and Queen's University, Belfast. She was appointed Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department for Transport in February 2026. Connect With Us: Join the conversation: ⁠⁠environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk⁠⁠ CSCEN website:  ⁠⁠Civil Service Climate + Environment Network | CSCEN Online⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network or the Civil Service. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only 

Lors de l'émission Parlman Lepep diffusée le 12 mai sur Top FM, Narendranath Gopee, négociateur de la Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU), avait évoqué un malaise au sein de la fonction publique. Le lendemain, le ministre de la Fonction publique, Raj Pentiah, a souhaité intervenir à son tour sur le plateau de Top FM dans l'émission Hard Talk. À la suite des échanges et des critiques formulées, Narendranath Gopee a réclamé un droit de réponse à la radio. Le négociateur syndical affirme que le ministre aurait tenu des propos « déplacés », notamment en l'accusant de faire du lobbying pour l'entrée de sa fille dans la fonction publique. Narendranath Gopee a invité le ministre Raj Pentiah à préciser publiquement avec qui ce supposé lobbying aurait été effectué. Le syndicaliste estime que le ministre « s'est trompé de cible ». Narendranath Gopee a également lancé un appel à un face-à-face sur Top FM avec Raj Pentiah pour discuter des enjeux de la fonction publique. Il lui a soumis quatre questions qu'il souhaite voir abordées. Parmi ces interrogations figurent notamment des questions sur des bourses et sur les résultats obtenus par le ministre depuis sa prise de fonction il y a environ 18 mois.

How does the Climate Change Committee approach external affairs and communications? What can we learn from other countries when planning for future climate policies in the UK? In this special edition of the podcast, CSCEN's Millie Cave explores these questions and more with the Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Director of External Affairs Sophie Vipond. This podcast was recorded live at the annual CSCEN conference. Guest Bio:Sophie Vipond is a communications and engagement specialist. She is currently the Director of External Affairs at the CCC. She has recently led on the communications strategy for the UK's 7th Carbon Budget (which we also discuss in this episode) and the upcoming 'Well Adapted UK' report. Highly experienced in global climate policy, she also co-chairs the International Climate Council Network's Communications Working Group. Connect With Us:Join the conversation: ⁠⁠⁠environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk⁠⁠⁠CSCEN website:  ⁠⁠⁠Civil Service Climate + Environment Network | CSCEN Online⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network or the Civil Service. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only

Keir Starmer is (currently!) vowing to lead Britain through its current crisis — but are his supporters falling away? James Lyons, Starmer's former Director of Communications at Number 10, joins Julia to dissect the Prime Minister's extraordinary resilience — or delusion, depending on who you ask. With U-turns piling up, MPs briefing against him, and a leadership circus consuming Westminster, Lyons gives an insider's view of the man at the centre of it all.Then it's the by-election that has been branded the ‘most significant in 50 years'. Andy Burnham is heading to Makerfield — a seat that voted 65% for Brexit, where Reform swept the recent local elections. Is this a bold political gamble to prove he can beat Reform UK… or a catastrophic miscalculation? And did Wes Streeting's comments about wanting to rejoin the EU deliberately torpedo Burnham's chances before he's even on the ballot?Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, makes the case that his party are throwing everything at Makerfield — and explains why he thinks the Tories are simply irrelevant. He also faces tough questions on Nigel Farage's undisclosed £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbour, the Standards Commissioner investigation, and whether Reform can actually govern if civil servants go on strike.Plus: TikTok censors a Reform immigration video using the Online Safety Act — and Julia asks whether Nadine Dorries has repented for helping create it.Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM.Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Our third webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The third Whitehall Monitor webinar – the final in a three-part series exploring the IfG's annual flagship report on the civil service – took a deeper look at the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale, and considers the crucial role of, and challenges facing, civil service leadership today. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Tom Fitzlucas, People and Change Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the IfG. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.

Our third webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The third Whitehall Monitor webinar – the final in a three-part series exploring the IfG's annual flagship report on the civil service – took a deeper look at the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale, and considers the crucial role of, and challenges facing, civil service leadership today. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Tom Fitzlucas, People and Change Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the IfG. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After another difficult week for the Prime Minister, the Times' Patrick Maguire discusses his position. The ceasefires continue but what is happening with talks to end the hostilities in the Middle East? We have international peace negotiator Nomi Bar Yaakov on the programme. Education is fully devolved yet little has been said about it during the Senedd campaign. Lucy Crehan from the Centre for Education Systems and the general secretary of the teaching union UCAC talk about the new curriculum for Wales. Most parties claim to have fully costed manifestos, but are their financial plans workable? Guto Ifan from the Wales Governance Centres takes us through the figures. Des Clifford is a former civil servant and has published a booklet called Slouching Toward Cardiff Bay. He's with us to discuss the past 27 years of devolution and the challenges ahead for the next Senedd.And in the last in our series of leader interviews, Labour's Eluned Morgan joins us.

As the Mandelson vetting affair rumbles on, the pod takes a look at how damaging the sacking of Olly Robbins and the briefing wars that have followed it are for relations between government and Whitehall. Labour came into power saying they would repair the destruction caused by the Tories to how the civil service operates, but Keir Starmer's comments about mandarins being too comfortable in the ‘tepid bath of managed decline', along with the sacking of two Cabinet Secretaries, have left that seriously in doubt even before the past week's problems.To discuss all that host Alain Tolhurst is joined by Lord Robin Butler, a former head of the civil service having served as Cabinet Secretary for a decade, as well as being private secretary to five Prime Ministers.Alongside him are Hannah Keenan, associate director at the Institute for Government, and a former civil servant in the Cabinet Office, as well as Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, the trade union for senior civil servants, and Suzannah Brecknell, co-editor of PolHome's sister title and Whitehall bible, Civil Service World.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

After Keir Starmer's statement to the Commons and gripping evidence from the sacked top civil servant Olly Robbins, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about how the story of Peter Mandelson's vetting for his job as UK ambassador to the US, which was first broken by the Guardian last Thursday, has unfolded this week. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Today, Keir Starmer has sent a "real chill throughout the civil service." That's according to a senior union official following his decision to sack the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins.James and Chris are joined by Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, Catherine Haddon, to discuss the recent turbulence in the relationship between the government and the Civil Service over the appointment of Peter Mandelson and whats next for the institution.And, economics editor Faisal also joins us to discuss why the inflation rate has increased 3.3% in March. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Chris Gray with Jem Westgate. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Éamonn Donnelly, head of the Civil Service division of Fórsa, says something needs to be done quickly about getting people into work during the fuel crisis.He wants the Department to look at cutting back on in-office attendance and offering some support to help cover the cost of commuting when people do have to come in.What do you think? Should more people be encouraged to work from home to save on fuel and help ease traffic on Irish roads?Joining Andrea to discuss is Media Relations Director with Fórsa, Niall Shannahan, Chief Business Officer at Arachas Insurance Brokers and Chair of the Employment Law Association of Ireland, Julie Galbraith, and listeners.

The Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal has finally given his side of the story in an explosive appearance before MPs. Olly Robbins told the foreign affairs select committee that he faced ‘constant pressure' to get Mandelson in post as US ambassador as soon as possible, and claimed Downing Street took a ‘dismissive' attitude to vetting. It came a day after Keir Starmer accused Robbins of ‘obstructing the truth' about the vetting process in a high-stakes appearance in parliament. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's political editor, Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sir Keir Starmer's relationship with the civil service has broken down following the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins.The former top civil servant at the Foreign Office told parliament there was a "dismissive approach" to security vetting from No 10, but the prime minister maintains it was Robbins who made "an error of judgement".So, what's at stake when the inner workings of government grind to a halt?Lord Peter Ricketts, who is also a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, joins Niall to discuss what happens when things go wrong and whether Starmer can repair relations with the civil servants who deliver his mandate, before it's too late.Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show: why@sky.uk

Public Health confirms a case of mild cholera in the Cayman Islands; Cayman's next Deputy Governor met with the Civil Service on Wednesday; and the Department of Agriculture and the power company are partnering on a new way to turn tree trimmings into a resource for Cayman's farmers.

The second webinar in our three-part series focusing on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Becky Noble, Public Services AI Lead at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.

The second webinar in our three-part series focusing on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Becky Noble, Public Services AI Lead at PA Consulting  Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, has published a list of objectives setting out her vision for what the civil service will look like under her. Many have interpreted it as her tightening control over government ... especially since Darren Jones stepped back from his Downing Street role. The path is clear for her to become the Prime Minister's ‘principal policy adviser', and to reform the civil service ‘so that it is recognisable for excellence in delivery, innovation and improved productivity'.Is this all just word salad, or is she onto something?James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and former Foreign Office diplomat Ameer Kotecha.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The first Whitehall Monitor webinar – kicking off a three-part series exploring the IfG's annual flagship report on the civil service – looked at the context in which much needed strategic workforce planning should be taking place: how the size and shape of the civil service has changed in the past year, against a backdrop of multiple exit schemes and a complex recruitment landscape. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Daniel Howes, Research Assistant at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Liz Tolcher, Associate Partner – Skills & Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.

Our first webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The first Whitehall Monitor webinar – kicking off a three-part series exploring the IfG's annual flagship report on the civil service – looked at the context in which much needed strategic workforce planning should be taking place: how the size and shape of the civil service has changed in the past year, against a backdrop of multiple exit schemes and a complex recruitment landscape. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Daniel Howes, Research Assistant at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Liz Tolcher, Associate Partner – Skills & Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG's annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The history of the American federal civil service — what can we learn from its past glories and failures, and where should we take this next? We have ⁠Kevin Hawickhorst⁠ of the Foundation for American Innovation to discuss: The Pendleton Act myth — Why civil service reform didn't begin or end with Pendleton, and why starting the story there misses what actually made the system work. The rise of the subject-matter state — How early 20th-century agencies staffed with real experts — entomologists, engineers, agronomists — made the U.S. bureaucracy arguably the most capable in the world. From expertise to org charts — How mid-century functional reorganization hollowed out mission-driven agencies and replaced subject knowledge with process management. What competence delivered — From agricultural breakthroughs to infrastructure build-out, what a serious, technically grounded civil service was able to accomplish. Whether we can rebuild — DOGE, the abundance movement, state capacity, and why this might be the best time in decades to make the government work again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The history of the American federal civil service — what can we learn from its past glories and failures, and where should we take this next? We have ⁠Kevin Hawickhorst⁠ of the Foundation for American Innovation to discuss: The Pendleton Act myth — Why civil service reform didn't begin or end with Pendleton, and why starting the story there misses what actually made the system work. The rise of the subject-matter state — How early 20th-century agencies staffed with real experts — entomologists, engineers, agronomists — made the U.S. bureaucracy arguably the most capable in the world. From expertise to org charts — How mid-century functional reorganization hollowed out mission-driven agencies and replaced subject knowledge with process management. What competence delivered — From agricultural breakthroughs to infrastructure build-out, what a serious, technically grounded civil service was able to accomplish. Whether we can rebuild — DOGE, the abundance movement, state capacity, and why this might be the best time in decades to make the government work again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The number of emergency hardship loans issued to former civil servants who are facing long delays for pension payments is "pitiful" according to a senior MP. Clive Betts, the deputy chair of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, has told Money Box the loan system is "not adequate" after figures published for the first time earlier this week show fewer than 600 have been issued - compared to many thousands of people who are missing money. The Cabinet Office says an urgent recovery plan is underway and its immediate priority is to stabilise the service. Capita have previously apologised for the delays.Nearly one in five adults now use Buy Now, Pay Later - instead of paying the whole cost upfront with a debit or credit card you can spread the cost interest free over three or four monthly payments. At one time it was young people driving the rise. But some new research from the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol (commissioned by the Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust) suggests Buy Now, Pay Later is now spreading to older people. The number using it in their forties and sixties has grown by a third, with the biggest rise in the last two years among people in their fifties with the number using it up by half.And, as a rare Pokémon card sells for 12 million pounds at auction - what's the appeal for collectors - and what should you think about when buying them?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Jo Krasner and Niamh McDermott Editor: Jess Quayle Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson(First broadcast Saturday 28th February 2026)

In this episode of The Winston Marshall Show, I sit down with former Foreign Office official Ameer Kotecha, who spent more than a decade inside the British government before walking away and speaking out about what he describes as the ideological capture of our institutions.After eleven years in the Foreign Office, Kotecha explains why he chose to leave, and why he believes a new political orthodoxy has taken hold across the civil service. He describes how diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, identity politics, and what critics call the “woke mind virus” have increasingly shaped the culture inside government departments.The conversation explores how internal training programmes, bureaucratic incentives, and institutional groupthink can influence policy-making, and why dissenting voices inside the system often feel unable to speak openly. We discuss the growing divide between political leadership and the permanent civil service, and whether the British state has become resistant to democratic change.We also debate the future of Britain's institutions, the role of the civil service in a democracy, and whether meaningful reform is possible once an ideology becomes embedded inside government.A revealing conversation about power, bureaucracy, and what happens when political ideology begins to reshape the machinery of the state.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WATCH EXTENDED CONVERSATION HERE: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/publish/post/191279464?r=18lfab&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:25 Inside the Civil Service: Bureaucracy and “Corporate” Culture04:22 Kabul Falls — While Officials Celebrate “World Afro Day”06:47 The Rise of DEI and Identity Politics Inside the Foreign Office10:00 The Hidden Cost of Diversity Bureaucracy13:01 Ethnic Minority Programmes and Institutional Patronising15:00 Net Zero Ideology Inside British Foreign Policy18:28 The FCDO Merger and How Aid Reshaped the Foreign Office23:40 Global Aid vs “Britain First” Diplomacy27:44 Is There a Silent Majority in the Civil Service?30:36 The Civil Service “Blob” and Perverse Incentives34:06 Recruitment Without Expertise: How the System Works37:17 Why Foreign Office Experts Get Replaced Every Two Years38:55 Starmer Government Changes Inside the Foreign Office44:40 Britain, Israel and the Collapse of Diplomacy51:12 Aid to Gaza and the Risk of Hamas Diversion54:28 The Israeli Psyche After October 757:19 Russia, Ukraine and the Reality of British Military Power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill of Sherborne GCMG FRGS, is a is cross-bench peer and a member of Parliament's Joint Committee on national security. Lord Sedwill is Chair of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and of the Atlantic & Pacific Future Forums (APFF). He is a non-executive director of Rothschild & Co (R&Co) and of Hakluyt, and a senior adviser for McKinsey, Temasek and Rasmussen Global.Lord Sedwill is President of the Special Forces Club and of the Special Boat Service Association, a Vice-President of the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charities (RNRMC), and an Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines. He is President of the Civil Service Retirement Association, and a Trustee of St Andrews University and of the RNLI.Lord Sedwill chaired the 2021 G7 Panel on Global Economic Resilience. He was Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Civil Service (2018-20), National Security Adviser (2017-20), Permanent Secretary at the Home Office (2013-17), and British Ambassador and NATO Representative in Afghanistan (2009-11). Before that he had a diplomatic and security career serving in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan. He was educated at St Andrews and Oxford Universities.Lord Sedwill is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Institute of Directors, an Honorary Fellow of Oxford University and of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He is an Honorary Doctor of Laws of St Andrews University, and an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple. He is also the recipient of several other awards and honours for national and international public service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

节目简介｜Episode Description｜エピソード紹介中文 这几年，在中国，“考公”越来越火。越来越多的人选择参加公务员考试，希望获得一份稳定、有保障的工作。为什么公务员考试变得越来越热门？“铁饭碗”这个说法又是什么意思？这一期《五分钟中文》，我们就来聊一聊这个话题。English In recent years, more and more people in China have been taking the civil service exam. Many hope to secure a stable job with reliable benefits. Why has the civil service exam become so popular? And what does the expression “iron rice bowl” mean? In this episode of 5 Minute Chinese, we talk about this social trend and learn a useful Chinese expression.日本語 ここ数年、中国では公務員試験（いわゆる「考公」）を受ける人がますます増えています。多くの人が安定した仕事を求めているからです。なぜ公務員試験はこれほど人気なのでしょうか？また、「鉄飯碗」という言葉はどういう意味なのでしょうか？今回の「5分中国語」では、この話題についてお話しします。#考公 #公务员考试 #铁饭碗 #公务员 #就业 #经济#CivilServiceExam #IronRiceBowl #ChinaJobs #GovernmentJobs发短信给我！ Send me a text!Support the show如果您喜欢我的播客，欢迎通过下方方式表达您的支持。您的支持对我来说是巨大的鼓励。但无论如何，我都很感激有您作为听众。能够每周与您分享几分钟的时光，对我来说是莫大的荣幸。❤️If you enjoy my podcast, you're welcome to show your support through the options below. Your support means a great deal to me and is a huge source of encouragement. But no matter what, I'm truly grateful to have you as a listener. It's an honor to share a few minutes with you each week!❤️ ☕

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Debt charity StepChange says its research suggests around 2.5mn people who have debt on a credit card have paid more in interest, fees and charges over the past 18 months than they have repaid off the debt itself. Its survey of 6,000 adults, done by the polling organisation YouGov, found 1 in 20 adults had this persistent credit card debt. Its calling on the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, to improve the lending rules to stop debt building up and and ensure banks are intervening sooner to support customers in difficulty. The FCA says its rules mean that lenders should only provide credit to people who can afford to repay.The government has started a hardship fund because thousands of newly retired civil servants have been kept waiting months for their pensions to be paid. The Public and Commercial Services union, which represents many civil servants, has described the situation as "catastrophic" and is calling for urgent action to put things right. In a joint statement Capita and the Cabinet Office said they are "deeply sorry for the worry, frustration, and distress this has caused." Adding they both take this responsibility "very seriously and are urgently working together to put this right."New figures show that banks are refunding more of the money stolen from customer accounts, following new rules which force them to do so.And as the big lenders offer mortgages worth six times people's salary, what does this mean for borrowers?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth, Jo Krasner and Niamh McDermott Editor: Jess Quayle Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 7th February 2026)

CLOGSAG has fired a warning to government, urging authorities to keep “hands off the civil service” as it rejects recommendations that would allow the Council of State to recruit and vet nominees for the Head of the Civil Service before forwarding binding nominations to the President.

The RUNDOWN S6 E29: Dems in States Seek to Bar ICE Employees From Future Civil Service JobsPlease Support Our Sponsors:HITMAN INDUSTRIES - Visit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hitmanindustries.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY - Visit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cragop.org/⁠USCOMBATGEAR.COM⁠⁠⁠ - Visit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.uscombatgear.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HAWG HOLSTERS - Visit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hawgholsters.com/

From January 28, 2025: In today's episode, Lawfare Senior Editor Alan Z. Rozenshtein speaks with his University of Minnesota Law colleague, Nick Bednar, about the wave of Day 1 executive orders affecting the civil service. Bednar recently analyzed these orders in a piece for Lawfare. They discuss what the orders say, how they might be challenged in court, and what this means for the next four years and beyond.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the civil service ruined Britain. A compilation of clips from our interviews. Join our exclusive TRIGGERnometry community on Substack! https://triggernometry.substack.com/ OR Support TRIGGERnometry Here: Bitcoin: bc1qm6vvhduc6s3rvy8u76sllmrfpynfv94qw8p8d5 Shop Merch here - https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/shop/ Advertise on TRIGGERnometry: marketing@triggerpod.co.uk Find TRIGGERnometry on Social Media: https://twitter.com/triggerpod https://www.facebook.com/triggerpod/ https://www.instagram.com/triggerpod/ About TRIGGERnometry: Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians. 00:07 - Steve Hilton | https://youtu.be/-2rEHpmpV9A?si=8pwEcT4a3cyzeqFd 06:47 - Kemi Badenoch | https://youtu.be/LssEXqQ4HCw?si=kLED5tKh-oNUO40Z 10:00 - Rory Stewart | https://youtu.be/DGhiTZMCc2g?si=0RZW1wKDg8In3isN 12:59 - Steven Edgington | https://youtu.be/4j4tZQswYwc?si=alD8_KEwpiTCfdCe 19:05 - Suella Braverman | https://youtu.be/J7kaAimNFzY?si=r7fD626xkq5n0cUF 22:36 - Liz Truss | https://youtu.be/jqN-B4DVUww?si=Ffae9pdlLPdfjpnx 27:58 - Allister Heath | https://youtu.be/sghscxUnlp8?si=ca-4C1zLamUBaPe_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The woman tipped to be the next head of the UK Civil Service has faced multiple bullying complaints according to reports this morning. The Times newspaper says "there is more than a whiff of misogyny" in the briefings against her. Nuala McGovern hears more about the debate over the possible appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo with Kitty Donaldson, the Chief Political Commentator for the i Newspaper, and Caroline Slocock. Caroline was the first female private secretary to a British Prime Minister when she served alongside Margaret Thatcher.Belle Burden is a former corporate lawyer, a pro bono immigration lawyer, a Harvard graduate and a mother of three, born into American high society. When she got married in 1999, her wedding was announced in the New York Times. Two decades later she broke with convention and published her candid essay on the marriage's sudden rupture, in the long-running New York Times Modern Love series. Now her book Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage has become a New York Times bestseller. Belle Burden joins Nuala live from New York to discuss ghosting, grieving and getting on with life on her own terms.Tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will speak about the plight of women and girls in Sudan at the United Nations Security Council. Stories from the war-torn country are harrowing. Sudan's conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces or RSF. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Nuala is joined BBC's Africa Correspondent, Barbara Plett Usher.Two years ago, Dr Henrietta Hughes, England's first Patient Safety Commissioner, published a report laying out a plan for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh implants. The Hughes report set a deadline for the government, which has just passed without action. Dr Hughes tell Nuala what action she wants to see from the government, and Kath Sansom, the founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign group, tells us how women's lives have been affected.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Sir Chris Wormald stands down as head of Civil Service Jim Ratcliffe sorry language offended some after immigration comments Iran fortifies underground complex near nuclear site, satellite images show Tell parents if pupils question gender at school, government says Lorry driver who made guns and prepared for race war is jailed Church of England abandons proposals for same sex blessing ceremonies We warned nursery about abuser Vincent Chan they dismissed us, parents tell BBC Trump revokes landmark ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health Aberdeen finally sees sunshine for first time since 21 January What to know about bowel cancer and how to spot it

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Lorry driver who made guns and prepared for race war is jailed Jim Ratcliffe sorry language offended some after immigration comments Tell parents if pupils question gender at school, government says We warned nursery about abuser Vincent Chan they dismissed us, parents tell BBC Iran fortifies underground complex near nuclear site, satellite images show Trump revokes landmark ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health Sir Chris Wormald stands down as head of Civil Service What to know about bowel cancer and how to spot it Aberdeen finally sees sunshine for first time since 21 January Church of England abandons proposals for same sex blessing ceremonies

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Church of England abandons proposals for same sex blessing ceremonies Iran fortifies underground complex near nuclear site, satellite images show Jim Ratcliffe sorry language offended some after immigration comments Lorry driver who made guns and prepared for race war is jailed Tell parents if pupils question gender at school, government says Aberdeen finally sees sunshine for first time since 21 January We warned nursery about abuser Vincent Chan they dismissed us, parents tell BBC What to know about bowel cancer and how to spot it Trump revokes landmark ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health Sir Chris Wormald stands down as head of Civil Service

When a PM is in crisis, what do they do? Sack the head of the civil service. Having lost both his Chief of Staff and Director of Communications at the beginning of the week, Keir Starmer resolved to make it a hat-trick by dispensing with the services of his short-serving Cabinet Secretary. The favourite to replace him is Antonia Romeo – currently doing great work at the Home Office, but comes with a series of ‘caveats' concerning historic allegations of bullying and irregularities over expenses when she was in New York. She has been cleared of these and passed the civil service vetting process (with caveats) – although Simon McDonald, the former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, has popped up in the news to warn No. 10 about plans to replace Wormald with Antonia Romeo without a new appointment process.All things considered, Romeo is ‘ballsy and brassy' and currently part of the most successful Secretary of State/mandarin pairing in Westminster, alongside Shabana Mahmood. Could she be exactly what the civil service needs? Would she be the one to drive through some serious ‘change'?James Heale speaks to Tom Shipman and Jill Rutter.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.