Great to chat to @TevyeMarkson about my latest @instituteforgov explainer on diversity in the civil service - including data showing that, for the first time, 'no religion' is now the largest faith category in the civil service. https://t.co/jTOPwGjznf

My latest for @onlinehyphen. Thousands of older and less tech-literate people could end up stranded abroad if they leave the UK after 31 December 2024 because of the transition to a new digital visa system, campaigners and an MP have warned. 🧵 https://t.co/WcE7fhnGMM

I spoke to government counter-fraud boss Mark Cheeseman about improving cross-government capability, insider fraud and how his organisation is modernising counter-fraud work https://t.co/hSoMXwWQ62

The next head of the civil service will need a rare mix of skills, the most important being the ability to rebuild trust, says @AlexGAThomas

Great to speak to @TevyeMarkson about fast stream recruitment. Welcome news that applications are back up – yet still 26% fewer than in 2021. But there are some warning signs around representation, esp. for ethnic minorities & those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 1/5

After three years of falling Civil Service Fast Stream applications, there was a resurgence this year, check out the article below for more 👇 https://t.co/9VCvtMlgrx

Mini-scoop: The government has opened recruitment for its next chief commercial officer SEVEN months after announcing Gareth Rhys Williams would depart. Rhys Williams has now fully left the job having agreed to stay on part-time while replacement was found https://t.co/pG3k6N7MbF

EXCL: Former permanent secretary Michael Bichard calls on cabinet secretary to apologise for Windrush, Grenfell, Post Office, infected blood and Hillsborough scandals

I spoke to colleagues of Keir Starmer during his CPS days as director of public prosecutions to find out what he was like as a boss, what sort of PM he might be and more 👇 https://t.co/g5PWOhyYun

Read the rest of the interview here:

"And eventually he said, ‘Peter, you’re going to have to stop. You’re telling me about the state of the public finances, but I can see it’s even worse than you say because the Treasury can’t even afford handles for your coffee cups.’”

“The coffee arrived on a saucer but I was too anxious to take my eyes off the new minister so I didn’t notice anything – until I finally realised that he was looking down at his ‘cup’ and trying to work out how to pick it up. And I thought ‘Oh, gosh’, but I kept talking.

"But in their nervousness, they poured the coffee into an empty sugar bowl, which looked exactly the same as the coffee cups except for the fact it didn’t have a handle.

"Here was the first Labour chief secretary in 18 years. Everyone was very nervous. He and I sat down to work through a thick file of briefing papers while my private office colleagues went to make him some coffee.

Peter Schofield on the Late Alistair Darling: "He always managed to lighten the mood at the times when that was needed. On his very first day as chief secretary to the Treasury in 1997 I was running his private office.

Looking for some light relief on election day? Here's a tale of a very minor mishap involving the current DWP perm sec welcoming a new minister in 1997🧵

@CIPFA @ian_c_elliott @karinbottom @RussGlennon @UofGPolicy @INLOGOV @news_ub @mmu_business @UlsterUni "There's a lot of potential here for something really positive to happen if there is the political will and the leadership to make it happen" — @ian_c_elliott For a deeper dive into the research, check out this great piece by @TevyeMarkson for @CSWnews ⬇️ https://t.co/9UG7cwPhTJ

BREAKING: PCS issues legal action warning to MoD over Rwanda scheme https://t.co/Rs7vCSljfk

Just look at all these perm secs in one place! And that’s just the icing on the cake agenda-wise for Public Technology Live. It’s a one-day conference organised by @CSWnews’ sister title @PublicTech and you’ve still got a week to register! More info here: https://t.co/fjMOmsYpJU

Amid all the 'wokery' noise this week, I'd like to talk about WHY people wear rainbow lanyards and why it matters. Are you a civil servant that wears one? Want to write for @CSWnews on what it means to you? Can be anonymous - drop me a DM 🏳️‍🌈