All posts tagged: Whitehall

why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting process. Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these revelations. Mandelson was controversial long before Starmer appointed him in 2024. A New Labour figure known as the “prince of darkness” due to his reputation as an adept but often ruthless and underhand political operator, Mandelson had already been embroiled in a number of scandals involving allegations of corruption. He was also known to have had a close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as close business links in China. Starmer fired him in September 2025 after emails were released showing Mandelson offering supportive messages to Epstein, who faced charges of soliciting a minor at the time. Further emails released by US officials suggested that Mandelson might have passed privileged and market-sensitive information to Epstein during the fallout of the financial crisis. …

End of advisory boards gives Whitehall ‘monopoly on wisdom’

End of advisory boards gives Whitehall ‘monopoly on wisdom’

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Most behind-closed-doors meetings that once analysed plans for the future of schools have already been canned, Schools Week can reveal, as ministers prepare to scrap the controversial gatherings entirely.  One regional advisory board has not assembled in the past 14 months, prompting one leader to note that some groups “have essentially ceased to exist”.  But, with the meetings – which are designed to inform officials on the decisions – due to end this month, the government has been warned that it risks handing civil servants a “monopoly on wisdom”. Mark Boylan, a Sheffield Hallam University professor of education, said: “Whatever the issues with the composition of advisory boards in the past and the lack of representation of community schools, at least they were senior leaders who understood how schools work, the process of transferring schools, supporting schools. “The regional officers do not have really detailed, close local knowledge of all the schools in their region – nor could they.”  Rulings ‘in isolation’ Advisory boards consist of current and former academy bosses …

Jack Whitehall condemned for ‘classist’ jokes at Brit Awards ceremony in Manchester

Jack Whitehall condemned for ‘classist’ jokes at Brit Awards ceremony in Manchester

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Jack Whitehall has been criticised for making a number of jokes taking aim at Manchester as the city hosted the Brit Awards for the first time in the ceremony’s history. The comedian returned to host the annual awards show at the Co-Op Live arena, having previously fronted the ceremony when it was held at the O2 Arena in London. Some accused the privately educated Whitehall of classism, as he made jokes about drug use in Manchester as well as making digs at people from Preston, while also mocking a man in the audience for his suit, which he suggested was not Prada but rather “100 per cent polyester”. He also suggested that Manchester’s idea of black tie was the brand Stone Island, known for its casualwear. “Can Jack Whitehall make a joke that isn’t classist god,” one viewer shared. Another said: “Jack Whitehall …

View from My Sofa: Jack Whitehall

View from My Sofa: Jack Whitehall

Published by Daniella Wilson

Add the Brit Awards 2026 to your watchlist What’s the view from your sofa? It’s now a television that has Peppa Pig or Bluey on all the time on rotation in a kitchen/living area that is just absolute carnage because we have a toddler [two-year-old Elsie]. Dolls and toys are strewn hither and thither. It’s like watching television in a brightly coloured, sensory overloading war zone. What have you been enjoying watching amid the carnage recently? I’m away from my family [filming The Fifth Wheel and launching The ‘Burbs in Los Angeles] so last night I binge-watched the Netflix documentary Take That, whichI really enjoyed. On my own, in America, tired and jetlagged, I was getting rather glassy-eyed about Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams falling out. It’s still raw, it still hurts. Who controls the remote control at home in London? My fiancée [model Roxy Horner]. I start a lot of series with her and then get pulled away for work and travel. I’ve seen one episode of [Apple TV’s] Pluribus and the first four …

Whitehall Decision Making Procedure Could Be Overhauled To Stop Delays

Whitehall Decision Making Procedure Could Be Overhauled To Stop Delays

Published by Sam Flores

3 min read13 November Exclusive: The government is looking at shaking up Whitehall’s ‘write-round’ process as part of its bid to speed up decision-making, PoliticsHome understands. A write-round is when ministers reach decisions through written correspondence, instead of an in-person meeting of cabinet or a cabinet committee. The minister seeking a decision sends a proposal to other relevant ministers, requesting their approval. If any disagrees with the proposal, they can respond in writing to the relevant cabinet committee chair, explaining their objection.  The process is designed to ensure that there is government-wide agreement on cross-departmental issues. However, PoliticsHome understands there is growing frustration within the Keir Starmer administration that the process in its current form creates needless delays.  Officials complain that it is often an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle to clear, as disagreements between departments over contentious issues are worked out prior to the write-round process, and sometimes delay decisions by several weeks. Possible reform of the write-round process is thought to be part of a wider conversation within the Labour government about changes to how Whitehall works.  Starmer is believed to have become frustrated with how long it …