Europe

Zina Etheridge, Chief Executive, London Borough of Haringey: Exclusive Interview

Local authority officials often take jobs in central government, but few senior civil servants make the shift to council roles. The UK’s Zina Etheridge has travelled in both directions: she […]

UK civil service chief exec calls for officials to focus on the ‘how’, not the ‘what’

With civil servants under fire in the policy maelstrom of Brexit, John Manzoni wants officials to step away and concentrate on building delivery skills. Liz Heron hears his take on […]

Don’t let your procurement hit the buffers

In the wake of the collapse of the UK’s huge contractor Carillion, new concerns are being raised about the weaknesses in public procurement and contracting. Former senior supplier manager James […]

Sir Robert Devereux, outgoing Permanent Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions, UK: Exclusive Interview

Over seven years, the head of Britain’s benefits services has pushed through a vast set of policies and reforms – but it’s been a difficult journey. His experience has clear […]

Building better public-private partnerships

Since entering the mainstream as the UK’s Private Finance Initiative, public-private partnerships have had a mixed track record – and this week’s collapse of PFI construction firm Carillion has further […]

Opinion: The Mladic convictions are a victory for international justice – but overall, the agenda is going backwards

Last month, the Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes including genocide. But Nadina Ronc fears that his conviction may represent a high water […]

Making innovation normal

At a major conference on innovation in government, delegates learned new ways to rebuild public trust, how civil servants are using behavioural economics – and why innovation is like bungie-jumping. […]

UK infrastructure chief champions city connections – and condemns Brexit disconnections

Linking world cities to smaller conurbations through high-speed rail can boost wider economic growth, Lord Adonis told a London audience this month. But the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission […]

Tackling the foundations of corruption

For years, anti-corruption activists have concentrated on improving enforcement and transparency. But critics of this approach argue that more systemic change is required: Gavin O’Toole learns why the ACE programme […]

Gina Miller, businesswoman and campaigner: Exclusive Interview

When Gina Miller forced the UK government to consult Parliament before triggering the process of leaving the EU, she became a hate figure for hardline Brexiteers. Global Government Forum’s Matt Ross […]