The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

The PM is treading the perilous path of indulging Suella Braverman and her allies on the Conservative hard right, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

Many people realise that Boris Johnson is a dishonest chancer who lacks any real convictions, said David Gauke in The New Statesman. Less obvious – at least to those outside Whitehall – is “quite how extraordinarily inept he was at performing some of the basic functions of being prime minister”.…

Jacob Rees-Mogg blamed the Whitehall ‘blob’ for the delay

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove urged the Labour leader to ‘fess up’ about when he first approached the partygate investigator.

Labour leader’s spokesperson says Gray will become chief of staff even if watchdog recommends long delay to start date

The row over senior civil servant and Partygate investigator Sue Gray’s appointment as chief of staff for the Labour Party has further intensified, with allies insisting that she is facing “a political witch hunt” over an inquiry into her departure from Whitehall.

Department is worst for publishing spending data, records show, with ministers apparently in breach of guidelines

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves accused the Government of pursuing a ‘vendetta’ against the former senior civil servant.

Ministers are pursuing a “vendetta” against partygate investigator Sue Gray, Labour has claimed, as the row intensified over her appointment as Sir Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff.