The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

Who is Antonia Romeo? Inside the rise of Starmer’s ‘Marmite’ pick to lead UK Civil Service

Former colleagues have praised Dame Antonia as ‘dynamic’ and ‘whip smart’

The Independent UK · Feb 19

Who is Antonia Romeo? Starmer appoints first-ever woman UK cabinet secretary in historic Whitehall moment

In a historic first for Britain’s civil service, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as cabinet secretary, making her the first woman in the role’s 110-year history and placing her at the apex of Whitehall’s powerful administrative machinery.

The Times of India · Feb 19

Starmer’s options in funding a further defence spending rise would be limited

Competing domestic priorities, Treasury borrowing limits and already nervous lenders are among the many obstacles

The Guardian - UK · Feb 16

Who could fill key No 10 vacancies – and win the battle for Starmer’s ear?

Everyone around PM agrees ‘chaos’ at No 10 has to be sorted, but there are competing factions trying to gain upper hand

The Guardian - UK · Feb 10

Palestine Action latest: Labour MPs hit out at Starmer’s ‘draconian’ ban after High Court rules it unlawful

The Metropolitan Police said it will no longer arrest protesters despite proscription remaining in place

The Independent UK · Feb 8

The 14 most explosive emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson

The extraordinary revelations appear to lay bare the extent of the professional and personal relationship between the paedophile financier and the ex-Labour minister

The Independent UK · Feb 3

Safe Haven review – Kurds left on the sidelines of diplomat-driven drama

Chris Bowers, a former British diplomat in Iraqi Kurdistan, brings authenticity but not enough human drama to his play about the 1991 Kurdish uprising

The Guardian - UK · Jan 21

Starmer’s chief secretary reveals plans to bust ‘the sludge’ in Whitehall

Under-performing civil servants will be sacked and taskforces brought in to solve problems, says Darren Jones

The Guardian - UK · Jan 20

UK to create new ‘school of government’ to train senior civil servants

Establishment will give training in AI and other skills, more than a decade after David Cameron axed previous school

The Guardian - UK · Jan 18

Northern Powerhouse Rail plans welcomed but big questions remain

How upgrades will be funded and when they might be completed is still far from clear

The Guardian - UK · Jan 14