Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, demonstrates how people who live longer do not necessarily spend more time in ill health.

Amanda Spielman, former Chief Inspector of Schools, describes how she approached the challenge of impartiality at Ofsted.

Lucy Smith, Heywood Fellow, explains the importance of long-term strategy for the UK – and how other countries may be leading the way.

Matt Bland highlights examples of evidence-based innovation on the front line, and what policy professionals across the Civil Service can learn from this experience.

Catriona Laing explains the importance of blending hard and soft power, inspired by the thinking of Joseph Nye and Jeremy Heywood.

David Halpern, founder of the world’s first behavioural insights unit, says it’s more important than ever that policymakers understand human behaviour.

James Ancell, Head of Futures and Foresight, Joint Data and Analysis Centre, offers practical steps for civil servants to focus more on the longer term.

Tamara Finkelstein, Head of the Government Policy Profession, asks whether it’s time for Civil Service generalists to become part of a profession.

John Manzoni, business executive-turned Civil Service CEO, talks to Peter McDonald about his time in government and change from the inside.

Barbara Woodward explains why the UN remains vital to the UK's foreign policy.

Amanda Spielman, former Chief Inspector of Schools, describes how she approached the challenge of impartiality at Ofsted.

In this edited summary of an extensive discussion, Peter McDonald talks to Helen MacNamara about the lessons she took from being at the centre of government, and having a ringside seat during Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Alex Thomas explains the looming legacy that depictions of figures like Sir Humphrey and Malcolm Tucker have left.

In this summary of an extensive discussion, Peter McDonald talks to the former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury about responding to crises, working with Ministers, solving problems and other reflections from a multifaceted career.

Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, on what it means to serve.

Suzanne Heywood on the qualities valued by her late husband Jeremy, Cabinet Secretary from 2012 to 2018.

Peter McDonald explores his transition from working in Whitehall to Welsh government, and the challenges and opportunities that it posed.

Tamara Finkelstein, Head of the Government Policy Profession, asks whether it’s time for Civil Service generalists to become part of a profession.

Gus O’Donnell on some key issues likely to face Civil Servants before and after the July 4th general election.

Edward Young, the Sovereign’s Principal Private Secretary from 2017 to 2023, describes the Monarch’s role in a general election… and how advisers resolved a constitutional ‘pickle’ in 2015.

Ciaran Martin has led the Civil Service teams which run and protect the UK’s electoral process. Here he reflects on what’s been learned about digital interference.

Stephen Aldridge, Director, Analysis and Data at the MHCLG highlights three charts with a striking message for the UK.

Mario Pisani on the importance of trust in institutions and a history lesson that is relevant to all civil servants.  

Fred Perry describes how business, the regions and even other countries were involved in shaping a key government policy.

Robert Chote, its first full time Chairman, explains how the UK’s Budget watchdog came about and examines some of the critiques it has faced.

A summary of recent news and views that you might have missed - from the GOV.UK app to AI usage in the Civil Service.

Stephen Aldridge, Director, Analysis and Data at the MHCLG highlights three charts with a striking message for the UK.

Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, demonstrates how people who live longer do not necessarily spend more time in ill health.

Susan Acland-Hood and Simon Blake explain how Covid prompted a new approach to tackling absence rates in schools in England.

Matt Bland highlights examples of evidence-based innovation on the front line, and what policy professionals across the Civil Service can learn from this experience.

True digital transformation requires reimagining the citizen experience from scratch, argues Victor Dominello, CEO of the Future Government Institute and a former New South Wales Minister for Customer Service.

Penny Endersby, CEO of the Met Office, talks to Tim Dickson about her journey from specialist researcher to running the Met Office.

Gus O’Donnell and Kathy Hall review what the latest Blavatnik Index has to show us about the UK's comparative strengths and weaknesses.

Ian Diamond, the UK’s National Statistician, explains why UK policymakers need to understand the significance of recent trends.

James Plunkett reviews Platformland: An anatomy of next-generation public services, by Richard Pope, 2024.

David Halpern, founder of the world’s first behavioural insights unit, says it’s more important than ever that policymakers understand human behaviour.

Michael Padfield explains the benefits of a range of tools that will drive better strategy, greater democracy and improved delivery.

Doug Gurr, newly appointed interim Chair of the UK’s Competition watchdog and Director of the Natural History Museum, warns that the UK is missing out on the fruits of scientific research.

James Ancell, Head of Futures and Foresight, Joint Data and Analysis Centre, offers practical steps for civil servants to focus more on the longer term.

Laura Gilbert, Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street, reflects on her AI and data science teams’ challenges and achievements.

Ciaran Martin has led the Civil Service teams which run and protect the UK’s electoral process. Here he reflects on what’s been learned about digital interference.

John Manzoni, business executive-turned Civil Service CEO, talks to Peter McDonald about his time in government and change from the inside.

True digital transformation requires reimagining the citizen experience from scratch, argues Victor Dominello, CEO of the Future Government Institute and a former New South Wales Minister for Customer Service.

Michael Padfield explains the benefits of a range of tools that will drive better strategy, greater democracy and improved delivery.

Understanding the Greater Manchester model will help Whitehall deliver its priorities, says John Wrathmell, Strategy Director at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Sharon White, until recently chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, says imaginative ownership models can improve our public services.

Laura Gilbert, Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street, reflects on her AI and data science teams’ challenges and achievements.

Gus O’Donnell on some key issues likely to face Civil Servants before and after the July 4th general election.

Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, on the challenges of complex legislation, dis-information and abuse.

Barbara Woodward explains why the UN remains vital to the UK's foreign policy.

Lucy Heywood describes a day in the life of Victoria Harrison – and her "Ambassadog", Otto.

Lucy Smith, Heywood Fellow, explains the importance of long-term strategy for the UK – and how other countries may be leading the way.

Catriona Laing explains the importance of blending hard and soft power, inspired by the thinking of Joseph Nye and Jeremy Heywood.

True digital transformation requires reimagining the citizen experience from scratch, argues Victor Dominello, CEO of the Future Government Institute and a former New South Wales Minister for Customer Service.

Gus O’Donnell and Kathy Hall review what the latest Blavatnik Index has to show us about the UK's comparative strengths and weaknesses.

Robert Chote, its first full time Chairman, explains how the UK’s Budget watchdog came about and examines some of the critiques it has faced.

Follow Britain's Ambassador to Qatar, Neerav Patel, for a day of language lessons, policy briefings, cultural events, and interviews.

Heywood Quarterly contributors past and present share some of their must-read book recommendations for 2026.

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, reviews books challenging our response to Covid and our alleged neglect of the future.

James Plunkett reviews Platformland: An anatomy of next-generation public services, by Richard Pope, 2024.

Donald Marshall reviews The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Machines Make Terrible Decisions, and How the World Lost its Mind by Dan Davies.

Peter Cardwell reviews Tales Of The Unelected by Dan Corry, short stories from the world of the special adviser.