Whitehall

Whitehall refers to the UK civil service. Recent news focuses on two key aspects: criticisms of its perceived resistance to change and plans to modernize it. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has criticized the center-left for blaming Whitehall for slow progress, arguing politicians should take more responsibility. Simultaneously, the government is establishing a new 'school of government' for senior civil servants. This initiative, announced by Darren Jones, aims to equip them with skills in areas like AI, addressing a perceived need for modernization. This comes over a decade after a previous civil service college was shut down. These developments highlight ongoing debates about the civil service's role in implementing government policy and the need for it to adapt to modern challenges.