Sarah Nickson
Former Senior Researcher
All work
Whitehall Monitor 2021
Whitehall Monitor 2021 reveals the way the pandemic has changed how the government takes decisions, spends money and makes policy.
Even in a pandemic, delivering manifestos still matters
Despite the pandemic, the government has made decent inroads on its ‘contract with the electorate’
Moving out: making a success of civil service relocation
The government’s plans to relocate 22,000 civil servants out of London will benefit recruitment but do little to “level up” the north-south divide.
The government must refresh its approach to decision making for a second coronavirus wave
As coronavirus cases rise, Sarah Nickson sets out what ministers should do differently ahead of a second wave
The government should bring its moonshot announcements back to earth
On Covid, the government declares what it will do before knowing whether it can actually do it
The early pandemic response offers the government lessons for the next phase
The government needs to have a strategy, be clear who is doing what and use evidence wisely to make the best choices
Decision making in a crisis
This report examines decisions made in three areas: economic support, Covid-19 testing and the lockdown.
Three questions for the Maude review of the Cabinet Office
Francis Maude's review into the Cabinet Office needs to start with basic questions about how the centre of government should work
Getting rid of Public Health England will not make dealing with the coronavirus pandemic easier
Public Health England hasn’t had a good crisis. But replacing it with a new agency will be disruptive and may not fix the problem.
Australia and Canada highlight the dangers of politicising the civil service
Those looking to other countries for warning signs of politicising the UK civil service should pay attention to Canada and Australia