Whitehall Monitor 2023

This is the 10th edition of Whitehall Monitor – our annual, data-based assessment of the UK civil service, how it has changed and performed over the past year, and its priorities for the future.

Last year was a turbulent one for British politics even by recent standards: 2022 saw three prime ministers, four chancellors and record-breaking numbers of ministerial resignations. Government had to contend with the death of the UK’s longest serving monarch and head of state, war in Europe and an unprecedented cost of living crisis. This report paints a striking picture of the impact this tumult has had on the performance of the civil service, the relationship between ministers and their officials and the effective running of government. We bring together, analyse and visualise a wide range of data to reveal what the events of the past year tell us about the civil service, and the ways in which it should change to better serve the UK in 2023 and beyond.

Watch a summary of the findings