On Tuesday, Johnson named a new head for the civil service — Simon Case, a former private secretary to Prince William. Did he take it? "Although we know there will be more outbreaks, we are absolutely confident that we are going to be able to deal with those outbreaks, and bit by bit this incredible country is getting back on its feet.” The prime minister did not have exact numbers for how many workers were returning to their offices after months of remote assignments.In a press conference earlier in the day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said trials for a COVID-19 vaccine were going well and the best-case scenario would be to have it ready this year. All market data delayed 20 minutes. However, those close to the PM's chief adviser, currently leading a reform of the civil service, continue to point the figure at Whitehall, described as "Despite Mr Williamson having been likened to hapless sitcom character Frank Spencer by some Conservative colleagues, allies insist that Ofqual is mainly responsible for the latest bungle, amid calls for Sally Collier, its chief regulator, to resign.We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism.We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. "He clearly has the confidence of the PM - vital if he is to improve No.10’s relationship with the civil service. One, he is very loyal to the people who have supported him and doesn't like firing people, and two, he cannot change much until Brexit is done and the Government's attention switches from crisis management to economic recovery. In November 2019, having been charged in July that year following 20 months of police investigation, he succeeded in getting a member of Boris Johnson’s cabinet to … Boris Johnson is resisting calls for an autumn reshuffle despite a mounting Tory backlash amid fears that coronavirus mishaps have left the Government being "laughed at", The Telegraph has learned.The Prime Minister will only make "minor" changes to his Cabinet after the summer recess before a full "reset" in the New Year after the Brexit transition period has ended on December 31.Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, is expected to remain in post despite backbench On Tuesday night, one Tory veteran accused Mr Johnson, currently on holiday in Scotland, of a "lack of grip" after Mr Williamson Both A-Level and GCSE pupils will now be able to rely on their teachers' predicted grades if their algorithm-adjusted marks are lower. Did he take it? As the government pushes to have the civil service sector return to their desks in an effort to revamp the economy, Hancock said it was essential that private companies have greater access to testing. — Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) September 1, 2020. Robert Shrimsley, chief political commentator of the Boris Johnson is expected to name Prince William's former aide as the new head of the civil service. "Brexit and a Corbyn-led Labour party, which won us the election in 2019, will be rotting corpses by then. You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Please review our "Number 10's internal polling appears to suggest that while the so-called "Westminster bubble" obsesses over the minutiae of Governmental decision-making, the public takes a more "macro" view.Although Mr Johnson's approval rating has dropped from 66 to 44 per cent since mid-April, according to You Gov, the latest Westminster voting intention, aggregated by Britain Elects, puts the Tories one point up on 42 per cent, followed by Labour on 39 per cent and the Lib Dems on five per cent.On Monday, a You Gov poll found 75 per cent of people think the Government mishandled the exams situation but, as pollster Joe Twyman of Deltapoll, pointed out, U-turns "do not necessarily go down badly with the public, particularly in the longer term". The spokesperson disputed reporters’ suggestions that train stations were far from busy but conceded that figures on the numbers of … Backbenchers are increasingly blaming Downing Street’s recent woes on its "over-centralised" approach, spearheaded by Dominic Cummings, who they have accused of overseeing the appointment of an "inexperienced" and "supine" Cabinet. All rights reserved. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid resigned from the Cabinet after refusing Johnson's demand that he dismiss his advisers. You can unsubscribe at any time.The PM's chief aide Dominic Cummings is pushing for a major shake-up of Whitehall Share on Facebook ; Share on Twitter; Share via Email; Boris Johnson arrives to attend a cabinet … His predecessor had reportedly clashed with Johnson’s top aide, Dominic Cummings.Though his Conservatives have a hefty majority of 80 in the 650-seat House of Commons, Johnson’s government has been weakened by its unsteady handling of the pandemic. BORIS Johnson’s new cabinet secretary has won the approval of Brexiteers. Boris Johnson has picked his top team. Boris Johnson stands ground as pressure for autumn Cabinet shake-up grows Prime Minister set to make 'minor' changes after summer recess before … "Another Cabinet minister added: "Someone is going to have to go to make way for Anne-Marie, but the PM is facing two competing pressures. The government must also prepare for a final break with the European Union when a post-Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31.Johnson also faces the prospect of a huge increase in unemployment after Oct. 31, when the government ends a program to pay the salaries of millions of furloughed workers. Relative outsider expected to be named as cabinet secretary, replacing Sir Mark Sedwill ... Boris Johnson ally Simon Case poised to be named head of civil service ... Mon 31 Aug 2020 … "Of course we know there is still going to be more of this disease — this wretched COVID — still to come," Johnson said during a meeting of his Cabinet, with all ministers attending in person for the first time since the U.K. went into a coronavirus lockdown in March. The U-turn comes after the Government had faced repeated criticism for its handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has witnessed similar backtracking over One Tory MP said: "We have had too many mishaps for a Government that is only a year old. or redistributed. Boris Johnson must avoid the trap of an autumn reshuffle Shaking up the Cabinet will make things worse – not better – for a beleaguered No 10 Tom Harris 18 August 2020 • 2:02pm