All articles by: David Hencke

Unison faces court challenge

Published: December 18, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The election of general secretary of Unison, Britain’s biggest public sector trade union, is to be challenged at a three day public hearing next week. All four rival candidates – …

Treasury admits cash shortfall

Published: November 22, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The government took advantage of the Trump victory at the US election to release information revealing almost £1 billion of accounting blunders affecting military veterans and control over private management …

ACAS faces legal action by union

Published: November 4, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), which sets the gold standard for settling labour disputes, is facing being taken to a tribunal itself for failing to consult its staff …

BBC losing out on iPlayer fees

Published: September 23, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The cash strapped BBC is failing to recover tens of millions of pounds for broadcasters by not having  an up to date strategy on licence evaders. A report by the …

Auditors find payment errors

Published: August 8, 2016
Written by David Hencke

Overworked staff at a Ministry of Justice agency made a series of serious blunders in paying out complex criminal compensation payments to victims, a report by the government’s auditors has …

Lib Dems fighting back

Published: July 22, 2016
Written by David Hencke

David Hencke Westminster Correspondent The Liberal Democrats may finally be shaking off their disastrous perform­ance in the last general election and winning council seats in the shires again. In the …

Millions owing to UK farmers

Published: July 22, 2016
Written by David Hencke

Andrea Leadsom, the new Eurosceptic environment secretary and former challenger to Theresa May, is to be lumbered with paying out possibly hundreds of millions in European Union fines long after …

EHRC accused of discrimination

Published: May 29, 2016
Written by David Hencke

Civil servants at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are planning to go to arbitration as the organisation stands accused of targeting black, disabled and ethnic minority staff by …

MPs versus mandarin: round two

Published: May 1, 2016
Written by David Hencke

A senior civil servant will be given a fresh chance on May 3 to explain the more than £1 billion of criminal assets that should have been seized by the …

Ministers chase dormant cash to alleviate cuts

Published: April 3, 2016
Written by David Hencke

Cabinet Office ministers are planning to hand out £1 billion of other people’s unclaimed money and pensions next year to “good causes” to alleviate the cuts to services being implemented …

MPs angry at equality choice

Published: April 3, 2016
Written by David Hencke

A major row has broken out between Parliament and the Government over the appointment of a new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Watchdog says Tory cuts make crime pay

Published: March 20, 2016
Written by David Hencke

Theresa May’s claim that “crime doesn’t pay” has been totally undermined by public spending cuts targeting trained financial investigators employed to confiscate the assets of wealthy criminals.

Scrutinise our banks? EU law says No

Published: March 6, 2016
Written by David Hencke

European Union law is blocking Parliament’s spending watchdog from scrutinising banks and finance companies to see if they are now properly protecting consumers in the wake of one of the …

Spending watchdog lacks bite

Published: February 21, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The public body that investigates thousands of complaints against solicitors and barristers for mishandling conveyancing and personal injury cases has paid out more than £1 million in unauthorised benefits to …

Fees hike for health and care

Published: January 10, 2016
Written by David Hencke

The Department of Health is planning to raise £780 million by substantially increasing compulsory inspection fees by the Care Quality Commission for all health and social care services provided by …

Ten new jobs for former Tory minister

Published: December 20, 2015
Written by David Hencke
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A Tory minister who resigned a year ago because the “intolerable” parliamentary expenses system made it impossible for him to live on £110,000 a year has taken 10 new jobs …

NAO damns Osborne’s technology plans

Published: December 6, 2015
Written by David Hencke

A damning criticism of George Osborne’s strategy to make huge savings by relying on new technology to replace civil servants is revealed in two reports by the National Audit Office.

Mental health services face massive cuts

Published: November 21, 2015
Written by David Hencke

David Cameron’s commitment to improve mental health services is in danger of becoming a casualty of the current spending round negotiations due to be announced by the chancellor, George Osborne …