The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

Party’s strategist already planning how to secure second term, bolstered by former MP’s appointment to thinktank

The purpose of Nato was “to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down” according to its first Secretary General, Lord Hastings Ismay. At its 75th anniversary summit in Washington, the alliance might say that the task now is to ensure that Ukraine isn’t defeated by Russia…

Company is laden with £15.2bn of debt, up £1.3bn on the previous year, most of which could be added to the public purse

On fifth day in office, PM and deputy will meet England’s regional mayors as Labour draws up new bill for king’s speech

Refuge raises concerns over measures to ease overcrowding in England and Wales after mistakes made under Tories

Exclusive: Whitehall warns firm’s deteriorating infrastructure and £15.6bn debt pose urgent problem

The Guardian’s political editor in 1997 recalls the optimism then and what went wrong in the transition from opposition to power

Other lives: Former professor of government at Manchester University whose focus shifted from Whitehall to the tiger economies of Asia

As Sue Gray exits, read our ultimate guide to the most influential figures in the Labour government