The Civil Service is set for significant changes under “radical” plans to be announced this week, according to Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden. Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, McFadden stated that certain parts of the Civil Service “would and can” be reduced, with the government prioritizing frontline roles such as border security and prison officers. However, he did not specify a target for reducing staff numbers.
Among the key proposals, senior civil servants will be subject to performance-based pay, and those failing to meet expectations could be dismissed if their performance does not improve within six months.
The FDA, a public sector union, criticized the plan as “a soundbite rather than a credible strategy,” arguing that it repeats past unsuccessful approaches.
Meanwhile, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp dismissed Labour’s proposals as “weak and anaemic,” claiming that the previous Conservative government had already begun cutting the Civil Service workforce by 12% before leaving office. He also argued that the former administration had allowed the Civil Service to grow excessively.
McFadden emphasized the need to shift resources from administrative functions to frontline services. While he avoided specifying a target for reducing the size of the Civil Service, he insisted that central government operations “can and should become smaller.” He also advocated relocating more government jobs outside of London to improve cost efficiency.
To encourage efficiency, civil servants who consistently underperform may be offered “mutually agreed exits” under a new strategy to manage personnel. Senior officials will also be placed on improvement plans, and if their performance does not meet expectations after six months, they may be removed from their positions.
The government aims to increase the number of civil servants in digital and data roles, with a target of one in ten employees working in these areas within five years. Currently, digital and data specialists make up 5% of the workforce, totaling around 25,000 employees. This expansion will be achieved through apprenticeship programs and staff retraining.
However, the government has not provided a timeline for when the broader Civil Service reforms will be fully implemented.
When asked about encouraging civil servants to return to office-based work, McFadden acknowledged the benefits of in-person collaboration, saying he personally sees “value in being in the office” and believes it is “generally a good thing.”
Responding to comparisons with Elon Musk’s approach to reducing government size, McFadden emphasized that performance management is standard in large organizations. However, he insisted that the government remains committed to strong public services, citing plans to increase teacher numbers, boost neighborhood policing, and reduce healthcare waiting lists.
The Civil Service workforce has grown significantly in recent years, increasing from 384,000 employees in 2016 to an estimated 515,085 in 2024, largely due to Brexit preparations and the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alongside these reforms, the government is also expected to introduce changes to the welfare system aimed at reducing overall spending. When asked about potential modifications to disability benefits, McFadden confirmed that they would be part of the discussion, highlighting concerns over the rising number of people on long-term sickness benefits.
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