Politics
Tories demand investigation into Civil Service appointments under Labour government
The Conservatives are demanding an investigation into Labour’s appointment of several senior civil servants since the election, which the Opposition claims may have broken hiring rules.
The government says the claims from the Opposition are “untrue”.
The appointments include Emily Middleton, formerly of Labour-aligned group Labour Together; and Ian Corfield, who donated to the party, being given senior roles in the service.
The Tories are claiming these hirings could be down to ministers trying to “circumvent” Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray, who has reportedly blocked the appointment of advisers to political roles.
Alex Thomas, the programme director of the Institute for Government thinktank and a former director in the Civil Service, says the new government’s steps aren’t completely out of the ordinary.
He says it is possible to use an “exception” process when a minister wants to bring someone in to their department when they believe it necessary.
Mr Thomas points to the frustration ministers can suffer when they don’t have hiring power but “are the ones who are held accountable to parliament and the public for running the government”.
He does suggest the current roles should have been hired through rapid recruitment processes, rather than by appointment.
Conservative MP John Glen, who is the shadow paymaster general, has written to the Civil Service Commission calling for an investigation.
Shadow paymaster general John Glenn has written to complain. Pic: PA
The commission is headed up by Baroness Gisela Stuart, the former Labour MP, and ensures the Civil Service is impartial.
In his letter, Mr Glen highlights the 1854 Northcote-Trevelyan report – which he brands “the foundation of the modern Civil Service” – saying it warns against appointing people by “personal and political considerations”.
He adds that his letter is a “formal complaint” under section 13 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 that was passed by Gordon Brown.
Mr Glen wrote that he wants a “thorough investigation” to make sure the hiring was done in line with the Civil Service code.
He added: “I fear that these are not isolated cases, and risks a wider pattern of the politicisation of the Civil Service staffing and communications under this administration.”
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A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “These claims are untrue.
“There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of Civil Service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
“We do not comment on individual staffing matters.”
Mr Glen raises four specific cases in his letter.
This includes Ms Middleton being made a director general in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, as well as Mr Corfield being appointed a director in the Treasury.
He also notes that a former adviser to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Oliver Newton, has been made head of business engagement at the Treasury
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And then he says Haydon Etherington has been made a senior policy adviser in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after having worked for Labour as an adviser.
Mr Glen says he understands there have been “further such appointments in government of such Labour figures”.