Tories Call for Probe into Labour’s Civil Service Appointments Amid Impartiality Concerns

Conservatives call for probe into Civil Service hires during Labour's rule

The Conservative Party has questioned the hiring of four individuals in the Civil Service following Labour's rise to power, citing worries about neutrality. The Cabinet Office has dismissed the allegations from the Conservatives as "false".

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Monday, August 19, 2024, 9:

The Conservative Party is calling for a probe into the Labour Party's recent hiring of top government officials following the election, alleging that these appointments might have violated recruitment regulations.

The administration has labeled the allegations made by the opposition as "false".

The new appointments feature Emily Middleton, previously associated with the Labour-supporting organization Labour Together, and Ian Corfield, a donor to the party, both of whom have been assigned top positions within the service.

The Conservatives suggest that these appointments might be an attempt by ministers to bypass Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Sue Gray, who is said to have obstructed the hiring of advisers for political positions.

Alex Thomas, who currently serves as the program director at the Institute for Government think tank and has previous experience as a director within the Civil Service, notes that the actions taken by the new administration are not entirely unprecedented.

He mentions that there is a special procedure available for ministers who wish to hire an individual into their department if they deem it essential.

Mr. Thomas highlights the difficulties faced by ministers who lack the authority to make hiring decisions, yet are responsible to both parliament and the public for the administration of government affairs.

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He proposes that the existing positions ought to have been filled via expedited hiring methods instead of by direct appointments.

Conservative MP John Glen, serving as the shadow paymaster general, has penned a letter to the Civil Service Commission requesting a probe into the matter.

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The committee is led by Baroness Gisela Stuart, a former Labour MP, and guarantees the neutrality of the Civil Service.

In his correspondence, Mr. Glen draws attention to the 1854 Northcote-Trevelyan report, which he describes as "the cornerstone of the contemporary Civil Service." He notes that the report cautions against selecting individuals based on "personal and political considerations."

He states that his letter constitutes an official grievance under section 13 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, which was enacted during Gordon Brown's tenure.

Mr. Glen has requested an exhaustive review to ensure that the recruitment process complied with the standards of the Civil Service code.

He expressed concerns: "I worry that these instances are not singular, hinting at a broader trend of politicizing Civil Service personnel and messaging with the current government."

Further reading: Key figures in Starmer's close-knit team. Sue Gray violated Civil Service regulations by negotiating employment with Labour.

A spokesperson from the Cabinet Office stated: "These allegations are false.

The Civil Service Commission has established specific regulations that oversee the hiring and appointment processes for Civil Service positions.

"We do not discuss specific personnel issues."

In his letter, Mr. Glen highlights four particular instances.

This involves Ms. Middleton's appointment as Director General at the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, along with Mr. Corfield's new role as a Director within the Treasury.

He also mentions that Oliver Newton, who previously advised Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has been appointed as the head of business engagement at the Treasury.

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He then mentioned that Haydon Etherington was appointed as a senior policy adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, following his tenure as an adviser for the Labour Party.

Mr. Glen acknowledges that more individuals from the Labour ranks have been appointed to government positions.

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