The Labour Prime Minister accused civil servants of being complacent and hindered by a lack of ambition, sparking anger from trade unions who represent civil service staff.
Sir Keir Starmer sparked a civil service backlash today after he swiped that 'too many' officials in Whitehall are 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline'.
Echoing a phrase commonly used by US president-elect Donald Trump, the PM said: 'I don't think there's a swamp to be drained here. Sir Keir laid out plans to 'fundamentally reform the way the Government goes about its business' as he launched an attack on Whitehall performanceThe PM's words caused fury among trade unions who represent civil service staff, with Sir Keir accused of 'scapegoating' Whitehall officials for the failures of ministers.
'I know civil servants who have coped with a decade of austerity, of Brexit, of Covid, of dozens of ministerial changes and chaotic changes of government. 'Reform may well be necessary, indeed civil service unions have been saying for years that we stand ready to work with the Government on how best to do that,' he added.
Keir Starmer Civil Service Government Reform Downing Street Whitehall Labour Party
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