Keir Starmer Faces Backlash Over Civil Service Criticism Amid Reform Push

The UK Prime Minister's remarks on Whitehall's inefficiency have strained relations with civil servants as he pursues ambitious government targets.

Keir Starmer has charged new cabinet secretary Chris Wormald with overhauling Whitehall to meet Labour's six priority targets, including reducing NHS waiting lists and improving living standards.
Starmer's criticism of the civil service, including remarks about a 'tepid bath of managed decline,' has angered unions and demoralized officials who accuse him of scapegoating.
Labour ministers, initially unprepared for the challenges of governing, have been frustrated by slow bureaucratic processes and a lack of cross-departmental collaboration.
The Prime Minister has emphasized the need for structural reform, including potential reductions in civil service staff and the introduction of AI to improve efficiency and productivity.
Starmer's approach reflects an effort to assert central direction in government but risks alienating the civil service, a key partner in implementing his ambitious agenda.