Labour Announces Sweeping Reforms to Civil Service Performance and Pay

The government plans to cut bureaucracy, introduce performance-based pay, and incentivize underperforming civil servants to leave their roles.

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden will unveil plans to reduce the civil service headcount by at least 10,000 through voluntary exit schemes and stricter performance management.
The reforms aim to modernize Whitehall by introducing performance-related pay, linking senior officials' wages to their success in delivering government priorities.
Underperforming civil servants will face accelerated exit processes, including personal development plans with a six-month improvement window before potential dismissal.
The government intends to redirect savings from reduced bureaucracy toward frontline services like the NHS and police, aligning with broader public spending cuts expected in the Spring Statement.
The proposed changes have drawn criticism from unions, with some likening the language and approach to 'Trumpian' tactics, while the government emphasizes the need for a more efficient and responsive state.