UK Government Freezes Civil Service Credit Cards to Curb Wasteful Spending

Nearly all 20,000 government procurement cards are suspended as tighter controls are introduced to reduce misuse and improve fiscal accountability.

Spending on government procurement cards surged to £675 million in 2024-25, prompting concerns about oversight and waste.
Civil servants must reapply and justify the necessity of their cards, with the aim of cutting their number by at least 50% by month-end.
New rules lower the hospitality spending cap from £2,500 to £500, with larger expenses requiring senior-level approval.
Examples of questionable spending include £2,500 at a Barbados shoe store and £5,237 for a Barcelona hotel stay.
Savings from the crackdown will be redirected toward government priorities such as healthcare, border security, and public sector efficiency.