Cabinet Office to Reduce Staff by 2,100 as Government Streamlines Civil Service Operation
Plans announced on Thursday will result in approximately 1,200 people being made redundant and another 900 being transferred to different departments.
The government revealed that the Cabinet Office will experience a reduction of almost a third of its staff as part of Labour’s initiative to shrink the Civil Service.
Under the newly unveiled plans, around 1,200 individuals will face redundancy, while 900 will be moved to other departments.
This reduction of 2,100 jobs accounts for nearly a third of the 6,500 “core staff” at the Cabinet Office, which serves as the strategic center of the British state.
A source from the Cabinet Office stated, “Leading by example, we are establishing a more streamlined and focused Cabinet Office to lead efforts in reshaping the state and implementing our change agenda.”
The government aims to allocate resources towards frontline services, such as more teachers in classrooms, additional hospital appointments, and a bolstered police presence.
Cat Little, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, announced in an all-staff call on Thursday that the department will undergo specialization to better cater to the public.
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Thus far, approximately 540 voluntary redundancy applications have been accepted since the launch of the scheme in January, with more voluntary departures expected as teams undergo restructuring in the upcoming months.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to reducing bureaucratic costs and streamlining the Civil Service led to Thursday’s announcement.
In addition to abolishing entities like NHS England, ministers plan to increase the number of civil servants working in digital and data roles to create a workforce prepared for the future.
In the recent spring statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government’s intention to reduce Civil Service running costs by 15 percent by the end of the decade.
A survey by YouGov revealed that 64 percent of MPs believe the Civil Service is overly risk-averse and resistant to new ideas, while 62 percent think Whitehall operates too slowly.
Trade unions caution against significant Civil Service reductions, echoing concerns raised by Baroness Sue Gray, the prime minister’s former chief of staff, during her inaugural address in the House of Lords.
Having been a civil servant herself, Gray emphasized the importance of her former colleagues in driving economic growth and societal security for the government and the nation.
