United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (pictured) says the Public Service must be faster and better in its response to people’s needs.
Speaking to Parliament’s Liaison Committee he said he supported the radical reform agenda being outlined by his Chief Adviser, Dominic Cummings, and the Minister in charge of the Public Service, Michael Gove.
“I think that the Civil Service does an outstanding job…I venerate our Civil Service. They are fantastic Public Servants and I think that they deliver extraordinary things every day,” Mr Johnson said.
“However, I do think — perhaps — that one of the lessons we need to draw from this [pandemic] is maybe there are some times when we need to move faster,” he said.
“Project Speed is of great value, I think, to the workings of our Civil Service and we certainly won’t be shy of reform where it is necessary.”
MP, William Wragg asked how Mr Johnson envisaged such reform taking place and when.
“There are changes and what I hope are improvements going on the whole time, but I wish to stress to the Committee that these are not being done in any spirit of disapproval of the ethic of service or performance of our Civil Service,” Mr Johnson said.
Mr Wragg asked whether the Prime Minister anticipated any reforms altering the established relationship between Ministers and Public Servants.
“No. I think the Northcote Trevelyan principles are extremely important,” Mr Johnson replied, referring to the 19th century report considered to define the impartiality and integrity that underpins the work of the Public Service.
London, 20 September 2020
