A split is emerging within the United Kingdom Government over Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s proposal to cut 20 per cent of all public sector jobs, with Foreign Minister, Liz Truss instead demanding extra funding and more staff for her Department.
Ms Truss (pictured), tipped as a potential successor to Mr Johnson, is said to have written to the Prime Minister setting out a case for exemption from the 91,000 job cuts.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Steve Barclay have set out explicit instructions to all Departments to identify at least 20 per cent staffing cuts.
However in her letter, Ms Truss said even a compromise cut of five per cent was unacceptable in her Department, instead seeking a one per cent increase, or around 160 jobs.
In a reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she reportedly said anything less than such an increase would hamper the Government’s ability to “rise to the international challenges the UK now faces”.
Meanwhile, Departments have been advised that digital transformation will be crucial if they are to achieve the 91,000 job cuts over the next three years.
Guidance from the Cabinet Office and the Treasury encouraged Department heads to make increased use of automation tools and other digital transformation schemes.
“Departments must therefore work with the Cabinet Office’s Central Digital and Data Office to assess how overhauling internal functions, such as IT service support and on-boarding, and external functions, such as in-person processing of applications from citizens for documents or services, could support their workforce planning,” the Cabinet Office said.
It cautioned Departments that they may also need to reprioritise the delivery of services and projects to achieve the desired efficiencies.
London, 15 June 2022
