United Kingdom unions have raged against the announcement by new Minister for Government Efficiency, Jacob Rees-Mogg that he wants to cut at least 65,000 Public Service jobs, calling it was a “cheap shot”, “tired rhetoric” and “a personal crusade”.
General Secretary of Prospect, Mike Clancy said the union’s members had continued to deliver for the country despite having endured 12 years of real-terms pay cuts.
“They do the work they do because they are committed to making a difference to people’s lives, whether keeping our nation safe in an increasingly uncertain world, supporting our criminal justice system, or working at the cutting edge of science,” Mr Clancy (pictured) said.
“What they deserve is a pay rise — not cheap shots that they are unable to respond to,” he said.
General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Mark Serwotka said each cut would have an impact, not just on the individuals who would lost their jobs, but on those who relied of Public Servants to keep the country running.
“The only thing out of control here is one multi-millionaire’s personal crusade against the public sector,” Mr Serwotka said.
Assistant General Secretary of the FDA, Steven Littlewood called on Mr Rees-Mogg to explain which services he would choose to cut.
He said Public Servants had gone beyond the call of duty in recent years in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of leaving the European Union.
“Reducing the headcount means reducing the capacity of the Civil Service. Instead of talking in generalities and tired rhetoric, Mr Rees-Mogg should spell out which services currently being delivered by Civil Servants he would choose to cut,” Mr Littlewood said.
However, Minister for the Cabinet Office, Steve Barclay supported Mr Rees-Mogg claiming the cuts would be “empowering” for junior staff.
“This is about empowering Civil Servants and taking away often the many layers so that the very good work of sometimes more junior Civil Servants can get to Ministers and senior decision-makers,” Mr Barclay said.
London, 2 7 February 2022
