A leading United Kingdom think tank has criticised Ministers for failing to protect Public Servants from “unprecedented professional and personal attacks” from Members of Parliament and the media for political failings over the country’s exit from the European Union (Brexit).
In its report on the UK’s departure, the Institute for Government (IFG) says Brexit had pushed the Public Service to become more agile and innovative but had exacerbated staff churn.
The Public Service was “increasingly left to operate in a vacuum without clear political leadership” as Cabinet splits emerged under then Prime Minister, Theresa May.
“Those suspicious of the Civil Service’s role in the European Union (EU) referendum campaign used this vacuum to deliver increasingly public attacks on individual Civil Servants,” the report said.
It said both Ms May and her successor, Boris Johnson “failed to offer any significant protection”.
Ms May’s Chief Negotiator on Brexit, Sir Oliver Robbins (pictured) was once described notably by an anonymous MP as “Rasputinesque” and was frequently accused of attempting to thwart the UK’s departure.
The report cited a combative Select Committee hearing in which Sir Oliver, appearing alongside Ms May, was asked to confirm “personally, in [his] heart of hearts” whether he believed it was right to leave the EU.
Sir Oliver backed the Government policy of the day, but Ms May was “notably silent [and] offered no support to her key adviser, who was taking personal and professional attacks as a result of her policy decisions”, the report said.
The IFG said the interaction was characteristic of the lack of support for Public Servants facing “unprecedented criticism” who were being singled out personally by pro-Brexit MPs and commentators.
The report also noted anonymous death threats against then Permanent Secretary of HM Revenue and Customs, Jon Thompson, which prompted Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill to write to The Times newspaper calling for an end to “sniping” against Public Servants.
London, 16 May 2020
