The United Kingdom’s First Civil Service Commissioner says he “absolutely, absolutely hates” the practices of political briefings against Public Servants.
Ian Watmore (pictured) told a virtual session of Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) that “it shouldn’t happen and the political class as a whole should agree to stop it”.
Mr Watmore said Public Servants could not answer back.
“They are there to serve the Government of the day to the best of its ability, and to brief against them undermines that bond of trust and the ability of people to do their best job,” Mr Watmore said.
However, he challenged the idea that Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s Government had been losing Permanent Secretaries at an unusual rate
“There is nothing statistical to suggest we have got a higher churn of Permanent Secretaries than normal,” the Commissioner said.
“It is our expectation to hire eight to 10 a year and that is in line with what we are doing,” he said.
His comments follow widespread controversy over the exit of some senior leaders.
The Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam resigned and, after alleging bullying by Home Secretary, Priti Patel, won a settlement at an employment tribunal.
The Government’s chief legal adviser, Treasury Solicitor, Sir Jonathan Jones, resigned in September.
It was widely reported this was over Mr Johnson’s threat to break international law during the negotiations over leaving the European Union.
On the subject of diversity in the Public Service, Mr Watmore noted that it was important the bureaucracy was not seen as coming from a narrow section of society.
“There were times when I would be in meetings in London where you did think the world stopped at the M25,” he said.
London, 18 March 2021
