Reform UK government would replace top civil servants with policy ‘believers’
📖 Full Retelling
<p>Exclusive: Senior party figures conclude outsiders or existing senior staff deemed more suitable should take over from current permanent secretaries</p><p>A Reform UK government would expect to dismiss the top civil servant in every government department and replace them with people seen as more likely to implement the party’s priorities, the Guardian has learned.</p><p>Senior Reform figures have concluded that the current crop of permanent secretaries, the lead
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Reform UK government would replace top civil servants with policy ‘believers’ Exclusive: Senior party figures conclude outsiders or existing senior staff deemed more suitable should take over from current permanent secretaries A Reform UK government would expect to dismiss the top civil servant in every government department and replace them with people seen as more likely to implement the party’s priorities, the Guardian has learned. Senior Reform figures have concluded that the current crop of permanent secretaries, the lead civil servant in each department, are not up to the necessary standard. Some would be replaced by outsiders, and others by existing officials viewed as more suitable. The plan has prompted warnings that a shift towards a less stable and more politicised civil service could result in the loss of significant expertise and of institutional memory, and would make government less effective. Nigel Farage’s party has promised it will enact a radical programme. One senior member said this would be modelled on the second Trump administration, with a focus on making change via executive orders rather than legislation, where possible. Reform has already said it would look at appointing outside experts to become ministers. It is understood that as well as making some into peers, so they could sit in the House of Lords, others considered for ministerial jobs would be lined up for winnable Commons seats. While the party has received a series of big donations in recent months, including £12m from the crypto investor Christopher Harborne , it is expected that donors would be ruled out for ministerial roles. The influx of money has allowed Reform to expand its teams working on new policies and preparation for government. This process thus far has had limited input from Farage, with insiders saying the party leader is focusing on May’s elections across England, Scotland and Wales . A number of other countries have senior officials who are politicised and change...
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