The UK government has introduced strict new performance rules for senior civil servants, warning that those who fail to achieve taxpayer savings could face dismissal. Under the Civil Service performance reforms, top officials will be held personally accountable for delivering cost-cutting measures within their departments.
The new system, introduced by Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, will reward high performers while cracking down on inefficiency as part of efforts to create a more “agile and modern” public sector.
New Performance Standards to Hold Civil Servants Accountable
McFadden emphasized that taxpayers must be confident their money is being spent efficiently.
“It is vital that senior leaders are not just encouraged but held responsible for this,” he stated. “We need them to build high-performing teams to deliver on our plan—putting more money in people’s pockets, fixing the NHS, and rebuilding Britain.”
The government plans to introduce new checks to identify and tackle poor performance, ensuring that civil servants meet cost-saving targets and contribute to economic recovery.
Departments Ordered to Cut 5% from Budgets
As part of a spending review set to conclude in June, government departments have been directed to find efficiency savings worth 5% of their budgets. A government source previously suggested that this could lead to 10,000 job cuts.
The new performance policy, published by the Cabinet Office, also includes measures to track and address underperformance, preventing ineffective staff from simply being transferred between teams.
Push for Greater Accountability in Whitehall
Efforts to improve Civil Service efficiency are not new. Former Conservative paymaster general John Glen previously criticized Whitehall for failing to properly reward high performers and suggested linking pay to performance.
Glen also pledged to take a tougher stance on inefficiency, stating that it was “all too easy” for leaders to shift underperforming staff to another team instead of addressing the issue.
With the government under pressure to reduce spending and improve public services, these reforms signal a major shift toward greater accountability and efficiency in the Civil Service.
