Alex Thomas

@AlexGAThomas

Civil service and all things effective government @instituteforgov - ex-Cabinet Office, Defra, Dept of Health civil servant

Joined October 2010

1.3K Following 5.9K Followers 7.9K Posts

Latest posts 5

Alex Thomas @AlexGAThomas May 30

Serving civil servants giving their views like this to a political party not in government makes me feel very uncomfortable

But good luck to Danny Kruger as he works out what to do to fix the centre of govt. He’s wrong and right in different ways

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/danny-…

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk Danny Kruger will only fix the centre of government if he works out why it’s broken | Institute for... Reform UK are yet to understand the complex realities of power inside government.

Danny Kruger Verified account @danny__kruger May 30

Last weekend I set out Reform UK’s plans to fix the centre of government (preparingforgovernment.com/fixing-the-cen…). This policy was informed by hundreds of disillusioned civil servants responding to my call for insights on life in Whitehall. This is some of what they said. Thread:
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Alex Thomas @AlexGAThomas Dec 12, 2024

Overall looks like a good move - slimming down & refocusing the Cabinet Office. Chimes with the critique in our Centre Commission - though we’d go further!

The “odds and ends” are v important and must be done well, but separating them out is worth it for a more effective centre

Lucy Fisher Verified account @LOS_Fisher Dec 12, 2024

EXCL: Cabinet Office will cut 400 jobs to achieve savings & streamline dept

Perm sec Cat Little unveiled plans to officials today, incl proposals to hive off some “odds & ends” to separate arm’s length body

This may include security vetting, govt property agency, recruitment
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Alex Thomas @AlexGAThomas Dec 11, 2024

I agree with @HenryNewman

Andrew Griffith MP Verified account @griffitha Dec 11, 2024

To get the civil service back to its 2016 level would require a reduction of 133,000.

Instead Labour claim to be contemplating cutting just 10,000 heads.

That would maintain 98% of current levels and still be 34% larger than in 2016.
😱

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Alex Thomas @AlexGAThomas Dec 11, 2024

Whether the civil service gets smaller or not, the government needs a full workforce strategy - to which they’ve now committed 👍👍👍

And it’s good if ministers seek efficiencies without setting a perverse-incentive-creating headcount target

Alex Thomas @AlexGAThomas Dec 10, 2024

JOB ALERT

We have a fantastic researcher role coming up in the @instituteforgov civil service team

If you’re interested please consider applying. It’s a brilliant place to work and to contribute to a vital set of debates