Civil Service Union Chief Criticizes Treasury Appointment Amid Cronyism Debate

The appointment of Ian Corfield, a Labour Party donor, to a senior Treasury position has been deemed a "mistake" by Dave Penman, the leader of the FDA, a prominent Civil Service union. This statement comes amidst growing scrutiny over recent government appointments under Sir Keir Starmer's administration.

Penman suggested that Corfield should have been brought in as an unpaid adviser rather than a civil servant. However, he defended other appointments caught in the controversy, stating they were "entirely understandable and are actually the norm for new governments."

The Civil Service Commission, established in 1855 to ensure fair recruitment, was reportedly not informed about Corfield's previous donations exceeding £20,000 to the Labour Party. This oversight has raised questions about the transparency of the appointment process.

The controversy extends beyond Corfield's case. Emily Middleton, a businesswoman whose company donated £67,000 to Labour, was appointed as a director general in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, a relatively new department created in February 2023. Additionally, Jess Sargeant, who previously worked for a pro-Starmer think tank, secured a senior role in the Cabinet Office's Propriety and Constitution Group, which advises on constitutional and ethical issues.

These appointments have been made using an exceptions rule, allowing ministers to bypass the usual Civil Service recruitment process. This practice, while not uncommon, has sparked debate about maintaining the neutrality of the Civil Service, a key principle in British governance.

In response to the growing controversy, Baroness Stuart, head of the Civil Service Commission, has initiated a Whitehall investigation. All departments have been ordered to declare any exceptional hires made since the recent election, focusing on appointments below a certain level that did not require the watchdog's approval.

Penman criticized the Labour government's handling of the situation, stating, "They've created a vacuum which has been filled by the opposition, and a lot of unexceptional things [have been] pieced together to look like a crisis that isn't there." He emphasized that such appointments are not unusual, noting that there were 9,000 exception appointments in the previous year alone.

"There's only a small number of appointments that are under scrutiny. One of them was Ian Corfield and I think that was a mistake. I think it's been righted. He should have been brought in as an unpaid adviser rather than a civil servant."

The debate surrounding these appointments highlights the delicate balance between political appointments and maintaining the impartiality of the Civil Service, which employs around 456,000 people as of 2023. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will address concerns about cronyism while defending its right to make strategic appointments.