Steve Barclay must not repeat the mistakes of the Maude era

Steve Barclay has been announced as the new Minister for the Cabinet Office.

 

The appointment came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his top team.

Garry Graham, Prospect deputy general secretary, said:

“Prospect welcomes Stephen Barclay to his new position leading the Cabinet Office and will be writing to him shortly seeking early engagement on how we can work together to reform the civil service and make it a better place to work and serve the country.

“Given the challenges we face both nationally and internationally it is more vital than ever that STEM and data skills sit at the heart of policy development, delivery and evaluation. After more than a decade of austerity, pay systems are in urgent need of reform, we need to invest in capability and reward knowledge, skills and experience. We are clear that an inflexible public sector pay “pause” is holding back this agenda.

“We must focus on diversity and inclusion to ensure that everyone can flourish and achieve their potential and we must move away from a London and Westminster focused approach and deliver across the nations of the UK.

“The mistakes of the Maude era must not be repeated. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong public sector to support a strong economy and safe and thriving society. Our members in the civil service and beyond have been pivotal- they help defend, protect, support and enhance all of our lives. Their contribution needs to be recognised and they should get the support they deserve from the government they serve.”