London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Radical shake-up of civil service comms to be in place by April 2022

Radical shake-up of civil service comms to be in place by April 2022

Voluntary redundancies considered as part of No 10 plan to slim down and centralise communications teams
Downing Street has ordered that a radical shake-up to slim down and centralise civil service communications teams as part of a major Whitehall overhaul should be in place by April 2022, a leaked memo reveals.

The plans could include ordering cuts to staff at arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) that scrutinise government. Staff were told that voluntary redundancies could be considered, despite the memo acknowledging staff were “exhausted and feeling the impact of being away from your friends, families and colleagues”.

In the leaked memo from Alex Aiken, the civil service chief in charge of communications, staff were told that Boris Johnson is pushing ahead with plans for major Whitehall overhaul, despite the departure of his chief of staff Dominic Cummings, who had made civil service reform a key part of his agenda.

“The prime minister has been clear he expects the major structural changes to be delivered by April 2022, and the new operating model for [government communications] is an important first step,” the memo to staff said.

Questions have been raised about the extent to which the overhaul will affect communications staff at ALBs like regulators such as Ofcom or the Office for National Statistics, some of which have roles scrutinising government. Around 60% of government communications staff work in ALBs, the strategy says.

Though it suggests those staff will not be brought under the centralised system, it warned there are still aims to make cuts to the workforce.

“Our focus is less about a single employer model … As with departments, it is right that we consider the size of their communication functions,” it says.

Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary of civil service union the FDA, said the announcement would “set hares running for staff who will be concerned that this crosses a line and that ALBs should be able to determine the size of their teams based on what is right for them, based on their experience, expertise and understanding of the complexities of their areas”.

The memo from Aiken says teams and individuals will have their situation confirmed by the autumn. “This will include future models, team sizes, roles and processes being confirmed, consulted and implemented by April 2022,” Aiken says.

He confirmed the government is “exploring the potential for voluntary exit schemes” in order to cut staff numbers, “as well as continuing work around how we can become a smaller, more unified profession”.

The move will be a major overhaul of civil service press offices, including social media teams and designers who will be working for a central government employer rather than their individual department.

Leversidge said the memo would increase uncertainty and anxiety. “The message today that GCS are ‘exploring voluntary exit schemes’ will heighten fear among staff who are already concerned that there will be reductions in the numbers of comms staff,” she said.

“The fact that GCS have not discussed voluntary redundancies with the trade unions will leave staff feeling that decisions are being made about them without any consultation with them.”

The plan to centralise communications was first announced as part of a blitz of measures to extend Downing Street’s central control across the civil service.

The measures for centralising communications have long been mooted, predating Johnson, but previous internal documents have said they have been spurred on by the prime minister’s personal backing.

The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
×