Political reporter Joshua Nevett reported that the government plans to relocate thousands of civil servants out of London in an effort to save money and distribute government jobs across the country. The government aims to decrease the number of roles in London by 12,000 and shut down 11 offices in the capital by 2032, resulting in an annual saving of £94m. This move will involve the establishment of two new government campuses in Manchester and Aberdeen, with additional roles being created in various towns and cities.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden emphasized the government’s goal of bringing decision-making “closer to communities all across the UK” through the relocation of civil service roles. He highlighted that the initiative not only saves taxpayers’ money but also aligns the government more closely with the population it serves. Conversely, Shadow Conservative Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart criticized Labour, accusing the party of being “fundamentally unserious” in reducing the size of the state efficiently and making meaningful changes on behalf of taxpayers.
The government is in the process of reviewing proposals from different departments regarding the relocation of staff, including senior civil servants. The spending review, scheduled to be finalized by June, will determine the exact number of civil servants to be relocated. As part of its efforts to streamline the civil service, the Labour government has outlined several reforms aimed at reducing operational costs, which have gradually increased over the years. These reforms include cutting 2,100 jobs within the Cabinet Office in the next two years to contribute to a 15% decrease in government running costs by the end of the decade.
In a push to centralize the distribution of senior civil servants across the UK, the government plans to house 50% of these officials in regional offices by 2030. Manchester and Aberdeen have been identified as locations for two of the three new regional campuses, focusing on digital innovation and energy, respectively. Other cities like Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, Darlington, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast, and York will also see new roles created, leading to an anticipated £729m boost to the local economy by 2030. The move to disperse civil service roles beyond London has been met with both optimism and caution from union leaders, who emphasize the need for collaboration between the government and unions to ensure successful relocation plans and broader civil service reform implementations
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