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Political reporter, Sam Francis, reports on Baroness Sue Gray’s challenge to the government’s decision to limit a civil service internship scheme to working-class students. The Labour peer questioned the rationale behind last month’s announcement to restrict a Whitehall internship to students from “lower socio-economic backgrounds”. The government defended the change, stating that it will bring in more working-class young people, thus broadening the talent pool for a civil service that reflects the diversity of the country.
Starting from October 2026, Whitehall’s main internship scheme aimed at attracting university students to the civil service will now only be accessible for students from “lower socio-economic backgrounds” as determined by their parents’ occupations when they were 14. Successful participants in the internship will be given priority for entry into the Fast Stream, the principal graduate program for entering the civil service. Baroness Gray, coming from a working-class background herself, expressed reservations about the decision, emphasizing the importance of exposure to diverse groups in the civil service to facilitate learning and growth.
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, a Labour minister, expressed rare disagreement with Baroness Gray, affirming that the aim is not to compromise the civil service’s meritocracy but to ensure equal access to it for all, regardless of their background. On the other hand, Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister, Baroness Finn, critiqued the government’s proposed changes to the summer internship program, highlighting concerns about limiting the pool of talent and fairness in the selection process. The debate over the internship scheme continues among members of the House of Lords, with differing perspectives on its potential impact and effectiveness.
Baroness Gray’s personal background as the daughter of Irish immigrants, growing up in 1950s Tottenham with a salesman father and barmaid mother, lends weight to her advocacy for a more inclusive civil service. Her professional journey, from joining the civil service straight out of school to becoming a prominent figure in the Partygate investigation, has influenced her views on the importance of public servants in the UK. As she navigates her role in the House of Lords, Baroness Gray remains committed to championing the value of public service and advocating for diversity and inclusivity within the civil service
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