Starmer made a lot of his desire to see civil servants work with new efficiency after getting out of their “tepid bath of managed decline.” For about 24 hours before he rolled back on that one…
At least one Cabinet minister is finding creative ways of using the ingenuity of civil servants. Guido hears from multiple Whitehall sources that Deputy PM Angela Rayner moved from her place on Vincent Square in December to a swanky government-owned flat in Admiralty House. Not that she did the move herself…
Rayner incredibly instructed civil servants in her private office to help with some of the removal – taking furniture here and there, cleaning up. Staff responsible for running the Deputy PM’s office were made to box up items to pack into a van outside. Guido hears they even emptied her fridge…
There is some disbelief in Whitehall. A Cabinet Office source tells Guido:
“Didn’t realise ‘removal man’ comes under the job description for Rayner’s civil servants.”
There is no word on whether the civil servants moved Rayner’s tepid bath as well. Interesting use of the machinery of government there…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”