Rayner is set to get a staffing boost if a push to abolish DCMS is followed through. There have been very few actual details since Downing Street briefed the Sunday Times in early May that Nandy would be removed via her culture department’s abolition later in the year. Apart from Chris Bryant pleading for his job in the Commons…
DCMS’s abolition was one of a number of options presented to the PM earlier in the year. He hasn’t signed off on it…
Despite that it is a popular option inside government and discussions on the abolition are live and details are being fleshed out. A likely option is that the culture civil servants will be spread mostly across up to three remaining departments…
Guido hears it is Rayner’s MHCLG which is currently teed up to receive the “vast majority” of Nandy’s civil servants. There are around 2,000 DCMS staff to MHCLG’s 4,000. Civil Service moves have now seen Rayner’s staff move to expansive Admiralty House – which happens to be where Rayner lives in a grace and favour flat. More desks for the Nandy survivors are easy to add. Fresh from a win in the Spending Review too – that’s one way to build a power base…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”