The pen-pushers of Parliament – the House of Commons Administration – ballooned in headcount by 91% in a decade, according to Parliament’s Finance Committee. ‘Trimming the fat’ anyone?
Back in March 2015, there were 1,620 full-time staff. Fast forward to March this year: 3,396. That’s a lot of extra hands advising MPs on procedure, running HR, and keeping the day-to-day workings of the Estate ticking over. Chair Steve Barclay said the Committee will look to “reduce costs” and “consider how new technology could be better deployed”. Not a bad idea…
At the same time, the Commons Executive Board is rolling out a “savings and improvement programme” promising to save 10% over three years. So far, that’s translated into little more than shorter hours for the estate’s cafes and catering…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”