As the temperatures drop in this bleak midwinter, spare a thought for our civil servant fast-streamers. The cohort of young Tiny Tims has gone through the consultative stage for strikes – and 81% voted for action. Unsurprisingly, The Guardian has taken to championing their cause, quoting their union who say they are “so poorly paid they are skipping meals and relying on family to get by”.
Guido wouldn’t want to throw shade at a vulnerable, marginalised, stigmatised group like Russell Group alumni in taxpayer-funded jobs, but it must be remembered that the starting salary for most programmes is £28,000, and can go up to £55,000. So, maybe we can pocket our handkerchiefs. These young people are fresh out of university… and the median national salary is £33,000…
As civil servants make plans to join the picket lines, one Whitehall wonk, Blaise Baquiche of DEFRA is taking his anti-government activity to another level. The environmental wonk is standing as a Liberal Democrat against the party he’s meant to be serving impartially. And the seat he’s been selected for… Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Blaise has been working in DEFRA for almost two years, so the Brexit-hating blobster was supposed to be implementing Boris’s agenda – and now he’s seeking election to fight it. The Remainer activist has been specifically tasked with leading comms on the Government’s post-Brexit agricultural policy. It’s no surprise that Blaise counts himself as a member of the tofu-eating wokerati…
Section 4.4.19 of the Civil Service management code states:
“Civil servants are disqualified from election to Parliament… and from election to the European Parliament (European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978). They must therefore resign from the Civil Service before standing for election in accordance with paragraphs 4.4.20 and 4.4.21.”
Whilst some civil servants are granted permission to campaign politically, all have to stand down before nomination papers go in. Guido trusts the resignation letter won’t get caught up in the mail strikes.
UPDATE: DEFRA has been in touch to say Blaise has resigned, though they’re not saying when. This doesn’t come as a surprise, Guido understands he’s still serving out his notice…
As the country braces itself for a month of train strikes and travel chaos, we can rest in the knowledge that one group will always be protected from such discomfort. Guido can reveal that the tireless civil servants over at DEFRA spent a staggering £59,642 on taxi rides in 2022 alone. That’s well over £1,000 a week, and far in excess of the £23,000 spent by DCMS. You’d think those responsible for implementing Net Zero would recognise the need to reduce transport emissions…
The figure for 2022 was treble the £19,811 in 2021 and more in line with the £52,170 they spent in 2020 – bringing the three-year total to £131,623. And this is when they’re working from home…
Fiscal consolidation? What fiscal consolidation? Sure as the sunrise, the civil service is once again hiring for another batch of diversity and inclusion managers across the country, including in the DWP, the College of Policing, and HMRC. And on salaries reaching up to £74,000…
It’s only been a month since the government last spaffed £300,000 on these jobs. Back then, DWP were on the lookout for a “Diversity and Inclusion: Assurance, Governance and Evaluation Work Strand Lead” for £41,000 per year. With that job filled, they moved on to their search for a “Head of Diversity and Equity” on up to £74,000. Unfortunately that vacancy closed last night, along with the “D&I Locations Lead” job in the Cabinet Office (£61,000). So, tardy applicants will have to send their CVs to one of the other eight openings still up on the site…
The total spend for the latest haul, assuming the candidates are talented enough for the top-end salaries, is over £500,000…
While most of London has to dip into their own pockets to beat the tube strikes today, the civil servants over in DCMS can rest easy: the taxpayer will cover their cab fares for them, just as they do for MPs. On the house…
According to DCMS Minister Julia Lopez, from January to October this year, civil servants spent a whopping £23,014.25 on cab fares, with Ministers spending £1,659.10. By comparison, just £4,455.59 was spent on taxi cabs last year, and £6,601.40 the year before. A near £20,000 increase over the previous two years…
It’s been about three weeks since the government last opened the taxpayer’s wallet to hire more diversity tsars – so right on time, they’re back at it. Anyone who just missed out last time, look below. There’s plenty up for grabs.
- The Home Office is searching for a new Deputy Director of Diversity and Inclusion Reform, responsible for directing and shaping “the existing team comprising circa 20 staff”. Yes, 20. The chosen candidate could net up to £85,000…
- The UK Health Security Agency needs another Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, expected to deliver “Inclusive Recruitment training, Let’s Talk about Race sessions, corporate induction and presenting on other new and emerging topics.” Do a decent job and you could earn £45,998…
- The Government Internal Audit Agency also needs a Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Advisor. Tough work, all for £53,324…
- The House of Lords needs both a Head of Inclusion and Diversity and an Inclusion and Diversity Manager, where the pair will somehow “help us attract, retain and develop our skilled workforce” by “understanding” inclusion and diversity. £66,440 and £32,085 up for grabs respectively…
- Even HM Prison and Probation Service need two Diversity and Inclusion Advisors… for some reason. Help make prison life more diverse and inclusive for convicts and earn £38,184 a year…
- Finally, DWP are looking for a Diversity and Inclusion: Assurance, Governance and Evaluation Work Strand Lead. If you think you’re the person to deliver deliver “significant results within [DWP’s] Diversity and Inclusion agenda” apply and earn up to £41,480…
If all these posts were filled at the top salary level, that would cost the taxpayer £334,255 per year. Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, adds:
“Right-on roles are still out of control across the public sector. Warm words to ditch diversity demagogues during the leadership campaign have clearly fallen on deaf ears in Whitehall. Ministers need to get a grip on these non-jobs.”
During the leadership race, Liz promised to do exactly that, by fighting “left-wing groupthink in government” and offering “value“. No luck so far…
