Civil Service regulator launches 'review' into Labour appointments amid 'cronyism' row

The regulator of the Civil Service has launched a review of Labour's appointments to the bureaucracy since they entered government.

It comes following claims of cronyism from the Conservative Party over party political figures and donors being given jobs in the impartial Civil Service.

The appointments include Emily Middleton, formerly of the Labour-aligned group Labour Together; and Ian Corfield, who donated to the party, being given senior roles in the service - although the latter later gave up his job and took on an unpaid role.

It also includes Jess Sargeant, who formerly worked for campaign group Labour Together before reportedly being given a job in the propriety and constitution group in the Cabinet Office.

Baroness Gisela Stuart, the head of the Civil Service Commission and a former Labour MP, wrote to department heads on Friday to let them know of the probe.

Ministers are allowed to make appointments to the Civil Service that skirt normal recruitment processes, and do not have to consult the commission before doing so if the appointments are below a certain pay grade.

Lady Stuart wrote: "Given interest in a number of recent Civil Service appointments by exception and the importance of public trust in these appointments, the Commission has decided to undertake a short review of appointments by exception at delegated grades since 1 July 2024 and the departmental processes in place to make such appointments under the Recruitment Principles."

The departments have until Friday next week to provide the details Lady Stuart has asked for.

Dame Siobhain McDonagh, a veteran Labour MP, replied to the launch of the review by questioning the use of such excepted appointments by previous governments.

She wrote to Lady Stuart: "As you will be aware, since 2010 successive administrations have appointed large numbers of people to roles in the Civil Service using exceptions.

"According to the most recent Civil Service Commission annual report, 9,362 of the 90,251 people appointed to roles in the Civil Service in 2022/23 were appointed through the different exception routes."

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Lady McDonagh asked Lady Stuart for clarity on whether exceptions under previous governments would also be vetted.

She added: "Similarly, there has been significant public interest in a number of individuals with political links appointed under previous administrations.

"They include: Liam Maxwell, Tom Shinner, James Frayne, Pamela Dow and Graham Cundy. Please could you provide clarity on the process and justification for these appointments."

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John Glen, the Conservative's shadow paymaster general, said: "I welcome that the Commission has backed our calls for a review into Labour's crony appointments.

"As the first step, we need full transparency from the government on every 'exceptional' appointment they have made since the general election. Keir Starmer can no longer try to brush this under the carpet."

The Institute for Government thinktank previously said using the exception process is not unusual, and it can be used to help ministers when they don't have hiring power but "are the ones who are held accountable to parliament and the public for running the government".