The Civil Service Commission, led by Baroness Gisela Stuart, has initiated a review of civil service appointments made under 'exception' rules following accusations of cronyism by the Conservative Party. The review focuses on appointments made between July and August 2024, particularly those linked to Labour donors, including Ian Corfield and Jess Sargeant. These appointments have raised concerns about maintaining public trust in the impartiality of the civil service. The commission has asked departments to provide details of these exceptions and their internal approval processes by next week. Critics, including Labour MPs, have pointed out that previous administrations also utilized such exceptions extensively, highlighting a longstanding issue in civil service appointments. The review aims to ensure adherence to the principles of fair and open competition in recruitment.