Starmer unveils major civil service reform plans, targets technology integration

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce significant reforms aimed at reshaping the civil service, which he describes as 'flabby' and ineffective amid a global era of instability. He aims to cut costs of regulation by 25% and increase the use of technology and artificial intelligence, with a goal that one in ten civil servants work in tech roles within five years. Starmer asserts that the civil service has grown by 130,000 since the Brexit referendum without corresponding improvements in service delivery, claiming that it has become overstretched and unfocused. Critics, including civil service unions, warn that the reforms may lead to job losses as the government seeks to streamline operations and enhance productivity, potentially saving taxpayers up to £45 billion. Starmer emphasizes the necessity for an active government that addresses major societal issues, rather than one that simply expands in size. His upcoming speech is positioned as a call for urgency in government efficiency to better serve working people.