UK Civil Service to Cut £2bn Annually by 2030

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to implement significant cuts to the civil service budget, ordering reductions of over £2 billion annually by the end of the decade as part of a broader spending review. Departments will first need to cut administrative budgets by 10% by 2028-29, followed by a 15% cut to achieve the total savings of £2.2 billion by 2029-30. This measure comes amid pressures to address a £10 billion shortfall in public finances, despite Reeves ruling out raising taxes in the upcoming Spring Statement. Union leaders are voicing concerns that these cuts could lead to significant job losses and impact the civil service's ability to deliver essential services. While Reeves aims to redirect funds to frontline services, experts warn that such rapid cuts may harm operational efficiency. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has urged Reeves to take bolder steps, suggesting even deeper cuts to welfare expenditures to stabilize public finances.