UK Government Plans Move of 12,000 Civil Service Jobs to Manchester, Scotland, Cardiff

The UK government plans to relocate thousands of civil service jobs out of London to save costs and bring decision-making closer to communities across the country. The initiative aims to reduce London roles by 12,000 and close 11 offices, saving approximately £94 million annually by 2032, while opening new government campuses in Manchester and Aberdeen and creating roles in other cities including Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, and Glasgow. This relocation is expected to deliver a £729 million economic boost to 13 designated growth areas by 2030. The government also intends to have 50% of UK-based senior civil servants work outside London by 2030 and to reform hiring practices to allow talented individuals from across the UK to progress without needing Whitehall experience. While unions have welcomed the move, they seek more clarity on the impact on civil servants, and opposition voices have criticized the plans as ineffective reshuffling rather than real efficiency improvements. The government emphasizes that these reforms will modernize the civil service, better reflect the UK population, support economic growth, and reduce bureaucracy and running costs by 15% by the end of the decade.