Memo to Keir Starmer and co: we are civil servants – not the enemy | The civil servant

Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change speech contained the claim that too many civil servants are “comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline” The PM has since read the room and beat a hasty retreat, though not before mustering yet another ejaculation of praise for the civil service that commends us worker bees for our dedication and professionalism.

Ministers right across government have also been re-spreading the love.

As union boss Dave Penman has pointed out, civil servants support reform and are up for the challenge of improving public services. Couldn’t the prime minister try to bring us with him? - The author works for the UK civil service.