News

05.01.17

Civil Service integrity not being defended as EU ambassador resigns

The FDA has urged government ministers to take to the airwaves to defend the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service following criticism of the UK’s outgoing EU ambassador.

Dave Penman, the union’s general secretary, made the comment following the sudden resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers, the head of UK Representation to the EU (UKRep), on Tuesday.

In his resignation e-mail to UKRep staff, Sir Ivan attacked “muddled thinking” over Brexit and stated that the government will only achieve the best outcome if it “harnesses the best experience” it has and listens to advice on the views of the other EU member states “even where this is uncomfortable”.

Penman, who leads the union for senior managers and professionals in the public service, agreed, saying: “If the Civil Service is to deliver a successful Brexit negotiation, the recipe for that success is unlikely to be to starve it of resources, lack clarity of objective and be surrounded with yes men and women who will not speak truth unto power.

“It doesn't surprise me that some politicians are calling for pro-Brexit civil servants to be appointed, what surprises me is the deafening silence from ministers who should be taking to the airwaves to defend the integrity and capability of the impartial civil service.”

Following Sir Ivan’s resignation, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative minister and Leave campaigner, accused him of “sour grapes”, being involved in leaks to the media and thinking he was “more important than perhaps he really is”.

Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader, said he believed “a lot more” ambassadors should resign and prime minister Theresa May should appoint “a firm Brexiteer” as Rogers’ replacement.

Penman said May was sitting back while officials were being “pilloried” by a succession of former ministers.

In what was seen as a rejection of the calls to appoint a Brexiteer, Sir Tim Barrow, was announced yesterday as Sir Ivan’s successor.

Sir Tim, a former UK ambassador to Russia, UK representative to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union and ambassador to the Western European Union, said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU at this crucial time.

“I look forward to joining the strong leadership team at the Department for Exiting the EU and working with them and the talented staff at UKRep to ensure we get the right outcome for the United Kingdom as we leave the EU.”

A Downing Street spokesperson added that Sir Tim was “a seasoned and tough negotiator” who would “work alongside other senior officials and ministers to make a success of Brexit”.

(Image c. Daniel Leal-Olivas from PA Wire and Press Association Images)

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become a PSE columnist? If so, click here 

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

public sector executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >
How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

19/06/2019How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

Tom Chance, director at the National Community Land Trust Network, argues t... more >

editor's comment

25/10/2017Take a moment to celebrate

Devolution, restructuring and widespread service reform: from a journalist’s perspective, it’s never been a more exciting time to report on the public sector. That’s why I could not be more thrilled to be taking over the reins at PSE at this key juncture. There could not be a feature that more perfectly encapsulates this feeling of imminent change than the article James Palmer, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has penned for us on p28. In it, he highlights... read more >

last word

Prevention: Investing for the future

Prevention: Investing for the future

Rob Whiteman, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance (CIPFA), discusses the benefits of long-term preventative investment. Rising demand, reducing resource – this has been the r more > more last word articles >

interviews

Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

17/12/2018Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

It’s no secret that the public sector and its service providers need ... more >

the raven's daily blog

Cleaner, greener, safer media: Increased ROI, decreased carbon

23/06/2020Cleaner, greener, safer media: Increased ROI, decreased carbon

Evolution is crucial in any business and Public Sector Executive is no different. Long before Covid-19 even became a thought in the back of our minds, the team at PS... more >
read more blog posts from 'the raven' >

public sector events

events calendar

back

August 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 1 2 3 4 5 6

featured articles

View all News