Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to the Institute for Government’s report today on the Civil Service, said:

“The Civil Service is there to support the Government of the day, not aid political parties before an election.   

“It is important that there are guidelines on how the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats utilise civil servants in the run up to the election to ensure that any attempts to politicise the Civil Service are blocked.    

“The impartiality of the Civil Service must be protected.          

“Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers should be working around the clock to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, not playing politics or having phoney rows with each other in public in an attempt to shore up their own support.”