Government to Cut Dedicated EDI Roles in Civil Service in Bid to Streamline Operations

The UK government has announced plans to eliminate dedicated roles focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the civil service, in a move aimed at increasing efficiency and refocusing resources.

Esther Mcvey, the Cabinet Office minister, issued a stern warning against turning Whitehall into a ‘pointless job creation scheme for the politically correct’ as she revealed the details of the initiative.

Mcvey emphasized the need for taxpayer-centric decision-making, stressing the importance of avoiding excessive internal discussions around ideological matters within the civil service.

Under new guidelines soon to be released, all external EDI expenditure in the civil service will be halted unless specifically approved and authorized by ministers.

The restructuring will see a cessation of dedicated EDI roles outside of human resources, with non-HR staff no longer working exclusively on EDI initiatives.

Furthermore, departments will incorporate standalone EDI positions into existing HR teams, blending EDI tasks with other HR responsibilities to streamline operations and ensure accountability.

Joanna Marchong, from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, praised the move as a step toward bringing common sense back to Whitehall and curbing unnecessary spending on EDI initiatives.

On the opposition side, Labour’s Pat Mcfadden criticized the government’s approach, highlighting the pressing issues of NHS waitlists and economic challenges, suggesting a need for focusing on core responsibilities rather than scapegoating civil servants.