UK Civil Service Numbers and Welfare Policy: Key Changes and Debates
This article examines recent shifts in the size of the UK civil service and proposed changes to welfare policy, particularly concerning EU nationals. The Conservative party aims to reduce the civil service to 2016 levels, while also seeking to limit future welfare payments to British citizens only.
Changes in Civil Servant Numbers
The number of civil servants has fluctuated significantly in recent years. In 2016, the UK had approximately 384,000 civil servants, the lowest number since World War Two. Currently, there are 517,000 full-time civil servants, a rise of 4,000 from the previous year.
The Conservative party intends to reduce civil service numbers back to 2016 levels, a goal previously stated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Much of the growth in the civil service occurred under the previous Conservative government due to Brexit preparations and the Covid pandemic.
- 94,000 more people are working in the civil service compared to March 2020, when the first pandemic lockdown began.
- Over two-thirds of the workforce is based in five government departments: the Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Justice, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office.
Conservative Welfare Policy and EU Nationals
The Conservatives are planning a £23 billion reduction from the welfare budget, which is a significant portion of their £47 billion total savings package. A key element of their proposal involves restricting future welfare payments to British citizens.
However, the European Union Withdrawal Agreement grants certain protections to EU nationals with settled status. One of these protections limits the UK government's ability to restrict their access to benefits. Reform UK faced a similar issue when proposing changes to indefinite leave to remain, later clarifying that the changes would not impact EU nationals with protected settled status.
BBC Verify has contacted the Conservatives to clarify whether their welfare policy will apply to EU nationals with settled status.
