Civil service impartiality

Approximate read time: 15 minutes

The House of Lords is scheduled to consider the following question for short debate on 17 September 2026:

Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench) to ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to strengthen impartiality in the civil service and the delivery of public services.

1. Key points

• Impartiality is one of the key principles contained in the civil service code which governs the role and responsibilities of the civil service. The Scottish and Welsh governments also have their own versions of the code.
• The civil service code was last updated in 2015. Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo has recently announced plans to update the code but has restated that impartiality is one of the principles that runs “through the stick of rock of the civil service”.
• The Sir Keir Starmer government promised a wide-ranging review of the civil service to be published in 2027. The Burnham government has promised a “rewiring of the state” with significant implications for operation of the civil service. It has also confirmed the review will continue as proposed.
• The Cabinet Office has also issued new guidance for civil service staff networks—employee-led, often cross-departmental groups—following recent examples where the conduct of some of these groups was called into question. The civil service commission has also reiterated the rules on civil service recruitment following recent involvement of special advisers in a Home Office recruitment process.

2. Impartiality and the civil service code

The civil service is an integral part of the government of the United Kingdom. It supports the government of the day in developing and implementing its policies, and in delivering public services. Civil servants are accountable to ministers, who in turn are accountable to Parliament.

The conduct of civil servants is governed by the civil service code.^[1] The code includes several provisions on the questions of ethics and propriety. They include that civil servants are appointed on merit following fair and open competition, and are expected to carry out their roles with dedication and a commitment to the civil service and its core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

The code defines those values as follows:

• ‘Integrity’ is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.
• ‘Honesty’ is being truthful and open.
• ‘Objectivity’ is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
• ‘Impartiality’ is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions.^[2]

The code maintains that these core values support good government and ensure the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the civil service does. In turn, the code contends that this helps the civil service gain and retain the respect of ministers, Parliament, the public and its customers.

Civil servants working for the Scottish and Welsh governments and their agencies have their own versions of the civil service code.^[3] Under section 5 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, these are published by the minister for the civil service following consultation with the first ministers of Scotland and Wales and must be laid before the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

3. Proposals to update the civil service code and review civil service organisation, performance and transformation

The civil service code was last updated in 2015. The new cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia, has announced her intention to refresh the civil service code to ensure it is “up to date, well understood, and adhered to across the civil service”.^[4] In evidence to the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee where she discussed the plans, Dame Antonia said “integrity, impartiality, honesty and objectivity run through the stick of rock of the civil service”, adding:

Being impartial does not mean you do not understand politics. You can actually be deeply interested in politics; it just means that you yourself are not politically motivated or, if you are, you leave it at the door. Impartiality really has two parts: one is that things are done just on the merits of the case—you put your arguments on the merits of the case, and you are not driven by any ideology. The second part is specifically political impartiality, which means that, while you serve the government of the day and have the confidence of ministers, you do so in a way that allows you to retain the confidence of any future government you may be required to serve.

[…] People need to understand what we mean by impartiality. Impartiality does not mean that you are blithely proposing things that are obviously not going to wash or that are never going to pass through Parliament. You can obviously offer up a range of options. You have to understand the context in which you are operating, but you must be completely impartial when presenting those options.^[5]

The Starmer government also announced a review into the organisation, performance, and transformation of the permanent civil service. Giving a statement alongside the publication of the terms of reference for the review,^[6] the former prime minister said it would seek to protect civil service impartiality:

This government is committed to strengthening the delivery, accountability, innovation, and productivity of the civil service, and to safeguard its impartiality and core values, to enhance trust and confidence in the institutions of government.

To this end, the cabinet secretary and head of the civil service will lead a wide-ranging review into the organisation, performance, and transformation of the permanent civil service, with the aim of setting out a vision for the future civil service as a world-class institution.^[7]

Sir Keir said the review would report before summer 2027.

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has set out a policy and legislative agenda centred around ‘rewiring the state’ contained within a statement released by the cabinet on 31 July 2026.^[8] The proposals include what the government has called “a fundamental rewiring of the way our country works” and ministers said they had agreed a “new framework for governing” and said the full shape of the new model of government would be in place by the end of this parliament.

On the implications for the civil service, the statement said the changes would mean “a smaller and more strategic civil service, focused on the challenges that can best be dealt with at a national level”.^[9] It added:

We believe this represents an opportunity for the civil service to adapt and learn through greater interchange with regional and local government, becoming more porous and working together to deliver better outcomes for the citizens we serve.^[10]

Ministers have also confirmed that the review of the civil service will continue. Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 September 2026 on plans for rewiring the state, First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said:

A significant programme of civil service reform is under way, led by the cabinet secretary. That programme has already begun reforming the civil service recruitment system to ensure that it hires and promotes truly brilliant people. It is reviewing the talent strategy to develop and grow talent right across the civil service and the whole UK, and is launching capability reviews to assess departmental delivery. It is identifying areas for improvement and building on the successful transformation already under way through the places for growth programme.^[11]

Parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, Mark Ferguson, added in response to questions on 10 September 2026:

We are committed, and the cabinet secretary is committed, to conducting a full review of the civil service. It is at a relatively early stage, but I look forward to hearing what decisions are made.^[12]

4. Examinations of impartiality in the civil service and 2024 impartiality guidance

In 2022, former Cabinet Office minister Lord Maude of Horsham (Conservative) was asked to conduct a review of governance and accountability in the civil service, reporting in November 2023.^[13] Lord Maude’s review was wide-ranging, drawing conclusions and making recommendations across various areas of the civil service including the delegation of power, accountability, recruitment, and on political influence and politicisation in the civil service. Specifically on the issue of impartiality, Lord Maude’s review said it was important to be clear what this meant in a civil service context:

It is the ability to serve an incoming government of a different political complexion with the same degree of commitment and enthusiasm shown to the incumbent government. It must include the willingness to give robust independent advice to ministers—and indeed to senior officials—but that requirement is one that ministers should expect from all of their advisers, including political appointees.^[14]

The review added:

[Impartiality] is not “neutrality” in the sense of being indifferent to the programme of the incumbent government. As [former head of the civil service] Lord O’Donnell made a point of stressing that civil servants should show “passion” in how they carried out their work, rather than what the social mobility commission has described as “studied neutrality”. This is a democracy, and government is meant to be political. Most ministers would infinitely prefer to be served by civil servants who respect the role of politics in a democracy and the mandate that it confers, and who understand the motivations of ministers even if that official subsequently turns out to have political leanings different from their own. A civil servant with a political bent different from the minister is much more likely to serve that minister well than one who has turned elegant detachment, or “studied neutrality”, into an art form. It is what officials do that matters, not what they believe. Ministers want officials who give honest and well-informed advice, and who understand how to get things done, and ministers will generally be more concerned about these qualities than about any political antecedents.^[15]

The review said, whilst civil service reform was required, it was important political impartiality was maintained so that the civil service could serve an incoming government of a different complexion equally effectively.

For a more in-depth discussion of Lord Maude’s report, and politicisation in the civil service more broadly, see the House of Lords Library briefing ‘Politicisation of the civil service’ (21 November 2024).

In May 2024, the Cabinet Office published guidance on impartiality in the context of diversity and inclusion.^[16] The guidance reiterated that civil servants must be mindful of the core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality (including political impartiality) in the civil service code. It said the guidance had been developed to provide clarity on civil service diversity and inclusion and to reinforce impartiality across the civil service with advice on impartiality in language and practice. It made clear that such principles applied whether in reference to diversity and inclusions initiatives, or wider government work:

Although this guidance specifically references the delivery of diversity and inclusion, it applies to any work-related activity that supports the civil service to be more inclusive, whether that is directly supporting ministers and the government in fulfilling their duties, such as when developing and delivering policy, organising or engaging in learning and development activities or participating in staff networks.^[17]

5. Recent developments

5.1 Civil service staff networks

In recent years, civil service staff networks have prompted news coverage after reports of certain networks being involved in conduct that may contravene civil service impartiality guidelines. For example, the Times reported that webinars held by the civil service Muslim network included discussion of how to change government policy on Israel and contained alleged antisemitic tropes.^[18] Civil Service World have reported, however, that an internal investigation had been carried out into the civil service Muslim network which found it had “no case to answer” according to a response to a Freedom of Information request.^[19]

In September 2025, the Cabinet Office published new rules for all civil service staff networks to ensure their activities remain within the civil service code.^[20] The rules stated that all events must now be signed off by a senior civil servant before preparations begin. The changes also make clear that events should always take place outside working hours, unless they directly benefit the organisation, such as learning and development. In these instances, sign off from an individual’s line manager is required to attend the event.

The rules also re-confirmed that all networks must remain impartial at all times and must not attempt to influence government policy in any way. Any employees who breach the civil service code, including in relation to network activity, may be subject to disciplinary action. Under the rules, network activity may be suspended or ceased if networks do not comply with these requirements.

5.2 Civil service recruitment

The civil service commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit following fair and open competition, and to help safeguard an impartial civil service.^[21] The first civil service commissioner, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Crossbench), wrote to the permanent secretary of the Home Office on 22 June 2026 following what she described as a “fundamental breach of the recruitment principles”, whereby Home Office special advisers had reportedly met with candidates for a role during the recruitment process.^[22] In a subsequent letter sent to all departmental permanent secretaries, the first civil service commissioner said:

Any contact between special advisers and candidates will be interpreted as a fundamental breach of the recruitment principles. It is essential that special advisers in your department are aware of this. It is also important that those working in ministerial private offices know that they should not be supporting or facilitating such contact. A fundamental breach may result in an immediate audit of your department to identify and address any underlying issues.

I have asked the Civil Service Commission to adjust its audits of departments to provide assurance that appropriate training is in place and can be evidenced. Any instance of a suspected breach of the recruitment principles must be notified to the commission at the earliest opportunity. This is a requirement of both the recruitment principles and the civil service code.^[23]

The first commissioner also wrote to all heads of department following Andy Burnham becoming prime minister to reiterate the requirements for managing the entry and exit of civil servants.^[24]

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