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Whitehall is too ‘tame, reactive and risk-averse’, says UK’s top civil servant
Antonia Romeo, the UK’s most senior civil servant, says Whitehall is too cautious, reactive and divided, and needs fundamental reform to improve productivity. She plans to change how officials’ performance is managed, rewarding strong delivery and expertise while taking firmer action on poor performance.
Romeo said increased bonuses for high-performing senior officials were only a first step, and that she also wants to reduce staff turnover driven by pay incentives. A review due in the spring will examine departmental structures, artificial intelligence and devolution; she argued AI could cut bureaucracy and help officials focus on decisions and public services, with safeguards.
In short
- Romeo says Whitehall needs major reform.
- Performance management will reward delivery and expertise.
- A spring review will consider AI and departmental structures.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A more decisive, delivery-focused civil service could improve productivity and help public services respond faster to people’s needs. Rewarding strong performance and expertise, addressing persistent poor performance, and using AI to reduce routine bureaucracy may help officials focus on better decisions, provided safeguards protect the public.
The case against
A more performance-driven, risk-taking culture could weaken careful scrutiny and encourage officials to prioritise measurable targets over complex public needs. Changes to pay, staffing and departmental structures may also disrupt expertise and institutional memory, while AI risks creating new errors or accountability gaps if safeguards prove inadequate.