The Guardian view on civil service reform: AI cannot conjure a capable state on its own | Editorial

Antonia Romeo has called for a major overhaul of the civil service, including shifting powers and resources to local and regional government and using AI to improve public services. The editorial argues that technology can help officials work more efficiently, but cannot replace resources, accountability or fair outcomes.

It says Whitehall’s relative standing has declined and that trust depends on reliable decisions people can challenge. Research tracking 476 public service leaders from 1945 to 2022 found that recent senior officials again came disproportionately from advantaged backgrounds, while people with scientific and quantitative expertise remain scarce. The editorial argues that reform should widen access to leadership and value specialist skills alongside changes to incentives and training.