WAIT, WHAT?!
1 October 2024
One-tenth of civil servants 'should be in prison' because they are bad at their jobs, Kemi Badenoch has claimed. Picture: Alamy
By Chay Quinn@chayquinn
One-tenth of civil servants 'should be in prison' because they are bad at their jobs, Kemi Badenoch has claimed.
The Conservative leadership contender joked that some state employees were "'should be in prison' bad", drawing laughter from the audience at a Tory conference fringe event on Tuesday.
Undermining their ministers and leaking official secrets were among the accusations former minister Ms Badenoch levelled against civil servants.
Read More:
By Chay Quinn@chayquinn
One-tenth of civil servants 'should be in prison' because they are bad at their jobs, Kemi Badenoch has claimed.
The Conservative leadership contender joked that some state employees were "'should be in prison' bad", drawing laughter from the audience at a Tory conference fringe event on Tuesday.
Undermining their ministers and leaking official secrets were among the accusations former minister Ms Badenoch levelled against civil servants.
Read More:
Kemi Badenoch slammed by leadership rivals for saying maternity pay is 'excessive' at Tory conference
"It is not all civil servants. I don't want people to get me wrong," she told the audience at The Spectator magazine event, when asked if the government department staff should have term limits.
Ms Badenoch added: "I think that civil servants are like everybody else. They come in to do a job and I would say about 10% of them are absolutely magnificent.
"The trick to being a good minister is to find the good ones quickly, bring them close and try and get the bad ones out of your department as quickly as possible."
"It is not all civil servants. I don't want people to get me wrong," she told the audience at The Spectator magazine event, when asked if the government department staff should have term limits.
Ms Badenoch added: "I think that civil servants are like everybody else. They come in to do a job and I would say about 10% of them are absolutely magnificent.
"The trick to being a good minister is to find the good ones quickly, bring them close and try and get the bad ones out of your department as quickly as possible."
Kemi Badenoch arrives at the Center for Social Justice hustings which featured all four potential leadership candidates on day two of the Conservative Party Conference from the ICC in Birmingham. Credit Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News. Picture: Alamy
"There is about 5% to 10% of them who are very, very bad. You know, 'should be in prison' bad," she added in a remark which the audience laughed at.
The North West Essex MP, who served in several government departments when the Tories were in power, added: "Leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers... agitating.
"I had some of it in my department, usually union-led.
"But most of them actually want to do a good job, and the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones."
Elsewhere at the event, Ms Badenoch claimed that HR departments are "running the economy right now", in a jibe at cautious workplace culture in the UK.
She faced criticism earlier during the conference for having suggested statutory maternity pay places an "excessive" burden on small businesses.
In a main stage appearance on Monday, Ms Badenoch compared the way her opponents had used the remark against her to the quote often attributed to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher that there is "no such thing as society".
"There is about 5% to 10% of them who are very, very bad. You know, 'should be in prison' bad," she added in a remark which the audience laughed at.
The North West Essex MP, who served in several government departments when the Tories were in power, added: "Leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers... agitating.
"I had some of it in my department, usually union-led.
"But most of them actually want to do a good job, and the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones."
Elsewhere at the event, Ms Badenoch claimed that HR departments are "running the economy right now", in a jibe at cautious workplace culture in the UK.
She faced criticism earlier during the conference for having suggested statutory maternity pay places an "excessive" burden on small businesses.
In a main stage appearance on Monday, Ms Badenoch compared the way her opponents had used the remark against her to the quote often attributed to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher that there is "no such thing as society".
London, England, UK. 30th Sep, 2024. PAT MCFADDEN, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is seen in Westminster. (Credit Image: © Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire) EDITORIAL USAGE ONLY! Not for Commercial USAGE! Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Live News. Picture: Alamy
Ms Badenoch said the remark had been "cut down into a soundbite that was used to attack her (Thatcher)", in a similar manner to the backlash she had faced.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hit out at Ms Badenoch over her suggestion some civil servants "should be in prison".
Mr McFadden said: "Not only are the prisons close to collapse because of Tory failure, but the continuity leadership candidates are still blaming everyone else for their record.
"Civil servants work hard for the country every day and deserve better.
"When the Conservatives were in power they were more focussed on stoking up divisions than delivering for the public. This shows they have not changed."
Kemi Badenoch says up to 50,000 ‘very, very bad’ civil servants should be jailed
A spokesperson for the Public and Commercial Services union accused the Tory leadership contender of continuing a ‘personal feud’ against civil servants
Ms Badenoch said the remark had been "cut down into a soundbite that was used to attack her (Thatcher)", in a similar manner to the backlash she had faced.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hit out at Ms Badenoch over her suggestion some civil servants "should be in prison".
Mr McFadden said: "Not only are the prisons close to collapse because of Tory failure, but the continuity leadership candidates are still blaming everyone else for their record.
"Civil servants work hard for the country every day and deserve better.
"When the Conservatives were in power they were more focussed on stoking up divisions than delivering for the public. This shows they have not changed."
Kemi Badenoch says up to 50,000 ‘very, very bad’ civil servants should be jailed
A spokesperson for the Public and Commercial Services union accused the Tory leadership contender of continuing a ‘personal feud’ against civil servants
Millie Cooke
Political correspondent
Kemi Badenoch drew laughter from the Tory fringe event when she suggested some civil servants should be jailed (PA Wire)
Kemi Badenoch has sparked backlash after joking 50,000 civil servants were so bad at their jobs they should be jailed, claiming they undermine ministers and leak official secrets.
Speaking on the fringes of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Ms Badenoch drew laughter from the audience as she said five to 10 per cent of government department staff should be in prison.
In a stinging attack on the workforce, she described some as “very, very bad”.
With more than 500,000 people employed full time in the civil service as of March 2024, five to 10 per cent would amount to between 25,000 to 50,000 staff members.
Immigrants who see Israel as enemy 'not welcome' in UK says Kemi Badenoch
In response, a spokesperson for the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union - the largest trade union representing civil servants in the UK - accused the Tory leadership contender of continuing a “personal feud” after she was accused of bullying members of staff earlier this year, claims she dismissed.
(REUTERS)
At the event hosted by The Spectator magazine, Ms Badenoch said: “I think that civil servants are like everybody else. They come in to do a job and I would say about 10 per cent of them are absolutely magnificent.
“The trick to being a good minister is to find the good ones quickly, bring them close and try and get the bad ones out of your department as quickly as possible.”
“There is about 5 per cent to 10 per cent of them who are very, very bad. You know, ‘should be in prison’ bad”, she added.
“Leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers … agitating. I had some of it in my department, usually union-led, but most of them actually want to do a good job. And the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones”.
Responding to her remarks, the PCS spokesperson said: “Kemi Badenoch just can’t let it lie, can she? When she was in power she was accused of bullying civil servants.
“Now she’s out of power she’s continuing her personal feud against them, many of whom are our members.
“This is a below the belt attack on hard-working civil servants who can’t answer back.
“We won’t stand for our members being used as vote fodder for the Tory Party leadership election.
“Maybe Badenoch should reflect on her words, the way she treats civil servants and why the Tories lost the General Election.”
In July, the former Cabinet minister was alleged to have created an intimidating atmosphere at the Department of Business and Trade in a report by the Guardian newspaper.
Sources claimed Ms Badenoch was responsible for behaviour that traumatised staff, leading at least three of them to leave their jobs in the department.
But she dismissed the accusations as “smears”, claiming they originated from “former staff who I sacked after they were accused of bullying behaviour, lying about other colleagues to cover up their own failures and general gross incompetence.”
At the event hosted by The Spectator magazine, Ms Badenoch said: “I think that civil servants are like everybody else. They come in to do a job and I would say about 10 per cent of them are absolutely magnificent.
“The trick to being a good minister is to find the good ones quickly, bring them close and try and get the bad ones out of your department as quickly as possible.”
“There is about 5 per cent to 10 per cent of them who are very, very bad. You know, ‘should be in prison’ bad”, she added.
“Leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers … agitating. I had some of it in my department, usually union-led, but most of them actually want to do a good job. And the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones”.
Responding to her remarks, the PCS spokesperson said: “Kemi Badenoch just can’t let it lie, can she? When she was in power she was accused of bullying civil servants.
“Now she’s out of power she’s continuing her personal feud against them, many of whom are our members.
“This is a below the belt attack on hard-working civil servants who can’t answer back.
“We won’t stand for our members being used as vote fodder for the Tory Party leadership election.
“Maybe Badenoch should reflect on her words, the way she treats civil servants and why the Tories lost the General Election.”
In July, the former Cabinet minister was alleged to have created an intimidating atmosphere at the Department of Business and Trade in a report by the Guardian newspaper.
Sources claimed Ms Badenoch was responsible for behaviour that traumatised staff, leading at least three of them to leave their jobs in the department.
But she dismissed the accusations as “smears”, claiming they originated from “former staff who I sacked after they were accused of bullying behaviour, lying about other colleagues to cover up their own failures and general gross incompetence.”
Badenoch 'joking' over claim 10% of civil servants 'should be in prison'
A union for civil servants has reacted angrily to claims by Kemi Badenoch that some civil servants are so bad they should be in prison, citing the leaking of official documents and undermining ministers.
Faye Brown
Political reporter @fayebrownSky
Tuesday 1 October 2024
A union for civil servants has reacted angrily to claims by Kemi Badenoch that some civil servants are so bad they should be in prison, citing the leaking of official documents and undermining ministers.
Faye Brown
Political reporter @fayebrownSky
Tuesday 1 October 2024
Leadership contender Kemi Badenoch. Pic: PA
Kemi Badenoch has been accused of stirring up a culture war after claiming 5-10% of civil servants are "very bad" and "should be in prison".
The Tory leadership hopeful claimed at a party conference fringe event on Tuesday that some civil servants have been "leaking official secrets" and "undermining ministers".
She faced an immediate backlash from Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union that represents civil servants, who said that if she had any evidence to back up the accusations "then action would have been taken".
A source close to Ms Badenoch told Sky News her comments "were a joke".
Ms Badenoch made the remarks during an event hosted by the Spectator magazine, when she was asked for her views on limiting the number of civil servants.
She said they "are like everybody else, they come in to do a job" and "about 10% of them are absolutely magnificent".
She added: "There's about 5 to 10% of them who are very, very bad, you know... should be in prison bad. Leaking, you know, leaking official secrets, you know, undermining their ministers... agitating."
She went on: "I had some of it in my department, usually union-led.
"But most of them actually want to do a good job, and the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones."
'I will swing back'
As of March 2024, there were 510,665 full-time civil servants, so 5% would be around 25,000 people.
Mr Penman said Mr Badenoch had made "serious accusations" and should withdraw them unless she could produce evidence.
He posted on X: "As a former secretary of state, if Badenoch had actual evidence to back up any of these serious accusations against civil servants, then action would have been taken. Otherwise she herself would be culpable. So usual irresponsible culture war then. Rinse and repeat."
In another post, he added: "If she has evidence to back up those claims she should publish it, otherwise withdraw."
Ms Badenoch is vying for the Conservative leadership alongside Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat.
She has made a virtue out of being a straight talker, saying the public want honest politicians and she is not afraid to upset people.
Kemi Badenoch has been accused of stirring up a culture war after claiming 5-10% of civil servants are "very bad" and "should be in prison".
The Tory leadership hopeful claimed at a party conference fringe event on Tuesday that some civil servants have been "leaking official secrets" and "undermining ministers".
She faced an immediate backlash from Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union that represents civil servants, who said that if she had any evidence to back up the accusations "then action would have been taken".
A source close to Ms Badenoch told Sky News her comments "were a joke".
Ms Badenoch made the remarks during an event hosted by the Spectator magazine, when she was asked for her views on limiting the number of civil servants.
She said they "are like everybody else, they come in to do a job" and "about 10% of them are absolutely magnificent".
She added: "There's about 5 to 10% of them who are very, very bad, you know... should be in prison bad. Leaking, you know, leaking official secrets, you know, undermining their ministers... agitating."
She went on: "I had some of it in my department, usually union-led.
"But most of them actually want to do a good job, and the good ones are very frustrated by the bad ones."
'I will swing back'
As of March 2024, there were 510,665 full-time civil servants, so 5% would be around 25,000 people.
Mr Penman said Mr Badenoch had made "serious accusations" and should withdraw them unless she could produce evidence.
He posted on X: "As a former secretary of state, if Badenoch had actual evidence to back up any of these serious accusations against civil servants, then action would have been taken. Otherwise she herself would be culpable. So usual irresponsible culture war then. Rinse and repeat."
In another post, he added: "If she has evidence to back up those claims she should publish it, otherwise withdraw."
Ms Badenoch is vying for the Conservative leadership alongside Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat.
She has made a virtue out of being a straight talker, saying the public want honest politicians and she is not afraid to upset people.
Tory leadership contenders. Pic: PA
She faced criticism earlier during the conference for having suggested the current level of maternity pay is "excessive".
The shadow housing secretary claimed her comments were "misrepresented" and she was talking about excessive business regulation rather than the level of the benefit, which she said "was a good thing".
Ms Badenoch is popular with the Tory membership and the current frontrunner to succeed Mr Sunak after the July general election defeat.
But an exclusive poll for Sky News has shown there is still much to play for, with Mr Jenrick in touching distance of her lead and a path to victory available for all the contenders.
She faced criticism earlier during the conference for having suggested the current level of maternity pay is "excessive".
The shadow housing secretary claimed her comments were "misrepresented" and she was talking about excessive business regulation rather than the level of the benefit, which she said "was a good thing".
Ms Badenoch is popular with the Tory membership and the current frontrunner to succeed Mr Sunak after the July general election defeat.
But an exclusive poll for Sky News has shown there is still much to play for, with Mr Jenrick in touching distance of her lead and a path to victory available for all the contenders.
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