At a time when the UK government is facing pressure to cut costs and shrink the size of the Civil Service, a new report is raising eyebrows over how much is being spent on equality and diversity initiatives.
Think £27 million in just one year—yes, you read that right.
While most of us are concerned about rising bills or whether our local GP surgery is still open, inside Whitehall, big money is being poured into staff and schemes aimed at promoting inclusion.
But not everyone is convinced it’s value for money.
£27 Million on Equality and Diversity Alone
According to the first full audit of what critics call “Whitehall wokery,” the Civil Service spent over £27 million in 2022/23 on equality, diversity, and inclusion—often shortened to EDI—staff and related projects.
This includes 380 full-time EDI officers on average salaries of £53,000, racking up a combined wage bill of £20 million.
And that’s not all. Another £534,000 was spent on diversity networks made up of nearly 3,000 committee members across 570 groups.
Throw in cash spent on away days, partnerships with outside organisations, and memberships (like the one with Stonewall), and the total figure really starts to stack up.
What Could That Money Have Paid For?
Critics are pointing out that £27 million isn’t just a number—it’s what could have been used to fund the winter fuel payments of about 135,000 pensioners, or to pay the salaries of over 1,000 nurses.
It’s this kind of comparison that’s sparking debate over whether the government is getting its priorities right.
Some civil servants say the EDI roles are essential for creating inclusive workplaces.
But others argue these efforts sometimes promote controversial or unproven views on gender and race, leading to unnecessary spending without clear results.
Government Prepares for Massive Civil Service Cuts
All this comes as the government is preparing to slash tens of thousands of civil service jobs.
Around 515,000 people currently work in the Civil Service, a big jump from the 380,000 recorded back in 2016.
But ministers are now eyeing a major cut—up to 50,000 roles could be gone by 2030.
Sources familiar with the plans suggest the workforce could shrink to around 450,000 over the next five years.
Labour’s Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer are reportedly on board, aiming to trim what they see as a bloated system.
A New Report Says the Government Could Go Even Further
A new report from the think tank Policy Exchange, backed by a former senior civil servant, argues that 80,000 jobs could be cut—far more than currently proposed.
The report claims this would save £5 billion a year, double the amount ministers have set as their target.
How would they do it? The report recommends slicing 60% from the communications departments, halving HR staff, and getting rid of “excessive layers of management.”
But there’s a twist—they also suggest rewarding top-performing staff with higher pay and tweaking pension rules to allow more take-home income in exchange for reduced pension contributions.
The Balancing Act Between Cuts and Reform
Stephen Webb, the former senior official who authored the report, says ministers already know where the problems lie and could act quickly if they chose to.
“We believe £5 billion in reductions over the next year or two is possible,” he said.
Sir Keir Starmer has also made it clear he wants to overhaul what he recently called an “overcautious and flabby” state.
That means making the system leaner and more efficient, but without losing the skills and talent that make government function.
The Government Keeps Quiet—for Now
As the political heat rises over spending and job cuts, government spokespeople are staying tight-lipped.
“We don’t comment on speculation ahead of the spending review,” one official said.
Still, with both major parties talking about reform, and public concern about value for money growing, one thing’s clear: the conversation about how the Civil Service spends its budget is far from over.