‘They hear it too’: Sue Gray urges caution over civil service cuts and hits out at insults

Sue Gray has suggested No 10 should be “careful” about civil service cuts and derogatory language about the work of Whitehall.

Delivering her maiden speech in the House of Lords, Baroness Gray called out political terms often used in reference to the civil service, such as the “blob” and “pen-pushers”, and talk of cuts with “axes” and “chainsaws”.

She said: “What these and other civil servants are doing is central to the government’s and the nation’s mission to bring back growth into our economy and security to our society.

“That is why I would caution all of us to be careful not just about our decisions, but about our language. When we hear the phrases of ‘blobs’, ‘pen pushers’, ‘axes’, ‘chainsaws’ and other implements, they hear it too.”

She added: “Difficult decisions are needed, of course, and the civil service will be keen to be part of any reform journey. But we need them and other public servants to succeed.

“I will continue to support a progressive civil service. I hope others will do the same.”

Speaking from the upper chamber’s red benches for the first time since her ennoblement, Gray also spoke of growing up in north London as the daughter of Irish immigrant parents.

At one point during her maiden address, Gray’s voice broke with emotion as she recalled her mother’s suicide some years after her father’s sudden death.

She also referred to her “challenging” recent period in and around Downing Street “whether working in it or investigating it”, a joint reference to her role as No 10 chief of staff and as Partygate investigator.

She quipped at one point: “I am not sure what it is about the mention of my time in Downing Street that brings me to the issue of job security and employment.

“But more seriously, I want to return to my first set of jobs in what was the Department for Social Security, working in employment support.”

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