In a recent statement, Mike Clancy, the general secretary of the Prospect union, has called on government ministers to eliminate the "barking mad" restrictions currently placed on civil service pay. He argues that these constraints hinder the recruitment of essential technical and digital specialists, putting the government at a disadvantage compared to the private sector. Clancy emphasized that it is not unreasonable for senior specialists in competitive sectors to earn salaries exceeding that of the Prime Minister.

Clancy's remarks come in response to comments made by Darren Jones, the Prime Minister’s chief secretary, who has expressed a desire to cultivate a civil service environment that encourages risk-taking and efficiency. Jones plans to revise hiring criteria to favor those who can execute tasks effectively rather than merely discuss them. However, Clancy warns that without appropriate remuneration and advancement opportunities, retaining skilled experts in the civil service will continue to be a major challenge.

The discussion surrounding civil service pay is particularly significant now, as the government is seeking to modernize its workforce and compete with the private sector for talent. As Clancy highlighted, the need for skilled technical personnel is critical in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, and failure to address pay disparities could lead to a detrimental skills gap. Therefore, the government faces a pressing need to reassess its compensation strategy to attract and retain the expertise required for effective governance and service delivery.