A top union boss has issued a stern warning to “woke civil servants” on GB News after a flurry of Whitehall workers threatened to resign if faced with a Reform Government.
High-grade and low-grade officials alike made the bold claim as a Government led by Nigel Farage appears all the more likely, according to national polls.
The party’s staggering success so far has sent goosebumps among the “impartial” employees who seem increasingly concerned about Reform’s potential 2029 success, particularly after Danny Kruger revealed plans to slash its size.
Joining GB News’ Martin Daubney, who described the move as “throwing their toys out the pram”, the General Secretary of the First Division Association Dave Penman issued a stark warning to his workforce on the People’s Channel.
He told Martin: “I think most observers understand that if you join the Civil Service, you know that you’re joining a service where you serve whatever elected Government.
“Most civil servants through their career will serve different colours of Government. That’s the nature of politics. I take the political with a little bit of a pinch of salt.
“It starts with the chatter in Westminster watering holes. But the vast majority of civil servants are not anywhere near Westminster watering holes.
“They’re up and down the country, delivering public services. So I have no doubt if Reform came in and made some radical choices around policy, then maybe some people would be uncomfortable with that.
Whitehall workers have threatened to resign over Reform’s possible win in 2029
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“But the choice of every civil servant has is: serve the Government of the day or leave. That’s the way it works.”
In response, Martin argued: “But the reality is, a lot of our viewers certainly do believe that the Civil Service is imbibed in a more liberal mindset, a more woke mindset, for want of a better word.
“Do you think that’s a fair assumption that, taking the Home Office [as an example], we see the Home Office tweeting out that Britain is welcoming, Britain is inclusive, Britain is open.
“It seems to be in direct contravention of what the British voters want.”
Mr Penman insisted much of a civil servant’s job remains the same – even when the Government changes hands
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Mr Penman hit back, saying: “The civil service doesn’t do things on its own acts on behalf of Government and ministers. And, you know, I mean, you see that about the civil service and the nature of the civil service.
“Ultimately, civil servants know they’ve got to serve whatever Government that’s there and that if there are policies around a Government, whether it’s a Labour Government or a Conservative Government or a potential Reform one they don’t like, they’ve either got to deliver that or they’ve got to get out.
“I mean, I really don’t buy this, that there would be a mass exodus.”
“If you look at what the Home Office do, the vast majority of the people in the Home Office are trying to secure our borders, are working in and at the Border Force.
“They are working on behalf of the UK and the UK Government is elected, trying to enforce the policies of that Government.
“They would do that for a Reform Government as well. What civil servants do doesn’t really change that much between Governments.
“If you think you’re collecting tax, you’re securing borders, you’re a diplomat in an embassy – all of those things are maintained regardless of the colour of the Government.”
Mr Kruger announced the cuts to the Civil Service after he defected to Reform in September 2025, which included plans to cut 68,000 jobs and replace permanent secretaries with outsiders.
The MP claimed his proposed cuts to Whitehall will slash the civil service salary bill by 17 per cent, saving £5.2billion a year.