An analysis of Reform UK's plan to cut 68,500 civil service jobs has revealed that the proposed cuts would involve sacking more planning officers than currently exist in the civil service. The policy paper, led by Reform MP Danny Kruger and published in December, aims to save over £5bn annually by reducing the full-time-equivalent headcount by 13%.
The report, titled Storm and Sunshine, targets specific areas including communications (60% reduction) and human resources (two-thirds reduction). For planning, it calls for a reduction of 450 FTEs, saving £40m a year. However, 2025 statistics show only 445 planners employed across the civil service, with about a third at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). A Reform spokesperson argued the total includes 440 planning inspectors at the MHCLG, but the Planning Inspectorate handles appeals and major infrastructure projects.
Another proposal would cut 930 occupational psychology roles, saving £60m a year. Of 1,390 psychologists, 90% work in the prison and probation service, primarily supporting prison staff. A Reform spokesperson claimed prisons would be safer under a Reform government, but the cut would remove at least two-thirds of these psychologists. Additionally, 2,500 security roles would be cut, saving £150m a year, affecting the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office, which guard bases and handle cybersecurity.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood criticised the plan, stating: 'This is yet another of Reform’s policies that isn’t worth the paper it is written on. Not only does their plan propose cuts to teams larger than the number of people employed in them, it would also slash security staff who protect sensitive sites and cybersystems, while gutting psychological support in our prisons. They are not a serious party.'
