AI should replace some work of civil servants, Starmer to announce
GuardianMAR 14
UK: Starmer Scraps NHS England, Pushes Civil Service AI Reform in State Shakeup
Above: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech on plans to reform the civil service, during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd on March 13, 2025 in Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom. Image copyright: Oli Scarff /WPA Pool/Getty Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Reform should empower staff, not undermine them. Replacing civil servants with AI and scrapping NHS England will be disastrous for public services. The Civil Service has been stretched thin by challenges like Brexit and underinvestment, while NHS England was established to depoliticize the healthcare system and protect the service against the damaging impacts of government short-termism.
Right narrative
Scrapping NHS England and reforming the Civil Service are vital to curb the UK's bloated public sector. NHS England, with its vast budget and lack of accountability, has failed to boost productivity. Streamlining the civil service through that utilization of AI will cut waste and inefficiency, redirecting funds to essential services like healthcare and policing, while reducing the burden on taxpayers and boosting economic growth.