Scandal Erupts as Senior Civil Servant Found Holding Multiple Full-Time Positions
A senior civil servant has been exposed for accepting salaries from multiple full-time positions across different government departments simultaneously, as revealed by The i Paper. A Cabinet Office document outlining allegations of fraud within the public sector indicates that the official held three separate jobs at the same time on two distinct occasions between 2022 and 2024.
The troubling report attributed the rise of so-called “polygamous working” to the prevalent working-from-home culture that has emerged in the Civil Service. Data obtained through freedom of information requests in 2024 highlighted that employees across numerous government departments average less than two days a week at their desks.
This revelation is expected to intensify scrutiny on the Government’s commitment to improving the performance of the Civil Service, which opposition leader Keir Starmer has characterized as “overcautious and flabby.” On Thursday, Starmer pledged to implement significant reforms.
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) report detailed that the individual in question held full-time roles in both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in addition to two other positions within the Civil Service. The civil servant managed to maintain a total of four roles while their unaware supervisors were oblivious to their simultaneous employment in other departments. The report stated, “Following an investigation, it was discovered that this individual held three roles in three different government departments during two distinct time frames.”
Although the report did not disclose the individual’s salary or specific job titles, it indicated, “Upon completion of the investigation, this individual was dismissed from DEFRA and the two other current Civil Service employers with immediate effect. They had previously resigned from DHSC.” Furthermore, the civil servant is currently facing charges as the investigation was handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service, with court proceedings reportedly ongoing.
Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden described this case as a “troubling revelation” and called for stricter oversight regarding how civil servants are employed. He remarked, “While in government, the Conservatives commissioned and supported the Boardman report, which included several recommendations for proper monitoring of the Civil Service, including second jobs and outside roles. Unfortunately, Labour has not seen fit to continue implementing these crucial reforms.”
The Government contends that it has “stepped up” efforts to combat public sector fraud since assuming office last year. The NFI report noted a correlation between the increase in Civil Service employees working remotely since the onset of the Covid pandemic and a heightened risk of fraud associated with “polygamous working.” The report emphasized, “This was identified as an emerging risk area due to changes in working practices following Covid-19, as many organizations now permit staff to work remotely or adopt hybrid models as standard operating procedures.”
The issue of civil servants working from home sparked significant debate during the previous parliament, with former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg criticizing remote workers by leaving notes on empty desks in 2022, stating, “I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.” Data released to the Daily Mail in August 2024, under freedom of information laws, revealed that employees in both DEFRA and DHSC averaged less than two days a week in the office, with attendance rates of 35% and 28%, respectively.
The Cabinet Office has refrained from providing further details regarding the civil servant’s employment status. However, the report implies that the individual held a sensitive position, as they had successfully passed counter-terrorism and security vetting. It noted, “This person held two different vetting clearances (CTC and SC) concurrently with various departments, unknown to the vetting team or the respective departments.”
According to the report, the senior official concealed their Civil Service employment history during the job application process, which enabled them to secure multiple government positions during overlapping time periods. This incident unfolds against the backdrop of a broader crackdown on government waste, as Rachel Reeves prepares for a spending review in March, where a series of cost-cutting measures are expected to be unveiled.
Cabinet Ministers have urged for efficiency drives within their departments, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper launching a “DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] unit” modeled after Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative in the United States.
Widespread Outcry and Calls for Reform
Callum McGoldrick from the TaxPayers’ Alliance expressed shock over the incident, describing it as “gobsmacking” and criticized Civil Service leaders for their negligence in allowing such fraudulent behavior to go unnoticed. He stated, “Taxpayers will be utterly astounded that a civil servant managed to juggle multiple full-time positions at the public’s expense. This is not merely a case of bureaucratic blunders; it constitutes outright negligence. If one individual can achieve this, it clearly indicates a lack of scrutiny and performance expectations within the Civil Service.” McGoldrick asserted that the Government must tighten hiring processes, implement proper performance monitoring, and eliminate waste within Whitehall.
Additionally, the Cabinet Office uncovered a similar case of dual employment at Barnsley Council, where a man held two 37-hour-per-week contracts simultaneously over a span of 10 months. He was subsequently taken to court and pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud that resulted in a loss of nearly £17,000 to taxpayers, ultimately receiving a 12-month prison sentence.
Overall, the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) reported that £67.4 million worth of fraud was detected between 2022 and 2024. A Government spokesperson remarked, “While we cannot comment on specific cases, this Government has intensified its efforts to combat public sector fraud.” A spokesperson from DEFRA added, “By participating in the NFI, DEFRA was able to identify and halt this simultaneous employment.” Councillor Robert Frost, spokesperson for core services at Barnsley Council, stated, “As a local authority, we take any fraudulent behavior very seriously and have responded decisively, as evidenced by the report.”
