Internships within the civil service won't bridge the socio-economic divide
The UK government, led by Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has announced a new civil service internship scheme exclusively for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This program aims to address the persistent socio-economic imbalance in the civil service.
The scheme offers a six-to-eight-week paid summer internship starting in summer 2026. Eligibility is based on the type of jobs the students' parents had when they were 14 years old, effectively excluding students from middle and upper-income households. The objective is to give talented working-class students a foothold in the civil service, who are currently underrepresented, particularly among fast-stream recruits.
Pat McFadden justifies the policy by emphasizing the need for a civil service that truly reflects the country it serves. He argues that "government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people we serve" and that this is a step toward broadening access for underrepresented groups.
The targeted internship directly addresses socio-economic imbalances by restricting eligibility to lower socio-economic backgrounds. It provides paid, meaningful experience inside government departments, reducing financial and access barriers. Successful interns will also be offered fast-track consideration for the civil service fast-stream, potentially increasing long-term representation from working-class backgrounds.
However, the plan has faced criticism as a form of "leftist social engineering" from some, including opposition politicians, who argue it excludes capable candidates solely based on background rather than merit, risking new forms of unfairness and community division. The scheme deliberately prioritizes socio-economic background over other diversity dimensions and academic merit in its eligibility criteria, which is contentious.
In summary, the internship program represents a focused government experiment to boost working-class representation in the civil service through targeted paid opportunities. Its success will depend on implementation and whether it leads to increased recruitment and retention of working-class civil servants in the longer term. Critics warn it may introduce new fairness challenges, but supporters see it as a step towards a more socially representative Whitehall.
This article was written by Brian Monteith, and you can find other thought-provoking articles on this website, including Jenny Holland's discussion on feminism, James Woudhuysen's long-read on the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, and The Brendan O'Neill Show's podcast about a personal experience in Gaza. Please note that only supporters and patrons of the website can comment on the articles.
[1] Report detailing attempts to reform the civil service and resistance encountered (2023) [2] Article discussing the criticism of the internship program as 'leftist social engineering' (Date unavailable) [3] Article highlighting the need for a more socially representative civil service (Date unavailable) [4] Article discussing the civil service's lack of diversity and representation of the political elite (Date unavailable) [5] Article outlining the details of the civil service internship program for working class students (Date unavailable)
- The new civil service internship scheme, announced by the UK government, is a targeted effort aimed at increasing representation from working-class backgrounds, as part of a broader push for a more socially diverse civil service.
- The internship program, which offers paid summer positions to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, has been criticized as a form of 'leftist social engineering' by some, who argue that it excludes capable candidates based solely on their background rather than merit.
- Supporters of the internship program argue that it is a step towards a more socially representative Whitehall, as government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people it serves.
- In a broader context, issues surrounding identity politics, free speech, and cancel culture are ongoing debates within democracy and culture, especially in the realm of education and self-development and general news. For instance, ideas around feminism, the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, and personal experiences in conflict zones are topics that require thoughtful examination and discussion.
