Foreign Office rapped over bloated ranks
The Foreign Office (FCO) is bloated, inefficient and dogged by conservatism, according to a consultants’ report commissioned by the department.
In what is likely to be an embarrassment for foreign secretary Jack Straw, it claims one in 13 staff could go without any discernible loss in productivity.
Although the FCO was in need of challenge and reform, its leadership was deficient in both the requisite skills to make the changes and the will “to upset the status quo”, it says. The report also notes a culture of widespread “blame-shifting”.
“The leaders of the FCO focus primarily on their diplomatic and political duties, rarely on the efficient management of the organisation,” it says.
The report, compiled by consultants Collinson Grant, became public after Labour foreign affairs select committee member Andrew Mackinlay placed it in the House of Commons library.
Mr Mackinlay said the “devastating” conclusions showed a “systematic poor management, lack of accountability and bureaucracy by the Sir Humphreys and Terry Thomas-type characters”.
The FCO has already pledged to make cost cuttings of £87 million over three years.
