British Civil Service: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In British politics, the British Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy that administers the United Kingdom. The British practice of maintaining a permanent, theoretically neutral, Civil Service with staff who are not dependent on elected politicians for reappointment. This is a in contrast with the early 19th century American spoils system in which all public officials were dependent on elected politicians. Aspects of the British model have been copied in other nations such as The Federal Republic of Germany and the United States with modifications. For example, in the United States the top several layers of government departments are political appointees who are dependent and who change with different administrations. By contrast, political appointees within the British ministries consist only of the ministers and a few advisers.

The British Civil Service was heavily influenced by the bureaucracy of the British East India Company which also resulted in the Indian Civil Service.

The British televison series Yes, Minister is a parody of the Civil Service's relationship with government.

The civil service is meant to be politically independent, and is not appointed by ministers. However, ministers can appoint "special advisers" who are not politically independent. This has caused conflict between special advisers and members of the civil service, such as that between Martin Sixsmith and Jo Moore, who both worked for Stephen Byers when he was Transport Secretary.

Related topics

• Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)