Treasury expedited job for donor without declaring contributions
- Treasury officials pushed to expedite Ian Corfield's appointment to a critical civil service role four days after Labour's July election win.
- The approval request notably omitted details about Corfield's £20,200 in political donations to Labour, including sizeable contributions to Rachel Reeves.
- The situation raises serious questions regarding ethical hiring practices and the role of political donations in civil service appointments.
In the United Kingdom, following the Labour party's election victory in July, Treasury officials sought to expedite the appointment of Ian Corfield, a Labour donor, to a senior civil service position. This request was made to the Civil Service Commission just four days after the election. Officials emphasized the urgency of the role and aimed to move quickly on the appointment process, which raised concerns about transparency and ethics due to the lack of disclosure of Corfield's political contributions. Notably, Corfield had donated £20,200 to Labour politicians, including substantial amounts to key figures like Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor. The situation highlights issues of favoritism and potential impropriety in government hiring practices, considering Corfield's lack of competitive selection, compatible with standard civil service procedures. This case may lead to further scrutiny of how political donations influence appointments within the civil service.