Appointment of Baroness Gisela Stuart to the post of First Civil Service Commissioner

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has today confirmed Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston as the new First Civil Service Commissioner.

Baroness Stuart served as a Labour Member of Parliament from 1997 until 2017. During her twenty years in Parliament, she worked as a government minister in 1999-2001, sat on the Security and Intelligence Committee and chaired Vote Leave in 2016.

From 2017, Baroness Stuart has contributed to public life with non-partisan roles. This includes roles at the Royal Mint, Birmingham City University and as the lead Non Executive Board Member at the Cabinet Office. Baroness Stuart now sits as a Crossbench Peer where she operates independently, outside of a party-political framework.

The appointment follows a fair and open recruitment process following the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Pre-appointment scrutiny by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) took place and the Committee published its report endorsing the appointment.

Following the recommendations of the last review of the Civil Service Commission, the criteria for appointment emphasised the need to act independently of the Civil Service and for a broad range of experiences from outside of Civil Service roles. Candidates were also required to demonstrate how they would uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Ian Watmore stepped down as First Civil Service Commissioner on 30 September 2021 as his five-year, non-renewable term ended. In the interim, the Prime Minister had authorised Rosie Glazebrook to carry out the functions of First Commissioner from 1 October 2021 until the vacancy was filled.

The Rt Hon Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said:

I am delighted to confirm that Baroness Stuart is now appointed to the role of First Civil Service Commissioner. Baroness Stuart has all the attributes, experience and independence of judgement needed to lead the Civil Service Commission highly effectively.

I would like to thank Rosie Glazebrook for carrying out the functions of the office so effectively while we undertook the recruitment process.

I am also grateful to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee for carrying out pre-appointment scrutiny to provide additional assurance to this process and thank them for their report.

Baroness Stuart, the new First Civil Service Commissioner, said:

I am honoured to be appointed as First Civil Service Commissioner. I look forward to leading the important work of the Civil Service Commission in upholding the impartiality of the Civil Service, and ensuring that we have a highly skilled and diverse Civil Service that can deliver effectively for the citizens of the United Kingdom ”.

In the role of First Civil Service Commissioner, Baroness Stuart will lead the Civil Service Commission.

Following the preferred candidate announcement on 9th December, Baroness Stuart stepped down as the Cabinet Office Lead Non-Executive Board Member.

In addition to the First Civil Service Commissioner, the Civil Service Commission is currently composed of ten Commissioners.

The Civil Service Commission is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office. The Civil Service Commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition; and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee held a hearing with Baroness Gisela Stuart on 3rd February 2022 where they asked a range of questions including about motivation to apply, how she would ensure impartiality and independence of the Commission and balancing this role with her other responsibilities.

The PACAC report was published online on 7 February and it endorsed the appointment of Baroness Stuart to the role.