Why the government's civil war with the civil service matters

Sir Keir Starmer's relationship with the civil service has broken down following the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins. The former top civil servant at the Foreign Office told parliament there was a "dismissive approach" to security vetting from No 10, but the prime minister maintains it was Robbins who made "an error of judgement". So, what's at stake when the inner workings of government grind to a halt? Lord Peter Ricketts, who is also a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, joins Niall to discuss what happens when things go wrong and whether Starmer can repair relations with the civil servants who deliver his mandate, before it's too late. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show: why@sky.uk

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Why the government's civil war with the civil service matters is an episode from Sky News Daily by Sky News.

This episode is 17:17 long.

This episode was published on Apr 21, 2026.

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