Civil Service: Interns

Debate between Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

Tuesday 2nd September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I rarely wish to disagree with my noble friend, but in this instance I do. Obviously, she has huge experience, but this is one of a series of measures the Government are taking to make sure that access to the Civil Service and our wider public service as an employer is based on talent and ability, as I have said. This is not about stopping the Civil Service being a meritocracy; it is about ensuring that the meritocracy is available to everyone regardless of where they were born.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, previous Government Ministers made a point of making sure that the diversity which has been referred to included moving Civil Service departments to different regions of the country. Does the Minister agree that in the intern programme we also ought to reflect the diversity of different parts of our nation as opposed to the other elements she has referred to?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The noble Lord is absolutely right; as someone who spends their time in Stoke-on-Trent, I think that everybody and every government department should be based in my city. Noble Lords are all more than welcome to visit. Regarding the specifics, while this internship scheme is based predominantly in London, Manchester and Birmingham, the policy internship scheme— I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Maude—within the Civil Service is based in our Sheffield campus to expand opportunity and to make sure that we have geographic reach.

Democracy and Unelected Strong Leaders

Debate between Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, there is a responsibility on us all to demonstrate the genuine value of democracy and to fight for change for our communities and people up and down the country. That is why this Government have a clear plan for change and are delivering on our mission-driven government.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, we have all failed as politicians in our use of populism, rhetoric, abuse of social media and soundbites—finding easy solutions to complex problems. Does the Minister agree that we need to respond to the wishes of young people and give them a much greater stake in what we are doing so that they feel much more included than they have so far?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I think everybody in your Lordships’ House would agree that there is no politics of easy answers. We have a responsibility to engage on the issues that matter to everyone in this country, regardless of where they are, to make sure that people know that politics makes a difference in their lives. That includes young people, which is why this Government are bringing forward votes at 16.