Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment the Cabinet Secretary has made of the compatibility of appointing Ms Jessica Sargeant from Labour Together as the new Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Constitution Group, with (1) propriety, (2) the Nolan principles on standards in public life, and (3) the Civil Service Code’s provisions on political impartiality.

It is a long-standing policy not to comment on individuals.

All civil servants are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with the values of the Civil Service Code, including impartiality. Where appointments are made by exception to the principle of fair and open competition, the employing department must be satisfied that the use of the relevant exceptions route is justified and that the individuals in question can uphold the Civil Service Code values.