Rayner's Department Staffing Costs Balloon by £6.4 Million Despite Spending 'Crackdown'

Back in March, Starmer vowed to slash the size and cost of Whitehall, declaring the state had become “ overcautious and flabby” . Reality tells a different story…

In July 2024, when Labour took office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and its agencies employed 13,671 full-time-equivalent (FTE) staff, with an annual staffing cost of £76.35 million. That includes annual salaries, allowances, gold-plated pensions and consultancy fees. By July 2025, that had jumped to 13,952 FTEs – an increase of 281 roles. The total staffing bill rose to £82.8 million, a hike of £6.45 million or 8%. Don’t expect those numbers to come down when Rayner’s Union Employment Rights Bill kicks in…