Since the reforms were announced FDA General Secretary Dave Penman has made a number of media appearances to outline the union’s concerns with the lack of substance in these announcements. Speaking live on BBC News, Penman said: “This really feels like a government that’s just trying to get a few headlines rather than actually dealing with the substance of what they really need to get to grips with, which is how you reform public services, and how you prioritise at times when resources are short.”
Penman also spoke to Sky News about the proposals, saying:
“If you look at the headlines today, they’re about sacking inefficient civil servants. Ministers will be happy with those headlines. But they’re now in government, they’re not campaigning to get in government. That means they’ve got to lead the civil service and ministers are leaders. You don’t inspire a new generation of civil servants with those sorts of headlines. Civil servants want reform. They are frustrated by bureaucracy as well. So let’s get on with that, rather than pitching these cheap headlines at the civil service.”
As quoted in the Independent, the General Secretary also said:
“If the government is serious about transforming public services they must set out what the substance of reform looks like, not just the retreading of failed ideas and narratives.
“Government should get on with the difficult job of setting those priorities rather than announcing a new performance management process for civil servants every other month.”
Penman has also made appearances on Times Radio, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Ulster, and his comments were broadcasted across local BBC Radio channels. The FDA’s response to these announcements received coverage from The Times, BBC News online, The Guardian and Civil Service World.
This week, the FDA attended the 2026 TUC Congress in Brighton. FDA delegates spoke to and moved motions on a range of topics, including the review of the civil service, supporting effective management, accountability and safe contracting in the NHS, and the importance of an evidence-led approach to regulation.
Yesterday, FDA staff and reps attended the 2026 Fast Stream annual Base Camp, welcoming this year’s new joiners to the scheme and sharing the benefits of FDA membership with them.
The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has written to Speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots, asking him to remind MLAs that when officials appear before the Assembly, impartiality must not be brought into question.
