Sir Jeremy is Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, making him the most important civil servant in the British government. But he has now been called before lawmakers who have criticized him for issuing guidelines to elected ministers and their special advisers — and their civil servants — over their stance on Brexit — Britain's In-Out referendum, due on June 23.
He has faced a backlash from Euroskeptic lawmakers after issuing guidance last week, saying that ministers — and their special advisers — who were campaigning for Britain to leave the EU could not have access to government departmental papers and briefings related to the referendum.
Bernard Jenkin MP on the questions for Jeremy Heywood over civil service EU vote guidance https://t.co/ObCR9fTXz1 pic.twitter.com/FuVH7rIjr9
— Civil Service World (@CSWnews) March 1, 2016
The position of the civil service is that it follows the government line that wants the UK to remain within the EU. That being stated government policy, Sir Jeremy believes that those not agreeing with it should not be allowed to see the "government line" on issues related to it.
In a letter to all departments, Sir Jeremy wrote:
"It will not be appropriate or permissible for the Civil Service to support ministers who oppose the Government's official position by providing briefing or speech material on this matter.
"This includes access to official departmental papers, excepting papers that ministers have previously seen on issues relating to the referendum question prior to the suspension of the collective agreement.
"Departments may check facts for such ministers on request. And civil servants should continue to support such ministers in undertaking all official government business in the usual way."
Unconstitutional?
"All other EU or EU-related business, including negotiations in or with all EU institutions and other member states, and debates and votes in the UK Parliament on EU business will continue to be subject to the normal rules of collective responsibility and party discipline," Sir Jeremy said.
"Special advisers who wish to undertake routine campaign activity in a personal capacity may do so in their own time and outside office hours. They may not use annual leave or unpaid leave for any campaign activity."
Critics say the instructions will effectively prevent 'Leave' campaigning politicians form having access to official documents relating to the referendum and surrounding matters. Leading euroskeptic lawmaker Bernard Jenkin said it was an "unprecedented" constitutional change.
From @bernardjenkin: Denying Leave ministers sight of their own departments’ information is absurd https://t.co/HWxyAwArnO
— ConservativeHome (@ConHome) March 1, 2016
UK Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to drop the principle of "collective responsibility" — whereby cabinet members and ministers must speak as one on government issues — simply because he knew he would not be able to impose it.
Now lawmakers on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee are set to give Sir Jeremy a grilling over the issue, which is bound to fan the fire of an already politically inflamed affair.
