Give government workers a fair pay rise
The Parliament petitions site records 104,704 signatures for this petition, which closed on 20 January 2021. The Government responded on 16 October 2020. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 14 December 2020.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Give government workers a fair pay rise
During the pandemic government workers have delivered vital public services and kept our country safe and secure. After ten years in which the real value of civil service pay has fallen, many face hardship. The Government must start to restore the real value of their pay with a 10% increase in 2020.
Government workers are UK civil servants, those working for NDPBs and on outsourced government contracts. Civil service pay has fallen in value by up to 20% over 10 years. Civil servants have been overpaying pension contributions. Government pay policy for 2020 restricts increases to 1.5-2.5%. Government workers have delivered the Job Retention scheme, kept our courts running and our borders secure. It’s time to recognise their contribution and restore the real value of their pay.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 16 October 2020; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
The 2020/21 pay remit guidance allows departments to make pay awards between 1.5 and 2.5%. We believe this achieves a balance of fair pay for civil servants and value for money for taxpayers.
The opening 375 words of the 665-word response:
The Coronavirus pandemic is the biggest threat the UK has faced in decades, it has clearly had a significant impact on the UK economy. We share this in common with almost every other major country in the world. HM Treasury will continue to take stock of the economy as we move towards the next spending review, planned for later this year.
Civil servants have already demonstrated remarkable commitment to keeping the public safe in the continuing fight against the virus. The ‘Here For You’ campaign has showcased just some of the many ways civil servants across the country have been contributing, and continue to contribute, to the Government's COVID-19 response. Much of the work highlighted in the campaign has been achieved whilst working from home, including such initiatives as HMRC's Employee Retention Scheme.
In order to continue to deliver public services which are vital for the nation, it is important that pay continues to balance rewarding civil servants for their hard work with providing value for money to the taxpayer. In May 2020, public sector pay was up by 3.7% on the year before, compared to a fall of 1.2% in the private sector. Furthermore, this financial year’s public sector pay awards, including those of Civil Service Departments, will be significantly more than the average in the private sector, where the Office of Budget Responsibility’s central scenario assumes a fall in average earnings. This year’s Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance allows departments to make pay awards between 1.5% and 2.5%, achieving a balance that offers fair pay for civil servants, while delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
These arrangements therefore allow departments as much flexibility as possible in agreeing a pay award, depending on their cost pressures. There is additional flexibility to go beyond the limits set out above by submission of a business case to the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury in exchange for plans to improve workforce productivity.
Senior Civil Service (SCS) pay is subject to an independent pay review body process, whereby Government evidence is submitted annually to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).
In addition to the pay award, most Departments continue to offer non consolidated performance related awards to ensure the best performers can be recognised in this way.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 1,232, came from Bootle.
104,498 of the signatures were from the UK and 206 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Bootle | 1,232 |
| East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow | 992 |
| North Tyneside | 888 |
| Dover | 784 |
| Liverpool, Walton | 762 |
| Swansea East | 711 |
| Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | 694 |
| Liverpool, Riverside | 685 |
| Blackpool North and Cleveleys | 659 |
| Sefton Central | 641 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| North West | 19,036 |
| Scotland | 12,759 |
| London | 12,031 |
| North East | 9,347 |
| Wales | 9,110 |
| South East | 8,683 |
| West Midlands | 6,801 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 6,772 |
| South West | 5,548 |
| East Midlands | 5,341 |
| East of England | 5,198 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,424 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 14 December 2020. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/328754.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
7a67c04520b7bf15… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.