Antonia Romeo Calls for a Fundamental Overhaul of Whitehall as AI Reshapes Government

Britain’s top civil servant is preparing to argue that Whitehall needs a sweeping rethink, with productivity, public trust and artificial intelligence all high on the agenda. Cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo is expected to tell officials that government must change how it works to meet rising demands while operating under tight financial limits. In remarks due to be delivered at the London School of Economics on Tuesday, Romeo is expected to describe the required change as fundamental. According to The Telegraph, she will say the civil service of the future should look very different from the institution people see today. Her case comes as departments face pressure to make savings. Chancellor John Healey has called for one per cent cuts to capital budgets to help fund defence, while Andy Burnham has pursued plans to streamline central government and shift more power towards regional areas. Romeo is also expected to argue that improving efficiency is essential if public services are to cope with increased demand. She will praise the civil service as a remarkable institution, but say it must adapt to an era in which artificial intelligence could change the work government can accomplish. She is expected to describe AI as a profound shift in modern governance, while stressing that its use must be ethical and transparent. Romeo will reportedly argue that officials must be able to explain how and why decisions are made, with suitable safeguards in place, if the public is to retain confidence in government. The cabinet secretary is also expected to address declining trust in public institutions. Her message, as reported in advance of the speech, is that confidence has fallen and must be earned again. The remarks place the civil service at the centre of a debate about how to modernise government without losing public accountability.