Dave Penman

Dave Penman is the General Secretary of the FDA, the union representing senior civil servants in the UK. Known for his strong advocacy for civil service reform and transparency, Penman has been vocal in critiquing government policies that he views as detrimental to public service standards. Recently, he expressed concern over the government's proposed changes to the civil service, which he characterized as invoking 'Trumpian' rhetoric and argued that real transformation requires substantive reforms rather than scapegoating a few underperformers. His comments reflect the ongoing tension between government objectives and union interests in the context of public service effectiveness.