Brexit's Hidden Cost: How Red Tape Fuels Civil Service Growth

Brexit's Bureaucratic Fallout: Former Official Reveals Civil Service Expansion London, UK – June 1, 2025 – The UK's civil service has experienced substantial growth since Brexit, according to a recent interview with Simon Fraser, a former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office. Fraser attributes this expansion directly to the increased red tape generated by the UK's departure from the European Union. "One of the main reasons why it's now bloated...is because of Brexit," Fraser stated. He highlighted the contrast between the civil service's previous size – around 300,000 – and its current size, exceeding half a million. This significant increase underscores the considerable administrative challenges posed by the new post-Brexit regulations. Fraser's analysis offers a sobering perspective on the unanticipated consequences of Brexit, prompting further examination of the long-term implications for the UK's administrative efficiency and resource allocation.