Foreign Office job cuts 'send wrong signals' on Iran crisis

Shrunken department less able to respond to conflicts, critics warn

- Catherine Neilan

A major restructuring programme at the Foreign Office is hampering the government's ability to respond to the conflict in the Middle East, and could undermine its response to future conflicts, critics have claimed.

FCDO 2030, a four-year restructuring project, is expected to result in nearly 2,000 redundancies about a quarter of the workforce as the department grapples with modernisation and real-terms funding cuts.

However, several sources told The Observer the ongoing changes are undermining morale and risk damaging the UK's ability to preempt and react to crises.

In recent weeks, the FCDO has closed down four directorates: migration and conflict; security and sanctions; early warning; and women and girls. These have been brought under a single humanitarian banner, which in turn sits within the global issues directorate. Several employees have already left, although the FCDO was unable to confirm precise numbers.

Staffers hoping to keep their jobs have been asked to submit a 500-word essay defending their work. Sources told The Observer this was distracting and demoralising staff at a vital moment in foreign affairs.