Summary
- A suggested ban on colourful campaign lanyards worn by civil servants to carry security passes has caused controversy
- The debate around lanyards led to fiery exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions, with accusations of politicizing civil service
- Minister Esther McVey argued for a standard design to promote impartiality, while the Labour leader criticized the focus on lanyards over pressing issues like prison system chaos
- Newly published guidance on diversity and inclusion in the civil service does not mention lanyards, leaving room for interpretation
