A government department run by one of Sir Keir Starmer's most senior ministers is cutting almost a third of its jobs as ministers seek to accelerate civil service reform.
Officials at the Cabinet Office – headed by Pat McFadden – are being told today that 2,100 of their 6,500 jobs will be cut or moved to other parts of government over the next two years. Along with other reforms, the Cabinet Office says the cuts will save £110m a year by 2028.
The Cabinet Office supports the prime minister and co-ordinates the work of other departments which have more specific remits.
Civil service union Prospect warned "blunt cuts of this scale" could harm delivery across government.
Of the jobs to go, some 1,200 posts will be lost through voluntary and "mutually-agreed" redundancies or people not being replaced if they leave. A further 900 are being transferred to other government departments in an attempt to avoid duplication of work.
McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is one of Sir Keir Starmer's key lieutenants and the minister responsible for reform of the civil service.
A source said he was "leading by example" with the cuts to his own department.
In recent weeks the government has announced plans to make "radical" reforms to the way the civil service works, including cutting the costs of running government by 15% by the end of the decade.
McFadden wants to introduce performance-related pay for senior staff and new rules under which those failing to meet standards could be sacked if they do not improve within six months.
But he has resisted, in public at least, setting a target for how many civil servants' jobs would be lost.
Today's announcement of the moves at the Cabinet Office suggests that the cuts might go further than some had expected.