Conservatives Pledge Ban on Council Four-Day Week
Tories Vow to End Four-Day Council Week
A future Conservative government intends to introduce legislation to prohibit local council staff from working a four-day week whilst receiving five days' pay. Sir James Cleverly, a shadow secretary of state, criticised the practice, stating it was "an insult" and that public purse custodians had "an enhanced duty to make sure they're delivering value for money."
The move comes as Liberal Democrat-run South Cambridgeshire District Council, which has been trialling the four-day week since 2023, voted to make it permanent from July 2025. The council reported a 41% reduction in staff turnover and a 123% increase in job applications, alongside savings of £399,000 in agency worker fees. An independent analysis indicated performance improvements or no significant change in 21 out of 24 service areas.
However, Sir James argued that South Cambridgeshire Council had "abused" its autonomy, adding that the policy was "completely wrong" for the public sector. He asserted that the Conservatives would counter a broader "push from the left of centre" towards such working arrangements.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey defended the council's decision, emphasising local autonomy and the policy's success in attracting and retaining staff in South Cambridgeshire. Labour's Local Government Secretary, Steve Reed, had previously urged councils against adopting four-day working, warning it could be seen as an "indicator of potential failure." The Green Party, conversely, supports a move towards a four-day working week, with their deputy leader criticising the Conservative announcement as "cheap sloganeering."
