SNP minister hints at end to no compulsory redundancy

Politics / 2 October 2026 Plaid leader promises better future for Wales 2 October 2026 Big Tech / 2 October 2026 Charity calls for data centre safeguards 2 October 2026 Policing / 2 October 2026 Sixth person arrested over RAF Fairford plot 2 October 2026 Healthcare / 2 October 2026 NHS begins offering flu jabs to homeless people 2 October 2026 Human Rights / 2 October 2026 Miliband must ‘do more’ to bring Jagtar Johal home, Campaigners urge 2 October 2026 Wales / 2 October 2026 Striking health visitors take dispute to Plaid conference 2 October 2026 THE STUC demanded “clarity” today after the SNP public service reform secretary appeared to ditch the Scottish public sector’s no compulsory redundancy policy.

Appearing before Holyrood’s public service reform committee, Ivan McKee repeatedly insisted the commitment remained in place as he faced questions about how the tens of thousands of job losses the Scottish government is planning over the next five years to fill a £5 billion black hole in its finances would be delivered.

Citing job cuts at Visit Scotland as an example, he told the committee public bodies “had driven headcount reductions and have worked through the no compulsory redundancy policy to its conclusion.”

“So, we end up in a situation where there clearly is no role for someone for reasons, and every other avenue has been exhausted. Then there’s a process in place for that. ”

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asked: “When you say there’s a process in place, what are you talking about? You’re talking about compulsory redundancy as an endpoint.”

Mr McKee said “yes,” going on to argue there was a “very extensive policy that sits before this” and that “there is a no compulsory redundancy policy.”

Mr Fraser replied: “But you’ve just said there is a compulsory redundancy in certain circumstances.”

Responding, Mr McKee insisted the ���policy works through all the available options extensively to prevent that happening as best as can be.”

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer, who has already slammed Scottish government plans to slash as many as 20,000 public-sector jobs as “reckless rather than revolutionary,” said workers would be “deeply alarmed” by Mr McKee’s comments and has now written to him to demand clarity.

“This intervention from the Cabinet Secretary is either a confused mistake or, worse still, a worrying sign of intent to come,” she said.

“Trade unions have engaged with the Scottish government’s Public Service Reform agenda in good faith. That will simply not last if the Cabinet Secretary and the First Minister are at odds over the direction of their own approach to reform.

“These are workers livelihoods on the line — they deserve much better than mixed messages from government.

“We need clarity, transparency but above all else, the clear, unequivocal commitment from the Scottish government to the no compulsory redundancies policy they guaranteed Scotland’s workers.”

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