Sacking Tom Scholar risks politicising civil service, says Lord Butler

Former cabinet secretary says move by Liz Truss on her first day in office was very unusual and very regrettable'

Liz Truss's decision to sack the Treasury's top official on her first day in office was very unusual and very regrettable", a former cabinet secretary has said, accusing the new prime minister of treating the civil service improperly".

Robin Butler - who served under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair - said the decision to remove Sir Tom Scholar as permanent secretary at the Treasury would have implications on how well the the department would handle the economic crisis.