No10 has issued a sweeping directive preventing senior Whitehall officials from speaking at public events without prior vetting from Downing Street.
The new rules prohibit civil servants, health leaders, military chiefs and heads of arm's-length bodies from participating in open question-and-answer sessions.
Officials are now barred from making unvetted comments at industry events, whilst media briefings by figures such as the chief medical and scientific officers must be pre-cleared by No10 with a minister or special adviser present.
The restrictions extend to operationally independent organisations including Ofcom and Ofsted, as well as senior diplomats and military officers.
Sir Keir Starmer has issued a sweeping directive preventing senior government officials from speaking at public events without prior vetting from Downing Street
GETTY
The edict has already resulted in multiple event cancellations where Whitehall officials were scheduled to speak.
The Institute for Government was forced to cancel Tuesday's event discussing Labour's public spending approach after Treasury official Nick Donlevy was ordered to withdraw.
Last week, journalists at a Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference were told they could not report on a speech by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton.
RUSI confirmed the restriction resulted from Downing Street's new rules, noting that whilst foreign military personnel's speeches remained reportable, British armed forces presentations would be off-limits.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Journalists at a Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference were told they could not report on a speech by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton.
PA
A senior Whitehall source revealed the policy aims to prevent officials from "lobbying ministers in public" or criticising government spending and policies.
However, another Government insider called the approach "unnecessary" and heavy-handed.
They said: "It's the usual desire of No 10 to control absolutely everything without thinking through the consequences."
Alex Thomas, programme director at the Institute for Government, warned the rules would have a "chilling effect" on public debate.
He added that the ban prevents officials responsible for critical public services from answering questions at events.
Control of communications has often been a goal in Downing Street
GETTY
Thomas said: "This will lead to a more closed government and less effective policymaking."
Meanwhile, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, called the move "outrageous".
He said: "This unprecedented ban on civil servants speaking in public will damage public debate, politics, policymaking and the civil service itself. What are they thinking?"
Baroness Spielman, former Ofsted head, also described the restriction as "astonishing and unworkable", warning it would force stakeholder events to be cancelled without ministerial presence.
She said: "Government grinds too slowly and this will jam the works completely."
Most Read
