SENIOR civil servants could face the sack if they do not deliver savings for the taxpayer under new rules announced by the Cabinet Office today.

Top mandarins will be held personally responsible for achieving savings in their departments, alongside new measures to better identify poor performance and a greater focus on delivering the government’s five missions.

Senior civil servants’ union FDA welcomed the new collective performance standards but warned against “scaremongering senior leaders for political brownie points” after Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said the public “must be confident we are spending every pound of their money well.”