UNIONS hit back at Prime Minister Sir Keir Stamer today after he attacked civil servants in “Trumpian language” when announcing his “plan for change.”

Setting out a series of new government pledges on Thursday, Sir Keir said: “Too many people in Whitehall are comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline.

“I totally get that when trust in politics is so low, we must be careful about the promises we make.

“But across Whitehall and Westminster that’s been internalised as ‘don’t say anything,’ ‘don’t try anything too ambitious,’ ‘set targets that will happen anyway’.”

The Prime Minister called for a “profound cultural shift away from a declinist mentality” and announced a series of targets including plans to deliver 1.5 million homes as well as a watered-down goal to deliver 95 per cent clean energy by 2030.

Sir Keir said the plan would “land on desks around Whitehall with the heavy thud of a gauntlet being thrown down.”

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, called Sir Keir’s comments astonishing and said civil servants felt a sense of betrayal.

“In the early days of this government, ministers were walking around departments saying, ‘we’re not going to be like the previous administration, we’ve got your back’,” he said.

“And yet here we are five months in, with Trumpian language getting used.”

It comes after Donald Trump pledged to dismantle the “deep state” and spoke of “draining the swamp” to cut bureaucracy.

Sir Keir said that “I don't think there is a swamp to be drained here,” though Mr Penman highlighted that a “but” followed, suggesting he was alluding to a Trumpian concept.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “One of the reasons trust in politics is so low is because of politicians’ refusal to be accountable for anything.

“It’s always someone else’s fault. To blame civil servants, who every day work above and beyond to keep the country running, for failing to deliver reform is inaccurate and, worse, cowardly — accusing people who can’t answer back.

“Our members want the best for this country and will continue to work hard to deliver that.”