Kerslake, the incumbent head of the civil service, said whilst introducing deputy prime minister Nick Clegg at Civil Service Live: “By the time [I stand down] I will have done over 35 years in public service, and they have been brilliant years for me. I’ve loved the work in the public sector and it’s reinforced my commitment to its importance.”
When the audience broke into applause, Kerslake was noticeably taken aback.
He continued: “I’ve particularly enjoyed working with the civil service. I’ve done over four years in the civil service, and again it’s been a fantastic experience. I have been deeply impressed with the quality of civil servants and their commitment to doing their job and doing it better.
“You should be very proud of what you’re doing, and what you’re achieving on behalf of the government. I think one of the important things we’ve done is to commit ourselves to growing capacity, growing our skills and learning.”