Ministers came under fire today for seizing on Labour's 'growth' mission at every opportunity – even as they outlined plans to digitalise the recording of deaths.
The government was criticized for suggesting that British relatives having to queue at local councils to register the death of a loved one was 'stifling growth'.
Critics have criticized the 'insensitive' and 'coarse' language used in an official government press release, urging ministers to stop 'embedding' their growth mission in everything they publish.
The row emerged after the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) issued a 1,700-word notice about a “shake-up” in the use of technology in public services.
Among efforts to target £45 billion in “productivity savings” every year, DSIT said it would “end insensitive and outdated processes that have held this country back for too long”.
“That means people no longer have to queue at the municipality to report the death of a loved one, which hinders growth,” the press release said.
Tory MP Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, accused the government of a “spectacularly ignorant” approach.
“You don't get growth by using the word crudely in every press release – even when it comes to recording the death of a loved one,” he told MailOnline.
“You get growth by supporting the private sector and, for example, by not imposing 'death taxes' on family businesses, or union-inspired red tape on employers.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made economic growth his Labor government's 'mission number one'
Critics criticized the “insensitive” and “coarse” language used in an official government press release
DSIT, which is led by Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle, blamed a “version control issue” for the original wording of the press release
Nick Hargrave, who worked under former Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street, highlighted the pitfalls of pushing political slogans into Whitehall communications.
He posted on
'But sometimes it's worth it to do a feeling check…'
Another X user, Judith Lee, wrote: 'Whoever wrote this has no idea. Registering a death is not an 'insensitive process'.
“To imply that a grieving person doing this is wasting valuable time away from work is decidedly insensitive.”
And John Ranson wrote: 'More time to work means more growth. Simple!'
The DSIT press release was later edited online to read: 'That means removing the need for people to queue at the council to report the death of a loved one, and removing the need to advertise in your local newspaper if you want to buy a truck – that hinders growth.'
DSIT, which is led by Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle, blamed a “version control issue” for the original wording of the press release.
