Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

 

 

 

25 November 2025

 

Unpaid appointment with the London School of Economics and Political Science: Application under the Business Appointment Rules from Sir Philip Barton GCMG OBE, former Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

 

Thank you for submitting an application for advice under the Business Appointment Rules[1] (the Rules) to the Civil Service Commission (the Commission) on behalf of Sir Philip Barton GCMG OBE, formerly Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The application is for an unpaid, part-time role as a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Further detail on the content of the application is in the Annex. The Commission’s advice is required as Sir Philip is a former civil servant at SCS Pay Band 4. His last day of service was 17 February 2025.

 

The purpose of the Rules is to protect the integrity of the government. They aim to avoid any reasonable concerns that: a civil servant may be influenced in their official duties by the risk of reward; a civil servant may improperly exploit access to information; and an organisation may gain an improper influence through the employment of a civil servant.

 

The Commission’s advice is that the appointment should be made subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. Privileged information – Sir Philip should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information[2] available to him from his time in the civil service.
  2. Lobbying – For two years from his last day in office, until 17 February 2027, Sir Philip should not become personally involved in lobbying[3] the UK government or its arm’s length bodies on behalf of LSE (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients). He should also not use, directly or indirectly, his contacts in the government and/or civil service to influence policy, secure business/funding or otherwise unfairly advantage LSE (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients).
  3. Bids and contracts – For two years from his last day in the civil service, until 17 February 2027, Sir Philip should not provide advice to LSE on a bid or contract relating to the UK government or its arm’s length bodies.

 

The Rules set out that civil servants must abide by the Commission’s advice. It is Sir Philip’s personal responsibility to manage the propriety of any appointment and to understand any other rules and regulations they may be subject to in parallel with the Commission’s advice.

 

Sir Philip must seek advice if he proposes to extend or otherwise change his role with the organisation. Once this appointment has been publicly announced or taken up, the letter will be published on the Civil Service Commission’s website.

 

Yours sincerely,

Gisela Stuart

First Civil Service Commissioner

 

 

 

Annex A: The application

Applicant assessment

 

  1. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a public research university.

 

  1. As a Visiting Professor in Practice, Sir Philip will:

●      Give occasional guest lectures.

●      Contribute to academic mentorship.

●      Meet with faculty and graduate students.

●      Engage with public events that support LSE’s mission.

 

  1. Sir Philip stated that his role will not involve contact with, or lobbying of, government.

 

  1. As Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO, Sir Philip was:

●      Responsible for overall leadership, management, and performance.

●      The department’s Principal Accounting Officer accountable to Parliament.

●      Head of the Diplomatic Service, leading all UK Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and diplomats globally.

 

  1. Sir Philip said he has not been responsible for regulatory, funding or any other decisions affecting LSE at any time in his last two years in the civil service.

CSC analysis

  1. Application level. As a Level 1 application for an unpaid role, the Commission's analysis applies the principle that this category of appointment is generally recognised as posing a lower risk to government integrity.

 

  1. Risk of reward. The role of Visiting Professor in Practice at LSE is unpaid. Sir Philip stated he had no involvement in policy development, decisions, or contractual/commercial decisions affecting LSE while at the FCDO. Therefore, the risk that the offer was made as a reward for decisions made during his time in office is low.

 

  1. Access to information. Sir Philip would have had access to a wide range of information from his former role. The risk is mitigated by the fact that eight months have passed since his last day in civil service, reducing the currency of any information he may still hold. The standard condition regarding privileged information covers any remaining risks presented by his access to information.

 

  1. Improper influence. Sir Philip would retain contacts in government, which could be used to provide an unfair advantage. However, the role is unpaid and Sir Philip stated that there will be no contact with government. The standard conditions, which would prevent the improper use of his government contacts to unfairly benefit the organisation, would sufficiently mitigate the risks.

 


[1] See the Business appointment rules for Crown servants.

[2] Meaning official information to which a civil servant has had access as a consequence of his or her office or employment and which has not been made publicly available.

[3] As defined in the rules.