EXCL: Boris Johnson is to appoint leading Brexiteer Gisela Stuart as the new civil service commissioner. Likely to be a controversial move.
The role is responsible for making sure that top mandarins are appointed on merit - rather than because of political links - and to guarantee impartiality of civil service.
Ex-Labour MP Gisela Stuart grew close to Boris Johnson as chair of Vote Leave. She urged voters to back the Tories at the 2019 election and was appointed to the Lords by the PM where she sits as a non-affiliated peer.
The Government will attempt to argue that she is politically neutral. It's also interesting that her appointment is being snuck out today of all days.
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