Civil servants backed over payouts cuts

She accused the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition of attempting to portray civil servants as "fat cats" and "Sir Humphreys" so they would get no sympathy from the public.

Ms Gilmore quoted figures showing average civil service pay is 22,850, compared with average private sector pay of 24,970. And she pointed out that 63 per cent of civil servants earn less than 25,000 and the average civil service pension, taking out a few very high earners, is 4,200 per annum.

She said: "When someone mentions civil servants, many people think of a Sir Humphrey figure - someone who frequents his London clubs, who is waiting for his "K" and who will indeed have a good pension - but the civil servants I met work in fairly ordinary clerical and administrative jobs."

"We need to acknowledge the important job that they do for other constituents, such as people who are waiting for their benefit payments or who are trying to get jobs by spending time in Jobcentre Plus."

MPs are due to have a debate next month on the Government's Superannuation Bill in September, which is designed to limit payments to Civil Servants under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.