How are civil servants hired and do they affiliate themselves with any political party?

Civil servants are the backbone of the UK government, working to implement policies and provide public services. To ensure fairness and efficiency, they're hired based on merit, meaning their skills, qualifications, and experience are the primary factors. This system aims to get the best people for the job, regardless of their background. Crucially, civil servants are politically neutral. This means they don't affiliate with any political party and must remain impartial in their work. This impartiality is vital because civil servants serve whichever government is in power, regardless of their personal political views. They need to be able to provide objective advice and implement policies fairly, without bias. Imagine if civil servants were openly partisan – it would undermine public trust and potentially lead to unfair or ineffective governance. So, the correct answer highlights both the merit-based selection process and the essential political neutrality of civil servants.