Mr Baume said the government's love of launching initiatives - and the current economic crisis - meant that there was an argument for more civil servants rather than less.

BBC: Many civil servants 'deserve axe'

Lord Jones' period as a minister proved colourful and at times controversial and Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the senior civil servants' union the FDA, said he was "disappointed but not surprised" at the latest comments given the ex-minister's "traditionally maverick approach".

BBC: Many civil servants 'deserve axe'